Author
Beneficiaries of international protection have the right to obtain a travel document issued by the Slovak authorities. According to Article 13(1)(a) of the Act No. 647/2007 Coll. on Travel Documents and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts (the Act on Travel Documents) asylum holders may obtain a Travel Document of a Foreigner (cestovný doklad cudzinca) based on the 1951 Convention with a validity of two years. A subsidiary protection holder may, in accordance with Article 74(1)(a) of the Act on Residence of Foreigners obtain a Foreigner´s Passport (cudzinecký pas) for travelling to and from Slovakia in case he or she does not have their own valid travel document. Validity of Foreigner´s Passport is limited to one year with possible extension.[1]
Both travel documents are issued upon application at the competent Foreign Police Department. The amendment of the Act on Residence of Foreigners, effective as of 15 December 2024, also allows for online submission of the application for the issuance of the Foreigner´s Passport.
A Foreigner’s Passport must be issued within 30 days of the submission of the application.[2] The Act on Travel Documents does not establish a specific time limit for issuing a Travel Document for a Foreigner. Therefore, the general time limits for issuing a decision under the Administrative Procedure Code apply. Pursuant to Article 49 of the Administrative Procedure Code, the administrative authority shall issue a decision without undue delay, and no later than within 30 days of the commencement of the proceedings; in particularly complex cases, it shall issue a decision within 60 days.[3]
In 2025, beneficiaries of international protection encountered difficulties in obtaining travel documents. A foreigner wishing to submit an application for a travel document in person at the foreign police department must book an appointment through the same online reservation system used for submitting applications for issuing residence cards. Due to the persistent shortage of staff at the BBFP and reported technical issues with the reservation system, only a limited number of appointment slots are available. In practice, beneficiaries of international protection often must wait several weeks to secure an appointment. (More details in Status and residence: Residence permit)
There are no specific or systematic obstacles reported in Slovakia regarding the recognition of travel documents issued to beneficiaries of international protection by another State. In principle, such documents are assessed under general rules, in the same manner as other recognised international travel documents. A valid travel document is any passport or other public document, provided that it is recognised as a travel document by the Slovak Republic, is valid for the relevant period, enables the clear identification of its holder, has not been tampered with, and is not damaged to such extent that the entries contained therein are illegible.[4]
[1] Article 74(5) of the Act on Residence of Foreigners.
[2] Article 74(4) of the Act of Residence of Foreigners.
[3] Article 33(1) in connection with Article 49 APC.
[4] Article 2(1)(n) of the Act on Residence of Foreigners.