Booking an appointment with Slovakia’s Foreign Police (cudzinecká polícia) can be frustrating, especially when available slots are limited. But finding an appointment is only part of the challenge. The Slovak Ministry of Interior also has strict rules about how often you can book, what happens when you cancel, and the consequences of missing an appointment.One rule is particularly important: you can make only one Foreign Police reservation across all locations within a 15-calendar-day period. Even a cancelled reservation counts towards that limit.If you miss an appointment without cancelling it in time, you may also face a 60-day restriction on making new bookings.

This guide explains the official reservation rules, with practical examples to help you avoid common mistakes.

1. How Does the Slovakia Foreign Police Booking System Work?

The Slovak Ministry of Interior (Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, or MV SR) operates the official reservation system for several public services, including Foreign Police appointments.

For selected immigration procedures, booking an appointment in advance is mandatory.

Each reservation is associated with a particular person and appointment time. When making a booking, you must follow several requirements:

  • The reservation must identify the foreigner who will attend the appointment.
  • An authorised representative may make the booking on the foreigner’s behalf, but it must still be made in the attending foreigner’s name.
  • The name and surname on the reservation must match the person attending.
  • The booking system requires the device’s IP address to function correctly.
  • The Ministry may cancel appointments if its booking rules are violated or exceptional technical or organisational circumstances arise.

Reservations are free of charge. There is no administrative fee simply for booking an appointment.

Important: When making a reservation, choose the administrative service that corresponds to the purpose of your visit. Holding an appointment does not automatically entitle you to use it for another procedure.

2. The 15-Day Rule: How Often Can You Make a Reservation?

This is one of the most important rules to understand before using the system.

Under the official regulations, one person can create only one Foreign Police reservation across all locations within 15 calendar days.

The original Slovak wording is:

Jedna (1) konkrétna osoba si môže vytvoriť len jednu (1) rezerváciu na všetky lokality v priebehu pätnástich (15) kalendárnych dní.

In other words, the booking allowance applies to the individual, not to each Foreign Police office separately.

The restriction applies nationwide

Suppose you make an appointment at a Foreign Police office in Bratislava.

You cannot simply avoid the 15-day booking restriction by switching to another office, such as Nitra or Trnava, during the same period.

The rule applies across all Foreign Police locations.

The booking date matters, not just the appointment date

This distinction is easy to overlook.

Imagine you make a reservation on 1 October for an appointment scheduled on 30 October.

The 15-day rule concerns when you created the reservation, not when the appointment is scheduled to take place.

Therefore, the relevant booking period begins with the reservation you made on 1 October.

The official document does not specify the system’s exact technical calculation of the earliest eligible booking time. If you are close to the boundary, avoid assuming that a new reservation will become available at a particular hour.

Calendar days, not working days

The Ministry uses the term kalendárnych dní, meaning calendar days.

Weekends and public holidays are included in the 15-day period.

3. Does Cancelling an Appointment Reset the 15-Day Limit?

No. Cancelling an appointment does not remove it from your booking allowance.

This is explicitly stated in the Ministry’s rules:

Za využitú rezerváciu sa považuje aj zrušená rezervácia.

This means that a cancelled reservation is also treated as a used reservation.

Many applicants assume they can cancel an existing appointment and immediately book a different one. That is not necessarily possible.

Practical example: Trying to switch to an earlier appointment

Consider the following situation:

  1. 1 October: You make a reservation for 30 October.
  2. 5 October: You discover an available appointment on 12 October.
  3. 5 October: You cancel your original appointment, hoping to reserve the earlier slot.

Unfortunately, cancelling the first appointment does not erase it from the 15-day booking allowance.

The reservation created on 1 October still counts, meaning the system may reject your attempt to make another booking on 5 October.

What if more than 15 days have passed since you booked?

The published rule limits how frequently reservations can be created within a 15-calendar-day period.

If more than 15 days have passed since your previous reservation was created, that original booking would generally no longer fall within the same 15-day creation window.

However, the official document does not explain every technical condition that the system applies to existing active reservations.

For this reason, you should not assume that cancelling an older appointment automatically guarantees the ability to make a replacement reservation.

4. Can You Have Two Foreign Police Appointments at the Same Time?

The official rules limit reservation creation to one booking per person across all Foreign Police locations within 15 calendar days.

However, they do not explicitly explain whether two active reservations are permitted when they were created more than 15 days apart.

For example, imagine that:

  • You already have an appointment for a general administrative matter.
  • You subsequently receive instructions to attend another immigration procedure.
  • More than 15 days have passed since you made your first reservation.

The published 15-day rule alone does not confirm that you can hold both appointments simultaneously.

It also does not explain whether the system automatically prevents a second active reservation.

What should you do? Follow the instructions for your specific immigration procedure and check what the reservation system permits before cancelling an existing appointment.

