Slovakia travel advice

Travel Summary

• There are confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) - Swine Flu in Slovakia (source: The Slovak Ministry of Health). You can check for updates on the situation in Slovakia through the Office of Public Health of the Slovak Republic at www.uvzsr.sk, or by calling the Ministry of Health Helpline on (421) (2) 5937 3122 (Slovak only). The Slovak Ministry of Health has advised that unless the patient's situation is severe enough to require hospitalisation, they will be required to remain in home quarantine for a period of 7-10 days. Patients with flu symptoms are being told to get in touch with their GP by telephone. There is currently no exit/entry screening in place at airports or land borders, nor are there any plans to introduce this in the near future. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int/ has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. Check Swine Flu for further information. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. A bomb explosion at a plastic window factory killed one Slovak national and injured five more on 25 August in Topolcany, about 100 kilometres east of Bratislava. No foreign nationals were involved. There is no suggestion of a link to international terrorism.
  
  
• You must carry your passport with you at all times for identification purposes. It is also advisable to carry a photocopy of your passport, even if you are travelling as part of a group.
  
  
• Before travelling to Slovakia you should ensure that your passport is in a presentable state. The Slovak authorities can refuse entry if your passport is worn or damaged, or looks as if it has been tampered with.
  
  
• Most visits to Slovakia are trouble-free. 13 British nationals required consular assistance in Sovakia in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (4 cases); hospitalisations (4 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (1 case). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (47 cases). If you need to contact the emergency services in Slovakia call 112.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. A bomb explosion at a plastic window factory killed one Slovak national and injured five more on 25 August in Topolcany, about 100 kilometres east of Bratislava. No foreign nationals were involved. There is no suggestion of a link to international terrorism.

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

In Bratislava especially there remains a risk of petty theft. Pickpockets operate around the main tourist areas, and foreigners are easily identified and targeted. You should take sensible precautions against bag snatching and mugging. Do not leave valuables unattended. When jackets are placed on the backs of restaurant chairs, wallets should be kept securely elsewhere. When putting bags down, place one foot through the arm straps to prevent theft.

There have been occurrences in Bratislava of visitors being given "spiked" drinks and waking several hours later to find all their valuables gone. Be wary of drinks offered by persons unknown to you. Some large city centre pubs employ heavy-handed bouncers, some of whom carry firearms, who control boisterous behaviour very aggressively. Be careful not to offend by showing disrespect to e.g. other national flags.

There have been cases of theft of valuables at the Zlaty Piesky camping area in Bratislava. You should exercise particular caution when camping there. You should also be careful at Bratislava airport and keep valuables and cash with you, rather than place it in checked baggage.

There have been instances of drivers of foreign-licensed cars being targeted by criminals. If you have to fix a puncture, or any damage to your tyres, you should ensure that your vehicle is locked before you sort out the problem. Since the start of 2008 there has been an increase in robberies from parked cars. Items stolen have not been on general view. We recommend that all valuables are removed from the car when parking, rather than just being placed out of sight.

Taxi drivers sometimes attempt to overcharge tourists, e.g. by adding unauthorised supplements or by not setting the meter at the start of a journey. Insist that you will pay only the fare shown on the meter.

More serious crime does happen in Slovakia but is not usually targeted at tourists or visitors and tends to be a result of disputes between warring criminal fractions.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Slovakia Country Profile.

Local Travel

Road Travel

Make sure that you have valid motor insurance for your car. Right-hand drive cars can not normally be registered in Slovakia, which makes it very difficult to obtain insurance for those who intend to settle or remain in Slovakia to work.

You can drive on a UK driving licence for up to six months.

Children under the age of 12 must not sit in the front seat of moving vehicles.

Although reasonably good, many main roads have only a single carriageway in each direction making overtaking difficult. Road markings are difficult to see in poor weather.

The standard of driving is not high and can be aggressive, with drivers often going too fast, pushing into dangerously small gaps, tailgating and overtaking with little regard for other road users. Drive defensively and allow yourself more "thinking time". Specifically, beware of oncoming cars overtaking on your side of the road (particularly on bends and hills). Older, low-powered cars and trucks travel very slowly; be careful not to overestimate their speed. In 2007 there were 627 road deaths in Slovakia (source: DfT). This equates to 11.6 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2007.

