Slovakia - Country Information

Film Commissions

Slovak Film Institute
Tel: 2 57 10 15 03 Fax: 2 52 73 32 14
E-mail: info@sfu.sk
Website: www.sfu.sk
General Manager: Peter Dubecky

Permits/visas
For filming, an agreement with the relevant institution must be reached. With this agreement it is possible to obtain a working visa for one month during filming. A work permit is required for a longer period.

General Information

Location: Europe
Local Time: GMT+1
From 28 Mar 10 to 31 Oct 10 GMT +2
From 31 Oct 10 to 27 Mar 11 GMT +1
From 27 Mar 11 to 30 Oct 11 GMT +2
From 30 Oct 11 to 25 Mar 12 GMT +1
From 25 Mar 12 to 28 Oct 12 GMT +2
Capital City: Bratislava
Population: 5.4 million
Area: 49,035 square km, 18,932 square miles.
Language(s): Slovak, Czech, German, English, Humgarian (Southern Part only)
Dialling Code: 421
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 112
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence or International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Euro (EUR 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: SKK: 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000
Coins: SKK: 1, 2, 5, 10. Haliers: 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0800-1700 Mon-Fri
Office: 0800-1600 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1800 Mon-Fri, 0900-1200 Sat (some large supermarkets open on Sun)

Public Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day and Independence Day of the Slovak Republic, 6 Jan Epiphany, 2 Apr Good Friday, 5 Apr Easter Monday, 1 May May Day, 8 May Victory Day, 5 Jul St Cyril and St Methodius Holiday, 29 Aug Anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, 1 Sep Slovak Constitution Day, 15 Sep Our Lady of Sorrows, 1 Nov All Saints' Day, 17 Nov Fight for Freedom and Democracy Day, 24 Dec Christmas Eve, 25 Dec Christmas Day, 26 Dec Boxing Day.

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Slovak, many executives speak a second language English, German or Russian. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Around 10% in hotels & restaurants

Health

Reciprocal health: Participant of the European Health Insurance Card - EHIC scheme (formerly known as the E111) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment with emergency care. For full details on eligibility and how to apply for a card please click here

Please note: The EHIC is NOT an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK, lost or stolen property etc.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Tetanus, Hepatitis A

Consider: Hepatitis B

Risks: Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE): Ticks live in forests, woods, grasslands, riverside meadows, marshes, brushwood and shrublands. They usually live in the undergrowth, where they can easily get onto the clothes or skin of passers-by. Travellers intending to visit such areas are recommended to get vaccinated.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate.

Please note - see United Kingdom entry for complete list of EU members, Schengen State & EEA Countries

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:

1) Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland & United Kingdom

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 6 months from date of entry

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:

1) Nationals of Slovakia

2) For an unrestricted length of stay by:

a) Holders of passports issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland

b) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen

3) For stays up to 90 days by nationals of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbuda, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR passports), Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Malaysia, Macao (SAR passports), Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, St Kitts-Nevis, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City & Venezuela

a) Holders of British passports endorsed British National (Overseas) or British Overseas Territories Citizen with the �right of abode� label issued by the UK

Air Transit

Required by all except:

1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country within 48 hours on the same day without leaving the airport transit area & arriving & departing from/to a non-Schengen country, provided holding confirmed tickets & documentation (except holders of passports issued by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo Dem Rep, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia & Sri Lanka who require an airport transit visa) unless being alien residents of Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland Rep, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom or United States)

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Climate

Weather tends to be changeable throughout the year. Winter temperatures average around 2�C and can be even lower due to cold easterly winds and snow is normal. January is the coldest month with temperatures falling below -5�C. Rainfall is low in winter the wettest seasons being spring and autumn. Summers are hot Jul-Aug being the hottest with temperatures reaching 30�C

Clothing

Generally mediumweights with heavy topcoat for winter. Lightweights for summer

Charts for Bratislava

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 2 3 9 16 21 24 26 26 22 15 8 4 Min Temp (C) -3 -2 1 6 11 14 16 15 12 7 3 0 Humidity am (%) 84 81 79 73 72 72 73 75 78 84 86 87 Humidity pm (%) 77 70 58 49 49 50 49 51 52 62 76 80 Rainfall (mm) 43 47 42 42 61 64 73 69 40 54 55 59

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

Embassy
Embassy of Slovakia
25 Kensington Palace Gardens
London, W8 4QY
tel: +44 20 7313 6470
fax: +44 20 7313 6481
e-mail: cons.london@mzv.sk
website: www.slovakembassy.co.uk
hours: appointments only