Working in Slovakia from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Working in Slovakia as a Brazilian: What to know first

Moving from Brazil to Slovakia for manual or skilled trade work is a realistic goal, but you must understand how the process works before you spend any money. Slovakia has a growing economy with strong industrial sectors, but its immigration system is bureaucratic and strict. It is not as fast or as simple as moving to Portugal or Poland.

If you are looking for an immediate move without learning basic English or working through legal paperwork, Slovakia may be a challenging target. Countries like Portugal share a language with Brazil, while Poland processes higher volumes of foreign trade permits each year. However, if you possess background experience in automotive assembly, heavy transport, welding, or industrial machinery, Slovak employers actively look to fill open positions with international workers.

Here are three trades that Slovakia regularly hires foreign workers to fill right now:

• Automotive assembly line workers: Slovakia produces more cars per capita than any other nation, and manufacturing hubs constantly recruit assembly operators.
• Heavy truck and bus drivers: European logistics routes running through Central Europe require experienced international drivers with professional licenses.
• Welders and metal fabricators: Construction projects and industrial machinery plants regularly seek certified welders who can read technical drawings.

The right visa route for Brazilian workers

To work legally in Slovakia as a citizen of Brazil, you cannot travel as a tourist and search for employment after arrival. You must secure a job offer first and follow the official immigration route.

The standard legal route for long-term trade workers is the Temporary Residence for the Purpose of Employment (known locally as Prechodný pobyt na účel zamestnania). For specific shortage occupations, Slovakia also offers a expedited National Visa (D Visa) scheme aimed at filling critical gaps in transport and manufacturing.

The hiring process begins entirely in Slovakia with your prospective employer. The employer must first declare the vacant position to the Slovak Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (Ústredie práce, sociálnych vecí a rodiny, or ÚPSVaR). The position must be advertised locally for a specific period (usually 15 to 20 working days). If no suitable Slovak or European Union job seeker applies, ÚPSVaR issues a written confirmation approving the employer to fill the position with an international worker.

Once your employer receives this clearance, you submit your official application. As a resident of Brazil, you submit your application in person at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Brasília or through an authorized visa application centre serving Brazil. You must schedule an official appointment prior to attending the consular section.

Required documents, apostilles, and translations

Slovak immigration officials require strict verification of all Brazilian personal documents. You must gather, authenticate, and translate several key items before your embassy appointment.

• Valid passport: Your Brazilian passport must be valid for at least 3 to 6 months beyond the date you plan to leave or renew your permit, with at least two blank pages.
• Signed employment contract: A legally binding employment contract or written promise of employment provided by the Slovak employer, stating your salary, duties, and work hours.
• Brazilian police clearance: An official criminal record certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) issued by the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) in Brazil.
• Proof of qualifications: School certificates, trade diplomas, or work history records that prove you have the required training for the specific job.
• Proof of accommodation: An official rental agreement or an affidavit from your employer confirming that temporary or permanent housing is arranged in Slovakia.
• Apostille requirement: Brazil and Slovakia are both signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. Your Brazilian police clearance and educational documents must receive an official Apostille (Apostila de Haia) from an authorized notary office (cartório) in Brazil. Un-apostilled documents will be rejected immediately.
• Official Slovak translation: Slovak law requires all submitted foreign documents to be translated into the Slovak language by a certified court translator registered in Slovakia. English or Spanish translations are not accepted for official residency procedures.

What it costs: Fees and worker expenses in Brazil

Legitimate employers cover their own recruitment administrative fees. However, you must budget for personal expenses incurred while preparing your application in Brazil and making the journey to Europe.

Official embassy and processing fees charged by the Slovak government are set by regulation:

• Temporary residence application fee: Set by Slovakia, approximately €170 to €250, payable to the embassy or administrative agency. Always check current rates with the embassy before your appointment.
• Residence card issuance fee: Approximately €5 to €15 for printing the physical ID card upon arrival.
• Processing time: Official processing usually takes approximately 30 to 90 days after you submit a complete application package.

Your individual costs on the Brazil side will vary depending on your location and document history:

• Police clearance: Free to download online from the Polícia Federal, but requires apostille authentication.
• Apostille fees in Brazil: Approximately R$ 40 to R$ 120 (€7 to €20) per document at a local cartório.
• Certified Slovak translations: Approximately R$ 150 to R$ 300 (€25 to €50) per page, as certified court translators for the Slovak language are limited.
• Medical examination: After arriving in Slovakia, you must undergo a medical check (including a check for contagious diseases) costing approximately €150 to €200, often reimbursed by reputable employers.
• Flight ticket: A one-way economy airfare from major Brazilian airports (such as São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro) to Bratislava or nearby Vienna (Austria) typically costs approximately R$ 4,000 to R$ 7,500 (€650 to €1,200).

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can enter Slovakia as a tourist and legally start working right away.
  Fact: Brazilian citizens can visit the Schengen zone for up to 90 days visa-free for tourism only. Working on tourist status is illegal and results in deportation and a Schengen entry ban.
• Myth: You must pay an agency in Brazil thousands of Reais to buy a Slovak work permit.
  Fact: Work permits and job approvals are tied to real jobs and issued by the Slovak government. Paying a broker for a visa paper without a verified job offer is a common scam.
• Myth: You can submit your documents to the Slovak embassy in English or Portuguese.
  Fact: All public records, diplomas, and police checks from Brazil must carry an Apostille and be officially translated into Slovak.
• Myth: Slovak recruitment agencies can deduct thousands of Euros from your future wages to cover your hiring fee.
  Fact: European Union and Slovak labour laws prohibit recruitment agencies from charging job seekers placement fees or deducting placement costs from their paychecks.

Before you sign

Protect yourself from fraud and predatory recruiters before signing any contract or leaving Brazil. Go through this checklist step by step:

• Verify the employer: Search the official Slovak business register (Obchodný register) to confirm the company hiring you actually exists and is active.
• Confirm the labour office registration: Ensure your employer filed the job opening with ÚPSVaR and obtained the official position clearance.
• Never pay for a job offer: Legitimate Slovak employers and licensed agencies pay their own recruitment costs. Walk away if anyone asks for money in exchange for a contract.
• Clarify housing costs: Ask whether accommodation is provided free, subsidized by the employer, or if rent will be deducted from your net monthly wage.
• Check arrival support: Confirm whether the company provides a local coordinator to meet you, assist with your medical check, and submit your paperwork to the foreign police (Cudzinecká polícia).
• Keep control of your original documents: Never hand over your passport, original diplomas, or legal papers to a third party or agency.

Build your Workuro profile today

If you are a Brazilian worker skilled in welding, machine operation, logistics, driving, construction, or hospitality, present your skills clearly to verified European employers. Set up your profile on Workuro, list your real trade experience, add your vocational certificates, and state your language capabilities.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.