In winter, equip your car for severe driving conditions: use winter tyres, and if travelling outside Bratislava carry extra warm clothing, hot drinks in a thermos-flask, sacking (to help give tyres purchase in slippery conditions) and a shovel. Although winter tyres are not compulsory in Slovakia, where an accident occurs and one vehicle has normal tyres the official presumption is that the vehicle is at fault.

From 18 December 2008 it has become obligatory for vehicles to have their headlights switched on all year round, regardless of the weather and whether they are in a town or out in the country. Speed limits in towns have been reduced to 50kms per hour.

Please note that drivers with any trace of alcohol in their body will be arrested. There is no permitted level other than 0%. If you are involved in an accident while driving the Police will give you a breath test regardless of who is to blame.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Skiing and Hiking

If you ski or hike in the Slovak mountains and get into difficulties you should be aware that since if the Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) is called out to assist you, you will be required to meet their full costs. The costs could range from € 116 to €9,960 depending on the size of the operation. Any person ignoring/violating HZS commands or laws will be liable to a fine of up to €3,320Skiers and mountain visitors are recommended to ensure they have sufficient insurance to cover any rescue costs and to take heed of any instructions issued by HZS.

Air Travel

Revised EU-wide security measures apply in Slovakia. For more details about this see Airline Security

Local laws and customs

While in Slovakia, you will be subject to its laws and regulations. All those who violate Slovak laws, even unknowingly, may be arrested and fined or imprisoned. For example there is a law about adverse noise between 10:00pm - 6:00am. Unruly or rowdy behaviour could attract the attention of the police. Bratislava has become a popular destination for stag parties and tourists have been fined or imprisoned for causing a public nuisance.

You must carry your passport with you at all times as identification - keep it safe, e.g. in a zipped up pocket or secure bag, and keep the details separately in case you lose it. Remember to enter/revise the next of kin details in the back of your passport. For travel outside of Slovakia, even to other Schengen countries, British citizens resident in Slovakia, should note that the Residence Permit card issued in Slovakia (Trvaly Pobyt) is not considered acceptable proof of identity. Non-Slovak authorities have detained EU citizens travelling without a passport until friends at home have found the passport and taken it to the place where the person was being held; only then could the individual continue travelling.

Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as a military establishment or somehow of security interest, may result in problems with the authorities.

Do not get involved with drugs in any way. The penalties for smuggling, possession and use of drugs are severe.

Since November 2007 it has been an offence in Bratislava Old Town to drink alcohol in the street. There may be exceptions for seasonal markets (such as the Christmas Market) and outside seating areas of restaurants and bars. But consuming alcohol (for example bought in a supermarket) in other public areas could result in your being fined €33.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Entry requirements

Visas

Visas are not required for British citizens to enter Slovakia.

British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British nationals (Overseas), British subjects and British Protected persons should contact the nearest Slovak Embassy to determine if there is a requirement for a visa to be obtained. This also applies to Third Country Nationals who hold residence permits in the UK. Depending on the format of that residence permit, a visa for Slovakia may be required. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic has a website which will help to locate your nearest Slovak Embassy.

Passport validity

As a British passport holder there is no minimum length of remaining validity needed. Nevertheless it is recommended, wherever possible, that the passport is valid beyond the length of your planned stay in Slovakia.

Registering with the Slovak authorities

If you plan to stay in Slovakia on a long-term basis, i.e. to work or live, you should register with the Police within three days of arrival. You will need your passport, two photographs, a small fee of €3-€6 and proof of accommodation in the form of either your letter of ownership, if you own the property, or lease agreement accompanied by the letter of ownership from the owner of the property. You have an option to apply for a Slovak “green card”, which can be used as proof of your ID, while keeping your passport in a safe place..

Those wishing to apply for a Slovak Residence Permit can go to the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic website for further information.

Health

There are confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) - Swine Flu in Slovakia (source: The Slovak Ministry of Health). You can check for updates on the situation in Slovakia through the Office of Public Health of the Slovak Republic at www.uvzsr.sk or by calling the Ministry of Health Helpline on (421) (2) 59373 122 (Slovak only). The Slovak Ministry of Health has advised that unless the patient's situation is severe enough to require hospitalisation, they will be required to remain in home quarantine for a period of 7-10 days. Patients with flu symptoms are being told to get in touch with their GP by telephone. There is currently no exit/entry screening in place at airports or land borders, nor are there any plans to introduce this in the near future. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int/ has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. Check Swine Flu for further information. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.

