Temporary protection (dočasné útočisko) is not open-ended: it is extended periodically by decisions of the EU and the Slovak government. The good news: the 2026 extension required nothing from holders — the status was extended automatically. Here is how that works, what changed for new applicants and what you should not miss.
How extensions work
According to the Slovak Interior Ministry’s announcement of 18 February 2026, temporary protection was extended to 4 March 2027 automatically: no visit to a migration point or the cudzinecká polícia, no deadline for holders, and the documents already issued remain valid. That differs from earlier years, when some extensions ran through an appointment and a document update — do not rely on that experience any more.
What comes next: on 15–16 July 2026 the EU member states agreed to extend protection to 4 March 2028 (Decision 2026/1912). Until Slovakia implements it, the formal date here remains 4 March 2027 — follow minv.sk.
New condition for new applications: since 6 August 2026, men aged 18–60 filing for temporary protection for the first time, or again after it ended, must prove they have complied with military-service obligations — with a passport bearing an exit stamp no older than 90 days or a translated extract from “Reserve+”. Existing holders are not affected.
What to prepare
Nothing has to be filed for the automatic extension. You will need documents for a first application, a change of address or the move to a residence permit:
- passport or another identity document;
- your current temporary protection document;
- proof of address if you have moved — for example a čestné vyhlásenie from the property owner.
Typical problems
- An unreported change of address. A protection holder reports a new address to the ohlasovňa pobytu of the municipality (§ 131k(5) of Act 404/2011), not to the foreign police. Skip it and notices go to the old address — an important letter goes unread.
- Queues in the larger cities. In Bratislava people start queuing overnight at peak times. An appointment and documents prepared in advance save a day or two.
- Plans to move to a residence permit. Time spent as a protection holder counts in full towards the five years for EU long-term resident status (dlhodobý pobyt) — under the guidance of the Bureau of Border and Alien Police of 8 April 2026. But you cannot go straight from protection to dlhodobý pobyt; an ordinary residence permit comes first, so plan the switch early. Since 15 July 2026 a simplified route under § 131o of the Act on the Residence of Foreigners applies (full guide), and the standard routes remain: employment or business.
If you missed the deadline
A current holder has no deadline to miss: the extension to 4 March 2027 happened automatically and there is nothing to restore. You need to go to the police in two situations only. First, you are applying for temporary protection for the first time, or again after it ended — since 6 August 2026 the new conditions for men aged 18–60 apply. Second, you want to move to a residence permit under § 131o. The only real deadline is that window: you may file under § 131o until the day protection ends and for one more year after that.
We follow the rule changes continuously: let us take the extension off your hands — we check your dates, book the appointment and go with you. The first consultation is free.