Beauty Industry in Slovakia: How to Get a Work Permit in Cosmetology

Where to start: training and accreditation

To work in cosmetology in Slovakia you have to complete a Slovak cosmetology course, and if you want to work for yourself you also have to pass the exams to obtain the relevant licence.

When choosing where to study, bear in mind that the school must be accredited — that is essential. I can recommend the state school Amosk, which is in Bratislava. They will explain everything clearly and help you.

Here is the link:http://www.amosk.sk/

How to train for free

There is currently a state programme for refugees under which you can train free of charge, with the costs covered by your local úrad práce (labour office).

For this you need to obtain confirmation from the úrad práce.

How long the course lasts and how it works

The course lasts 2-3 months. Classes take place at the school, and you can agree your attendance hours if you also have a job. The course has a theoretical and a practical part. At the end of the course you have to pass an exam and receive a cosmetologist’s certificate. With this document you can take a job in a salon.

If you want to work for yourself (as a self-employed trader), this certificate is not enough. To obtain a trade licence you need to submit an application (at the same school Amosk) and prepare the necessary documents.

Required documents and costs

proof of education, translated into Slovak by an official translator and certified by a notary (translation costs on average 20€ per page, the notary on average 10€ per page)
Certificate of completion of the cosmetology course, certified by a notary
medical confirmation of professional fitness (cost 35€)
the exam itself costs 220€

Employment and self-employment are two different paths

First decide exactly what you are planning. It changes the whole list of requirements.

Working as an employee in someone else’s salon. With temporary protection status you have free access to the labour market and no separate work permit is needed. In this case the employer sets the qualification requirements, and the responsibility for following the rules lies with them. This is the quickest way to start.

Working for yourself. Here you already need a živnosť (trade licence) — the Slovak equivalent of registering as a sole trader. And this is where the requirements for qualification documents begin.

Which živnosť you need for beauty services

Cosmetic services, manicure and pedicure are not free trades. They are qualified trades: to register one you have to document your professional training.

An important detail that trips many people up: manicure and pedicure are two separate trades. If you want to offer both services, you will have to prove your qualifications for each of them separately.

Proof is usually a vocational education certificate (výučný list) in the relevant field, or a certificate of completion of a course accredited by the Slovak Ministry of Education. In some cases documented work experience is also accepted. Check the exact classification of your particular service with the živnostenský úrad (trade licensing office) — the list of documents depends on it.

How to have a qualification obtained abroad recognised

A Ukrainian or Russian cosmetology diploma on its own will not let you open a živnosť. You need the procedure for recognition of professional qualifications (uznanie odbornej kvalifikácie). Documents are submitted with a certified translation into Slovak, and the process takes weeks, sometimes longer.

There is also a way around this: appointing a responsible representative (zodpovedný zástupca) — someone whose qualification is already recognised in Slovakia. They are responsible for the professional side of the business, while the živnosť is registered in your name. This is a lawful option, but choose such a person carefully: they carry real responsibility.

Premises: you cannot open a salon without approval from the public health authority

This is the point that most often delays an opening. Any premises where body care services are provided must be approved for use by the regional public health authority (RÚVZ). Without its positive decision you cannot work, even if you already hold your živnosť.

The application must include an operating regulation (prevádzkový poriadok) — a document describing all the salon’s hygiene procedures: instrument disinfection, waste handling, cleaning. It is also approved by the RÚVZ. It is best not to leave drawing it up until the last moment.

Consider the requirements for the premises themselves separately: water supply, ventilation, separate zones. If you plan permanent make-up or other procedures that break the skin, the requirements will be stricter.

How much it costs and how long it takes

Registering a qualified trade — an administrative fee of 22 euros, or 11 euros when filed electronically.
Time to issue the certificate — up to three working days from the submission of a complete set of documents.
Recognition of a foreign qualification and RÚVZ approval — these are paid for separately and take noticeably longer than the živnosť itself.

When planning your opening, count on several months rather than three days: the bottleneck is not the živnosť but diploma recognition and approval of the premises.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work from home?

In any case the premises must meet hygiene requirements and be approved. A flat without a dedicated, properly equipped room does not, as a rule, meet these requirements.

Do I need a živnosť if I work in someone else’s salon?

Under an employment contract — no. But many salons prefer to work with practitioners as self-employed traders, and then you will need a živnosť.

Does a course taken in Ukraine count?

Only after the qualification recognition procedure. You should not count on the certificate being accepted as it is.

What happens if you work without permits?

That is illegal business activity, with the risk of a fine and closure. On top of that, if a client complains you will have neither insurance nor legal protection.