Author
Persons granted asylum are considered foreigners with permanent residence.[1] In case of refugees granted asylum under the 1951 Convention, constitutional asylum, or asylum on humanitarian grounds, protection is granted for an unlimited period,[2] and a permanent residence permit valid for 10 years is issued to them.[3] In the case of asylum for family reunification, the protection status is initially granted for three years.[4] A beneficiary must apply for renewal no earlier than 90 days before the expiry of the three-year period and no later than on the last day of that period.[5] The application for renewal of asylum for family reunification shall be submitted to the competent foreign police department, depending on the applicant´s place of residence. A template of the application for renewal of asylum for family reunification is attached as an Annex to the Asylum Act. During the renewal process, asylum status remains valid until a final decision on the application is made.[6] If asylum for family reunification is renewed, protection is subsequently granted for an unlimited period.[7] Beneficiaries of asylum for family reunification are issued a permanent residence permit valid for three years and, following a positive renewal decision, for 10 years.[8]
Subsidiary protection and subsidiary protection granted for the purpose of family reunification are initially granted for one year.[9] Persons granted subsidiary protection are considered foreigners with temporary residence,[10] except for foreigners who already have permanent residence. Subsidiary protection may be repeatedly extended for two years, provided that the beneficiary continues to meet the relevant conditions.[11] An application for extension of subsidiary protection shall be submitted to the competent foreign police department, depending on the applicant´s place of residence, no earlier than 90 days before the expiry of the subsidiary protection period and no later than on the last day of that period.[12] The same template as for the application for renewal of asylum for family reunification may be used. Upon applying for the issuance of a residence permit, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are issued a temporary residence permit valid for one year or, where subsidiary protection has already been extended, for two years.[13]
In 2025, the BBFP PFP issued 50 permanent residence permits for persons granted asylum and 34 temporary residence permits for subsidiary protection holders.[14]
Beneficiaries of international protection face significant challenges when applying for the issuance of residence permits. In 2021, the BBFP PFP launched an online reservation system for making an appointment at the foreign police departments. The use of the system is mandatory, and in the majority of life situations, foreigners will not be processed if they have not booked an appointment online. Due to the persistent shortage of BBFP PFP´s staff capacity and reported technical issues, there are only very few slots available for booking. In practice, it usually takes several weeks for beneficiaries of international protection to make an appointment to submit the application for issuing the residence permit and another up to 30 days[15] for receiving the residence permit. The delays significantly complicate their everyday life and their integration, for which the first days after receiving protection are crucial. Without a residence permit, beneficiaries of international protection are unable access employment, open bank accounts our majority of private landlords are unwilling to rent them apartments. In addition, the online reservation system does not provide any option to book an appointment for submitting an application for the extension of subsidiary protection. SHC has been assisting beneficiaries of international protection in making an appointment at the foreign police departments and accompanying them to the police.
[1] Article 24(1) of the Asylum Act.
[2] Article 20(2) of the Asylum Act.
[3] Article 73(12) of the Act on Residence of Foreigners.
[4] Article 20(2) of the Asylum Act.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Article 73(12) of the Act on Residence of Foreigners.
[9] Article 20(3) of the Asylum Act.
[10] Article 27a(1) of the Asylum Act
[11] Article 20(3) of the Asylum Act.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Article 73(12) of the Act on Residence of Foreigners.
[14] BBFP PFP, Štatistický prehľad legálnej a nelegálnej migrácie cudzincov v Slovenskej republike za rok 2025, 2026, available (in Slovak) here.
[15] Article 73(1)(c) of the Act on Residence of Foreigners.