Slovakia Family or Friend Visit Visa

Who Can Apply for a Slovakia Family or Friend Visit Visa?

This visa is intended for Turkish citizens applying from Türkiye who wish to visit relatives or friends living in Slovakia for a short stay. Applications are generally assessed under the short-stay, type C Schengen visa framework. The permitted stay cannot exceed 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area. Time already spent in other Schengen countries counts towards this limit.

Turkish ordinary passport holders generally need a visa. Holders of special, service or diplomatic passports should check the current exemption rules for their passport and itinerary. A visitor visa does not authorise employment or long-term residence. Having a host in Slovakia helps explain the trip but does not, by itself, establish eligibility for a visa.

Application Requirements

Slovakia must be your only destination or the main destination of your Schengen trip. For multi-country itineraries, responsibility for examining the application depends on the principal purpose and length of the stays. If no main destination can be established, the country of first entry may be responsible. Applicants residing in Türkiye should use the competent Slovak mission or authorised submission channel for their place of residence.

Your passport should have been issued within the previous 10 years, remain valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area, and contain sufficient blank pages. Travel medical insurance must cover the entire stay throughout the Schengen area, with at least EUR 30,000 in coverage for emergency medical care, hospital treatment and repatriation for medical reasons.

The application should explain whom you are visiting, your relationship, where you will stay and how the trip will be funded. Invitation requirements depend on the current checklist and individual circumstances. An invitation verified by the competent Foreign Police department in Slovakia may be requested. Your host may also need to provide identification, evidence of lawful residence, accommodation details or financial documents.

Evidence of employment, education, family responsibilities and financial circumstances in Türkiye can help demonstrate your intention to return. If someone else is funding the visit, explain the scope of their support and provide evidence of their means and relationship to you. Applications for children may require parental consent and custody documents. Check translation and certification requirements before arranging these services.

Application Steps

1. Confirm the itinerary: Set your proposed dates, identify your host and review any other Schengen destinations.
2. Check the official instructions: Obtain the current visitor checklist and confirm where to submit your application.
3. Prepare the file: Complete the form and collect your invitation, financial evidence, insurance and supporting documents.
4. Attend the appointment: Submit the signed application, pay applicable charges and provide biometrics if required.
5. Follow the outcome: Respond to document requests and check the visa details once your passport is returned.

Dates and addresses should match across the form, invitation, accommodation evidence and travel arrangements. Avoid assuming that non-refundable purchases are necessary: follow the current official requirements for reservations. If bank statements contain unusual deposits, supporting evidence explaining their source can make the financial picture clearer.

Appointments and Biometrics

Appointment arrangements and submission locations depend on the current application system in Türkiye. Availability may be limited during busy travel periods, so allow time for booking as well as document preparation. An appointment only provides an opportunity to submit the application; it is not a commitment to issue a decision by your departure date.

Fingerprints and a compliant biometric photograph are normally required. Fingerprints recorded for a previous Schengen application may generally be reused for approximately 59 months, although fresh collection can still be requested. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint collection, but this does not remove the requirement for an application or supporting documents.

Processing Time

An admissible application is normally decided within approximately 15 calendar days. Additional checks or supporting-document requests can extend processing to around 45 calendar days in individual cases. Appointment waiting times and passport delivery are separate. Applications can generally be lodged up to six months before travel and should normally be submitted at least approximately 15 days before departure. Leaving the process until the final weeks creates avoidable timing risks.

Common Reasons for Refusal

Refusal may result from an unclear purpose of travel, insufficient or unexplained funds, inconsistent documents, or doubts about departure before the authorised stay ends. Invalid insurance, previous visa breaches and unverifiable host information can also affect the assessment. If refused, review the written notice for the reasons and applicable appeal procedure. Addressing the issues before applying again is important, but a new application does not ensure a different outcome.

Applying with Hermes Vize

Hermes Vize can assist with organising supporting documents and planning the submission process for a private visit. You can request a review of the consistency of your application information. Only the competent authorities assess the application and decide whether to issue a visa.