5. How to Cancel a Slovakia Foreign Police Appointment

If you cannot attend an appointment, you should cancel it through the Ministry’s official reservation system.

The cancellation process is described in the official booking rules.

Step 1: Find your reservation confirmation email

After creating a reservation, you should receive a confirmation email containing appointment information and a cancellation link.

Look for the following Slovak wording:

Ak sa na termín nemôžete dostaviť, tak prosím zrušte rezerváciu kliknutím na nasledovný odkaz.

This means:

If you cannot attend your appointment, please cancel your reservation by clicking the following link.

Step 2: Open the cancellation page

Follow the link in your confirmation email.

For Foreign Police appointments, use the section labelled:

Moje rezervácie – cudzinecká polícia

This translates to My Reservations – Foreign Police.

Do not confuse this with the general Moje rezervácie section used for other administrative services.

Step 3: Complete the cancellation

Follow the instructions displayed by the reservation system.

After completing the process, verify that the reservation has been cancelled and keep any confirmation for your records.

Can you cancel by calling the Ministry?

No. The official rules specifically state:

Callcentrum MV SR rezervácie neruší.

In English, this means that the Ministry of Interior’s call centre does not cancel reservations.

You must use the appropriate online cancellation process.

6. What Happens If You Miss Your Appointment?

Failing to attend a Foreign Police appointment without cancelling it in time can have serious consequences for your ability to make future bookings.

Under the Ministry’s general reservation rules, if you miss an appointment and fail to cancel it at least 12 hours beforehand, you will be blocked from creating new reservations for 60 calendar days.

The 60-day restriction starts from the date of the unused appointment.

Example: Missing an appointment without cancelling

Suppose you have a Foreign Police appointment scheduled for 20 October at 10:00 a.m.

If you do not attend and have not cancelled it at least 12 hours beforehand, the Ministry’s published rules provide for a 60-calendar-day restriction on making further reservations.

This can be particularly problematic if you need another appointment for a time-sensitive immigration procedure.

How early must you cancel?

The rules require you to cancel no later than 12 hours before the scheduled appointment time to avoid the specific no-show restriction.

For example:

  • Appointment: Friday at 10:00 a.m.
  • Cancellation deadline: Thursday at 10:00 p.m.

It is sensible to cancel earlier whenever possible, in case you experience a technical problem with the system.

Cancellation and no-show consequences compared

Situation What happens?
Attend your appointment The ordinary reservation limits apply.
Cancel at least 12 hours beforehand You avoid the specific no-show restriction, but the reservation still counts towards the 15-day limit.
Miss the appointment without cancelling at least 12 hours beforehand A 60-calendar-day restriction applies.
Repeatedly violate the booking rules The Ministry may impose a temporary booking restriction.

Remember: The 15-day booking limit and the 60-day no-show restriction are different rules. Cancelling an appointment in time can prevent the no-show restriction, but it does not erase the original reservation from the 15-day allowance.

7. Can the Ministry Block You for Other Booking Violations?

Yes. The Ministry reserves the right to temporarily restrict individuals who repeatedly violate the reservation rules.

According to the official document, the reservation system may identify individuals using:

  • First name and surname
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • A combination of these details

The official document does not specify a fixed duration for every type of repeated violation.

The explicitly stated 60-day restriction applies to an unused appointment that was not cancelled at least 12 hours beforehand.

Changing contact details or making duplicate non-compliant reservations should not be treated as a legitimate way to bypass the rules.

8. Foreign Police vs Other Ministry Services: Different Booking Limits

One common source of confusion is that different administrative services use different reservation limits.

The Ministry’s booking system covers Foreign Police appointments as well as services involving identity documents, the Traffic Inspectorate and the Cadastre.

But their booking allowances are not the same.

Rule Foreign Police Documents, Traffic Inspectorate and Cadastre
Reservations allowed within 15 calendar days 1 reservation Up to 2 reservations
Geographic restriction Across all locations Per location
Cancelled reservations count Yes Yes
Advance booking Mandatory for selected procedures Voluntary under the general rules
60-day no-show restriction Applies Applies

The difference is important.

If you read that the Ministry permits two reservations within 15 days, you may be looking at the rules for document services, vehicle registration or the Cadastre.

That two-reservation allowance does not apply to Foreign Police appointments.

9. What If You Need an Urgent Foreign Police Appointment?

Sometimes you may need to visit the Foreign Police unexpectedly, even though you already have an appointment or cannot find an available time.

Common situations include:

  • Submitting additional documents requested by the Foreign Police.
  • Attending a residence-card-related procedure.
  • Providing biometric data after receiving official instructions.
  • Resolving an issue with an existing residence application.
  • Attending a different immigration procedure from the one you originally booked.

In these situations, the most important step is to check the instructions issued for your particular case.

What if the system shows no available appointments?

