Passport: Your Ticket to the World

Planning a trip abroad or a business visit outside the Schengen area? Ensure you have a valid passport, your gateway to global travel. What are the deadlines and costs involved? Is an ID card enough for your journey? Let's explore.

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Which countries require a passport?

You can enter all European Union countries and those with a free movement agreement using just your ID card. This includes Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. No passport is needed for Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Georgia, Moldova, and Kosovo either.

However, rules can change, so always check before traveling which documents are required for entry. Also, ensure your passport is valid for several months beyond your planned return, as some countries demand this.

Where can I obtain a passport and what do I need?

In Slovakia, obtain a passport at the Passport Department of the Police Force for your residence. You can also apply at any other Passport Department in Slovakia if needed.

Living abroad? Apply at the nearest Slovak diplomatic mission. Be prepared for higher fees compared to Slovakia.

You must apply for a passport in person. Bring your current or expired travel document. First-time applicants need an ID card. No need for a photo; they will take one at the Passport Department, along with your fingerprints, as all passports are now biometric.

How to obtain a passport for a child?

A parent, legal guardian, or caretaker applies for a child's passport. If parents are unmarried or divorced, either can apply without the other's consent.

Even for a baby, you must bring the child to the Passport Department. You cannot obtain a passport without the child.

For a child's first passport, bring their birth certificate and your ID card.

How much will you pay for a passport and how long will it take to process?

The longer the processing time, the lower the fee. The minimum fee is 50 euros for processing within 30 days. For a 10-day processing, the fee is 100 euros. Need it urgently? A 2-day processing will cost 150 euros.

Keep a valid passport at home to avoid high fees if you find a last-minute travel deal or need to travel for business outside the Union.

What are the fees for children's passports?

For children under 6 years old, the passport is valid for 2 years. Processing within 30 days costs 12 euros, 10 days costs 24 euros, and 2 days costs 36 euros.

For children 6 to 16 years old, the passport is valid for 5 years. Fees are 20 euros for 30 days, 40 euros for 10 days, and 60 euros for 2 days.

When and how to pick up your passport?

Provide your phone number when applying. You'll receive an SMS when your passport is ready for collection.

Pick it up at the Passport Department where you applied. If you can't, authorize someone else to collect it. Family members like a spouse, parents, siblings, or adult children can collect it without formal authorization.

For children under 15, only legal guardians can collect the passport.

What is the validity of passports?

For those over 16, a passport is valid for 10 years. For children aged 6 to 16, it's valid for 5 years. For those under 6, it's valid for 2 years.

If you can't provide fingerprints temporarily, you'll receive a passport valid for just 1 year.

What to do if you lose your passport or it gets stolen?

If your passport is lost or stolen, report it immediately. In Slovakia, go to the nearest Passport Department at the police station. The police will file a report with you.

If abroad, contact the Slovak embassy or consulate. They will issue a temporary travel document for your return to Slovakia.

Let's summarize

Obtain a passport at the police station's Passport Department. Bring your current travel document, ID card, or birth certificate for children without documents.

Pay the appropriate fees based on the processing time you choose. The least expensive option is processing within 30 days, while expedited processing within 2 days costs the most.

Don't wait until the last minute to get a passport. Once ready, you'll receive an SMS notification at the phone number you provided.