FAQ · Economy & Work 9

Slovnaft is the largest oil refinery operating in Slovakia. For natural gas, the main supplier is Slovenský plynárenský priemysel, also known as SPP. In recent years, the country has worked to reduce its reliance on Russian oil and gas. To achieve this, a gas pipeline interconnector with Poland was completed in August 2022. Additionally, SPP has entered into a pilot contract to purchase natural gas from Azerbaijan.

The service sector accounts for about two-thirds of the economic output in Slovakia. This sector includes various IT and business service centres that are operated by international companies like IBM and Amazon. Additionally, Slovakia is home to its own software companies such as ESET and Sygic. While services are a major part of the economy, industry and construction still contribute about one-third of the output. This balance helps define the country's economic structure.

Management of large cooperative farms was organized into three hierarchical levels. The first level involved a chairman and a committee that handled daily operations, while boards of economic management took over important functions. A second echelon of management was responsible for specific areas or branches of production. The third level of management was responsible for organizing the labor force, such as field brigades. During the 1960s, the active farm population consisted largely of women and older men. This shift occurred after many farmers, especially the young, were forced into industrial jobs.

Slovakia is a high-income advanced economy with one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe. The country is notably the world's biggest per-capita car producer. In 2016 alone, a total of 1,040,000 cars were manufactured within the country. The car industry is a major driver of the economy, representing 43 percent of the industrial output. Additionally, this sector accounts for a quarter of the country's exports.

Yes, there is a coworking center called Banka Žilina located in the city. This center is situated in a historical building that used to be a bank on Legionárska street. The building is owned by Milan Dubec, who also founded this coworking space. It serves as a professional environment for those looking for workspace in the Žilina area.

Value Added Tax returns must be filed every month in Slovakia. If the turnover does not exceed 100,000 Euro, tax can also be filed once every three months on a quarterly basis. It is important that VAT returns are filed within 25 days from the last day of the taxable period. A foreign entity not registered in the VAT system can ask for a refund of VAT paid on goods or services provided by a VAT payer in the country. In the event of excess value added tax, the refund is issued by the tax authorities within 30 days of the VAT return deadline.

Slovakia is organized into administrative units known as districts, or okres. These districts are second-tier units located below a region and above a municipality. While most districts include both rural and urban areas, the cities of Bratislava and Košice are unique because they are divided into internal urban districts. Bratislava contains five such districts, while Košice is divided into four. All other districts are larger and typically feature an urban centre that serves as the district seat.

An electronic visa is stored in a computer and is linked to your passport number. Because of this, no label, sticker, or stamp is placed in the passport before you travel. The entire application process is completed over the internet. Your receipt acts as a visa for your trip. You can choose to print this document or store it on a mobile device.

Slovakia offers various activities for visitors during the warmer seasons. You can navigate down the Váh or Dunajec rivers on a raft through picturesque gorges. For a more gentle experience, consider rafting down the Small Danube. Those interested in history can ride cosy steam trains through forests and valleys on phased-out railway tracks. Additionally, you can enjoy water parks in locations like Bešeňová, Liptovský Mikuláš, or Poprad. Classical open-air pools in Veľký Meder and Štúrovo are also available as a cheaper option.