The general reservation rules do not provide a guaranteed alternative booking method for situations where all appointments are unavailable.

They also do not establish a general emergency exemption from the 15-day limit.

If you receive an official request to attend but cannot secure the appropriate appointment, consider contacting the relevant Foreign Police office or the Ministry’s official contact channels to ask how to proceed.

Keep copies of any written instructions, application references and correspondence.

You can find office locations and contact details in our complete guide to Foreign Police offices in Slovakia.

Can you use a different appointment category?

Do not assume that an appointment booked under a general administrative category can automatically be used to submit documents, provide biometrics or complete another immigration procedure.

The general reservation rules do not guarantee that an appointment can be transferred between different service categories.

Where possible, obtain clarification from the relevant office before relying on a booking intended for another purpose.

For more information about renewal procedures, see our guide to Slovakia’s temporary residence renewal rules in 2026.

10. Practical Tips Before Making an Appointment

Because booking opportunities can be limited, it is worth preparing carefully before making a reservation.

Choose the correct appointment category

Check which administrative procedure you need and whether advance booking is required for that service.

Do not select a different category simply because it has more available appointments unless the authority confirms that the category is appropriate.

Make sure you can attend

Before confirming an appointment, check your availability, travel arrangements and any documents you need to bring.

Remember that cancelling a reservation does not reset the 15-day limit.

Keep a record of your booking date

Save both the date you created the reservation and the date of the appointment itself.

These are different dates, and the reservation creation date matters when considering the 15-day booking restriction.

Save the confirmation email

Keep the confirmation message, reservation details and cancellation link somewhere accessible.

If the Ministry cancels an appointment for technical, organisational or rule-compliance reasons, it may notify you by email, SMS or an announcement on its website, as described in the official rules.

Think carefully before cancelling

If you already have a confirmed appointment, avoid cancelling it until you have considered the possibility that you may not be able to make an immediate replacement booking.

Cancel promptly if you cannot attend

Do not leave an appointment unused. Cancel it at least 12 hours beforehand, preferably earlier, to avoid the specific 60-day no-show restriction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a new appointment immediately after cancelling my old one?

Not necessarily. Cancelled reservations still count towards the 15-day booking allowance. If you have already created a reservation within the relevant 15-calendar-day period, cancelling it does not restore your allowance.

Does the 15-day period start when I book or when I attend?

The official wording concerns reservations created within a 15-calendar-day period. The date you created the reservation is therefore relevant, rather than only the future appointment date.

Can I make another reservation at a different Foreign Police office?

The restriction applies across all Foreign Police locations. Booking at another office does not give you a separate allowance within the same 15-day period.

What if I booked more than 15 days ago?

Your original reservation would generally fall outside the same 15-day creation window. However, the published rules do not fully explain how the system handles multiple active reservations. A new booking is not guaranteed solely because 15 days have passed.

Can I have two appointments for different services?

The official rules do not establish a separate booking allowance for each Foreign Police service category. They also do not explicitly clarify whether two active appointments created more than 15 days apart are always permitted.

What happens if I cancel one day before the appointment?

If you successfully cancel at least 12 hours before the appointment, you avoid the specific no-show situation covered by the 60-day restriction. The cancelled booking still counts towards the ordinary 15-day limit.

What happens if I forget to attend?

If you miss your appointment and have not cancelled at least 12 hours beforehand, the published rules impose a 60-calendar-day restriction on creating new reservations.

Can I cancel my appointment by telephone?

No. The Ministry’s call centre does not cancel reservations. Use the online cancellation link provided in your confirmation email.

Does having an appointment mean my residence permit remains valid?

No. Appointment reservations and legal residence status are separate matters. A pending residence renewal, an expired residence card and the right to remain in Slovakia must be assessed under the applicable immigration legislation.

Official Sources

The information in this article is based primarily on the Slovak Ministry of Interior’s official reservation rules:

The Slovak reservation rules referenced here were last updated by the Ministry on 27 August 2025. This article reflects the published rules reviewed on 8 October 2026.

If you are dealing with residence permits or immigration procedures in Slovakia, these guides may also be useful:

Final Thoughts

Slovakia’s Foreign Police reservation rules are straightforward once you understand the distinction between creating, cancelling and missing an appointment.

The most important points are simple: one reservation within 15 calendar days, cancelled reservations still count, and failing to cancel at least 12 hours before an appointment can lead to a 60-day booking restriction.

Before giving up an existing appointment, consider whether you will be eligible to book another one. If your situation is urgent or involves a specific immigration instruction, check the appropriate procedure rather than relying on assumptions about the reservation system.

For more practical guidance on residence permits, administrative procedures and everyday life in Slovakia, explore LovinSK.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information based on the published Ministry of Interior reservation rules. It is not legal advice. Administrative procedures, online booking functions and applicable requirements may change. Always check the latest official instructions for your particular case.