Slovakia extends work visas for foreign bus and truck drivers

Slovakia has introduced a one-year work visa for foreign truck and bus drivers starting in 2026 to tackle a logistics labour shortage. The policy replaces a previous 180-day limit, allowing eligible third-country drivers to stay for the duration of their employment, up to a maximum of one year.

The government stated the former six-month period was insufficient for both employers and workforce stability. The longer visa is designed to give foreign workers more time to adapt, complete training, and reduce staff turnover.

Scope and limits of the new visa regime

The extended visa applies to a defined group of bus and international freight drivers from specified countries. Eligible workers can come from Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia, India, the Philippines, Nepal, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, among others.

Authorities may issue up to 5,000 of these national visas during 2026. This figure is a ceiling, not a guarantee that all will be issued. The rule covers a narrow driver group rather than every vacancy in the logistics sector.

Industry response and ongoing challenges

Logistics firms report only a gradual increase in foreign drivers since the rule change. Stanislav Michalička of the Association of Logistics and Freight Forwarding said some carriers have seen a slight rise, with those employees performing work as expected.

The measure has helped some carriers, but recruitment difficulties extend well beyond HGV drivers. Companies are also struggling to fill warehouse worker, dispatcher, and forklift driver roles. A longer visa for a narrow driver group does not fill those positions.

Operational and financial barriers persist

Employers cite high costs and bureaucratic hurdles as ongoing barriers. Training and qualification for new drivers can run into thousands of euros. Jozef Ševčík, head of Raben Logistics Slovakia, said drivers need time to learn company processes and integrate into teams, which cannot be achieved in a few months.

The extension from six months to a year allows a better return on the investment in driver preparation. Employers recruiting through agencies face higher costs, while direct recruitment abroad involves more bureaucracy and longer integration periods.

Broader migration framework sought

The sector is calling for a more predictable long-term migration framework. Proposals include smoother routes from a national visa to temporary residence and faster recognition of foreign qualifications and driving licences.

A separate rule that took effect in July 2026 allows workers to move from a national visa to temporary residence for employment, provided they remain in the same job. Industry leaders seek steadier pipelines of foreign drivers and simpler residence rules.

The underlying demographic problem remains. Experienced drivers are retiring while relatively few younger workers are entering the profession. Foreign recruitment could help fill manual roles like pickers, warehouse workers, and forklift operators where knowledge of Slovak is less critical.

Raben Logistics Slovakia has not yet increased its number of third-country drivers, having previously relied on recruiting domestically. The company says it would consider workers from third countries in future recruitment.