Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Slovakia, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own, and criminal penalties vary from country to country. If you break local laws in Slovakia your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

There are some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking the law as well.  

Driving under the influence is not allowed under Slovak law; the permissible blood alcohol level is zero, and driving while intoxicated is a crime. If stopped, a driver who is found operating a vehicle while intoxicated will experience a trip to the police station at a minimum and may even face criminal court proceedings. 

Taking photographs of security/military installations (for example, military bases, government buildings, nuclear power plants, etc.) is prohibited in Slovakia. If you violate this law, authorities may confiscate the film, issue a reprimand or fine, or even expel you from the country. Serious cases may be reported to and handled by local and/or military police.

Everyone in Slovakia over 15 years of age, including U.S. citizen visitors, is required by law to carry a passport at all times. It is not sufficient to carry a photocopy of the passport, although we recommend that you keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place. The police have the right to ask U.S. citizens for identification, and only a passport showing legal entry and/or a Slovak identity card issued to legal residents, is adequate evidence. A document other than a passport may not be considered sufficient proof of identity and legal status in Slovakia. If you are asked for your passport or residency permit and you do not have it, you risk a spot detention by the police for up to 24 hours or until identity is proven..

If you are arrested in Slovakia, authorities are required to notify the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request the police or prison officials notify the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. 

Custom: Slovak customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Slovakia of items such as firearms, antiquities, medications, business equipment, etc. You should contact the Embassy of Slovakia in Washington, D.C. or one of the Slovak consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Official protections for lesbian and gay individuals in Slovakia are technically the same as in other European Union countries, which were required to harmonize regulations relating to human rights and anti-discrimination. Same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults is legal with the same age of consent as for opposite-sex sexual activity between consenting adults. There is no legislation allowing for same-sex civil union, same-sex marriage, or adoption by same-sex parents. In 2014, Slovakia adopted a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Much of society adheres to traditional ideas of marriage and family, and prejudice and official and societal discrimination persist. The first gay pride parade in Slovakia was held in Bratislava in 2010 but was disrupted by attacks by extremist groups. The parade is now an annual event, and has continued without major incident and with more effective cooperation between police and organizers. There are several gay and lesbian venues in the capital as well as in several other cities across Slovakia. There are occasional reports of anti-gay slurs or altercations between gay and lesbian persons and extremist individuals. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Slovakia, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. For further information on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our Information for LGBT Travelers page.

ACCESSIBILITY: In Slovakia, accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities are different from the United States. Slovak law requires that public areas be accessible for persons with disabilities, although these regulations have only been in force for about a decade, and many older buildings and areas have not yet been retrofitted. 

Getting around in Slovak cities and towns may be difficult at times, since many sidewalks are narrow and uneven, and small towns may lack sidewalks altogether. Public transportation and the railroads provide fairly good methods of traveling throughout the cities and throughout the country, but most stations lack elevators and do not provide easy accessibility for people with disabilities. Although there are plans to upgrade municipal bus fleets, currently only some buses and no trams are equipped with lowering platforms for travelers with disabilities. Taxis are a good means of transportation, although many are unlicensed and may seek to charge unreasonable fares to tourists. Fares charged when hailing a taxi or catching one on the street or at the train station are often several times more expensive than fares charged when calling a taxi service in advance.