The short answer
Yes. To get or keep a residence permit in Slovakia you need a confirmation that you are health insured, and the law does not say how much the insurance must cover. Union's Simple plan, which covers urgent and acute care, is accepted by the Foreign Police (cudzinecká polícia) for residence permits.
What the law asks for
The Act on the Residence of Foreigners (Act No. 404/2011, version in force from 1 October 2026) says:
- ·What counts as proof (§123): a confirmation in your name that you are health insured in Slovakia, or that the cost of your medical care in Slovakia is insured. The law sets no minimum cover, no minimum sum insured and no particular insurer.
- ·By when (§111(1)(d)): you must be insured no later than 3 working days after collecting your residence card, and prove it if the police check.
- ·Handing in the proof (§32(9)): for temporary residence for business, a special activity, research and development or family reunification, and for long-term residents of another EU country, the proof goes to the Foreign Police within 30 days of collecting the card. If you are already insured when you apply, you can attach it to the application instead.
- ·Not part of the first application: health insurance is not one of the attachments of a first application for temporary residence (§32(2)).
- ·Fine: not meeting these duties can cost up to €1,600 (§118).
Why you may have read the opposite
Many websites, and AI assistants repeating them, say a residence permit needs comprehensive insurance. That is advice about how much care you want paid for, not a legal requirement. The law only asks for the confirmation described above.
What Simple covers
Simple is Union poisťovňa's commercial health insurance for foreigners for urgent situations:
- ·urgent and acute care, accidents and sudden illness,
- ·hospitalisation and prescribed medicines,
- ·rescue transport and repatriation (up to €20,000),
- ·urgent care also when you travel in the Schengen area,
- ·a total limit of €70,000 per insurance period.
Not covered: illnesses that began before the insurance, preventive check-ups, and pregnancy and childbirth unless agreed with Union in advance. Under 60 there is no health questionnaire.
For a child, a year costs €360 at ages 3 to 5 and €562 at ages 1 and 2. Prices of Union poisťovňa as of October 2026, paid once for the whole period.
When Safety makes sense
Safety adds preventive check-ups (with a policy of at least 6 months), rehabilitation and ongoing care for conditions that start during the insurance, and dental treatment up to €300 a year (€100 per claim). It starts from €569.40 a year, and Union sets the final price after a short health questionnaire. It is worth it if you will stay longer and want regular doctor visits covered, not because the police require it.
If you are pregnant, write to us at info@klido.sk before applying: childbirth is covered only if agreed with Union.
Who does not need commercial insurance
Slovak public health insurance covers, among others, employees of an employer based in Slovakia who earn at least the minimum wage, self-employed people with a residence permit and permanent residents (Act No. 580/2004, §3). Company directors without permanent residence are not publicly insured on that basis (§3(9)) and need commercial insurance.
How to arrange it with klido
Choose the plan and the start date (today at the earliest), fill in the application in English, Slovak, Ukrainian, Spanish or Russian, sign on your phone and pay by card through the link in Union's e-mail. After payment Union e-mails you the confirmation for the Foreign Police, and it is also in your klido account. For Simple it takes about 5 minutes.
More in our guide to health insurance for a residence permit and the Simple and Safety comparison.
Sources: Act No. 404/2011 Coll. (Slov-Lex, version in force from 1 October 2026), Act No. 580/2004 Coll., Union poisťovňa's product documents. General information, not legal advice; the decision on your residence always rests with the police.
