Slovakia: Information for stateless people and those at
risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine
ENS Focal Point: Human Rights League Slovakia
Last updated: 11 May 2022
This briefing provides country-specific information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness
fleeing Ukraine. It is intended as a source of information for refugee response actors and affected
individuals. The focus is on stateless people and people at risk of statelessness, including those who are
undocumented. Links to more general information for refugees from Ukraine are provided throughout. We
will endeavour to keep this information updated. Please contact Ukraine.crisis@statelessness.eu if you
have relevant updates. Unless otherwise shown, the source of information provided is the ENS Focal Point.
1. SITUATION AT THE BORDER & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
There are three border crossing points from Ukraine to Slovakia, all open 24 hours. There are currently no
reported issues for stateless people, those at risk of statelessness, or undocumented people crossing the
Slovak border, although some issues have been reported on the Ukrainian side. People without documents
may need to undergo an individual assessment to gain entry. Slovakia allows entry to all persons fleeing
Ukraine under the humanitarian ground exception in the Schengen Borders Code. The European Commission
confirms that a lack of travel documents or medical documents (certificate of vaccination, COVID-19 test)
should not be an obstacle to entering the EU throughout the Ukraine crisis.
For more information on the location of border crossings, estimates of current waiting times, and entry
requirements, see: From Ukraine to Slovakia (also in UKR and SK), Ministry of Interior’s Ukraine Information
and Assistance page and Ukrainian Border Guard.
Documents
required
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•
•
Entry and
registration
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•
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•
Documents
issued
Entry status
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Stateless persons: any document (even expired); entry should be permitted to all
those fleeing Ukraine even without documents
Adults: passport, ID document, birth certificate, or any document (even expired)
Children: documentation to prove family relationship with accompanying adult;
unaccompanied children will be permitted entry
Stateless persons: registered, fingerprinted, photographed and allowed to stay for 90
days; if permanent residence or international protection in Ukraine, eligible for
Temporary Refuge upon entry; otherwise, may apply for asylum or subsidiary
protection; register with Foreigners’ Police within 3 days
Undocumented persons: as above
Beneficiaries of international protection: registered, fingerprinted, photographed and
allowed to stay for 90 days; eligible to apply for Temporary Refuge upon entry at the
border or nearest Foreigners Police Office
Unaccompanied children: children not accompanied by a relative (who can prove
relationship) will be taken to nearest Labour, Social Affairs & Family Office by the
police and later to a children’s home
Asylum seeker: identification card proving that an application is pending
Applicant for Temporary Refuge: temporary refuge certificate
Visitor: entry stamp in passport permitting stay for 90 days
Temporary refuge, visitor, or asylum-seeker