Medical facilities in Slovakia are variable. The standard of doctors is generally very good. Medical equipment is constantly being improved. However, many hospitals are showing a lack of maintenance. Possibly the greatest problem with medical facilities in Slovakia is the language. Many receptionists and nurses do not speak English.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Slovakian nationals. It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. For more general information see EHIC.

Tick-borne encephalitis is common in Slovakia. You should seek advice if you are planning to visit forested areas in the summer months.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that less than 500 adults aged 15 or over in Slovakia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at less than 0.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Slovakia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been no further reports of H5N1 infection since two dead wild birds were found in the Bratislava region in February 2006. There have also been no human infections or deaths reported.

The risk from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low, provided you avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Consular assistance

The Consular Section of the Embassy can provide assistance in an emergency such as the arrest, serious accident, illness or the death of a British national. The Consular Section can also assist you if your passport is lost or stolen and can help you arrange to transfer of funds. For some services a fee is charged. Please see contact details below. Please note that the Embassy is only able to issue Emergency Passports, which are good to travel back to the UK. Applications for full passports are now handled by the British Passport Processing Service in Northern Europe which is based at the British Consulate-General in Dusseldorf. More information on the passport issuing process can be found on their website, http://ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/en/passports/welcome. Applicants are advised to allow 10 working days for a new full passport

Before submitting an application for an Emergency Passport the loss of the full passport must be reported to a police station, and a police report obtained. The nearest police station to the Embassy can be found at:

Sturova 15
811 02 Bratislava
The police can provide a translator.

In a serious emergency out or normal hours you should continue to call the main Embassy telephone number (details below). You will then be given the telephone number of the FCO's Global Response Centre which will be able to offer immediate advice. This Centre cannot deal with visa or passport enquiries.

Students

For students studying in a non-Slovak college, please note that there is no entitlement to use student tickets on any of Slovakia’s municipal bus services even if you are carrying a student card. Only students holding Slovak student cards qualify for the cut-price tickets. Fines of €46are levied if stopped. Students are advised to purchase full price tickets.

Physically handicapped travellers

Slovakia, in general, does not cater for those that are physically handicapped. It is normal for cars to park on pavements. Dropped kerbs are seen as helping drivers to mount the kerb without damaging the car tyres and suspension. Public transport invariably requires large steps to be climbed. Buses and trams accelerate from stops at great speed and can catch visitors by surprise. Some effort is now being taken to make buildings more accessible, but the vast majority of buildings only have steps rather than ramps.

Customs Regulations

Travellers entering the UK from European Union countries do not normally pay any UK tax or duty on excise goods they have bought tax and duty paid in EU countries for own use. But there are special rules for cigarettes and some other tobacco products from some EU countries.

The UK is maintaining limits on the amount of cigarettes and some tobacco products that travellers are able to bring in to the UK for own use from nine European Union Member States (including Slovakia), without paying UK duty. For Slovakia the limit is 200 cigarettes.

Anyone who is carrying more than the limits should pay UK duty on those goods by entering the Customs red channel or by using the red point telephone. If travellers enter the Customs blue channel with more than the limits, then all of their tobacco may be seized.

Money

On 1 January 2009 Slovakia joined the Eurozone. The Euro (€) has replaced the Slovak Crown (SKK) as Slovakia’s national currency. Commercial banks will continue to exchange, free of charge, Crown bank notes until 31 December 2009 Banks will no longer exchange coins. Since 15 June 2007 new legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU apply in all Member States. Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to €10,000 or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc. This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.

Make sure you bring enough money and keep it safe. Travellers' cheques are the safest way to carry money but make sure that you buy them from an organisation with agents in Slovakia. Change cash and travellers' cheques at proper banks or bureaux de change: kiosks, although legal, offer poorer exchange rates and there is a risk of being robbed by thieves loitering nearby. Neither Scottish nor Northern Irish bank notes can be exchanged in Slovakia.

ATM machines, which accept UK bank or credit cards (Cirrus, Maestro or Visa), are common. Shops - particularly in the main tourist areas - increasingly accept credit cards, but are sometimes reluctant to accept cards issued by foreign banks. If you intend to pay for something by card do check first that that the shop will accept your card and that it can be read (there are sometimes problems with "Maestro"). We also recommend that you check your statements carefully for transactions you did not make.

Make sure you know whom to contact to cancel stolen cards and/or how to obtain replacement travellers' cheques. If your money is lost or stolen you can arrange for friends or relatives in the UK to transfer money through Western Union to the Tatrabanka. Call Western Union in the UK 0800 833 833 for information.