EU programmes

Within the EU programmes in cross-border Volunteering, the Slovak Republic takes part in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and the Programme EU Aid Volunteers.

The Programme European Solidarity Corps is administered by the National Agency of the EU Erasmus+ Programme for youth and sport in Slovakia, located at NIVAM – Slovak Youth Institute. For hosting volunteers through ESC, specific quality standards have been defined for sending and hosting organisations, which must be respected within accreditation. According to the European Youth Portal, 55 organizations from Slovakia are registered for ESC (at 20.2.2022). They are offering volunteering opportunities for volunteers also from abroad. 

In the Programme EU Aid Volunteers, the only organization in Slovakia accredited as a sending organization; The Programme is managed and monitored by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

Other Programmes

Programme SLOVAK AID enables young volunteers aged 18 – 30 and experts to be sent to developing countries within official development aid. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic coordinates the programme. The programme is implemented by the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation established by the specific law. Participating countries are Kenya, Moldova, and Georgia. Volunteers and experts may be sent to any country listed by the OECD Development Aid Council. Programme regulations and sending processes have been described by the Programme document.  The document is updated every year. 

Several organizations are also volunteers sending organizations abroad to developing countries: Salesian missionary volunteering, Slovak Catholic Charity, and Adra. They are using their specific programs. 

Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers

The Act on Volunteering and the Act on Youth Work Support also provide legal status for foreign volunteers in Slovakia. Only volunteers from selected countries need a visa. The list of such countries can be found in Council Regulation 539/2001. A volunteer staying in Slovakia needs a temporary residence authorization. More information is available on the webpage of Borders and Foreign Nationals Police of the Slovak Republic. 

Slovak Police Force Presidium – Authority of Borders and Foreign Nationals Police keeps statistics of legal and illegal migration to Slovakia, including statistics on temporary residence authorization for volunteers. These statistics are available on the webpage of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic