The company Schmidt and Schmidt provides services for the reclamation of civil status documents, as well as obtaining duplicates, lost or damaged documents in Slovakia with their subsequent legalization and translation.
It often happens that civil status documents are lost or damaged, or it is necessary to obtain current copies of documents. In this case, it is necessary to reclaim duplicates of documents. Often, those who have left Slovakia face difficulties in this procedure. Our service allows you to reclaim documents in Slovakia remotely, and we can carry out courier delivery of the document to anywhere in the world.
Validity of civil status documents in Slovakia
Civil status documents issued in Slovakia are usually valid indefinitely. However, the receiving party may impose time requirements.
When to obtain duplicate documents in Slovakia
A duplicate birth certificate, marriage certificate, name change certificate, divorce certificate, criminal record certificate or death certificate may be required to register a marriage abroad, a newborn child, citizenship, inheritance, data verification for pension applications, opening bank accounts, employment and other bureaucratic issues.
What documents can be requested in Slovakia:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Certificate of change of surname
- Divorce certificate
- Death certificate
- Certificates of good conduct
- Educational documents
- Other civil status documents
Birth certificate (Rodný list)
A birth certificate is an official document provided by the Registrar or acting Registrar of the relevant Civil or Consular Register. It verifies details of an individual's birth, including the date, sex, and, if applicable, the time of birth and family relationships.
To acquire a Slovak birth certificate, you must contact the registry office in the parent’s last place of residence. The office will prepare a birth record, which includes details about the parents and the child at the time of birth. The parents are required to present a valid identity document. Issuing the first original birth certificate is free of charge.
Required documents
- Name and surname of the person
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Information about parents (names, dates of birth, dates of death)
- Religion
Marriage certificate (Sobášny list)
A marriage certificate is an official document that verifies the occurrence of a marriage. It records details such as the names of the spouses, the date, and the location of the marriage.
A marriage certificate can be requested by either spouse involved in the marriage or their authorized representatives. In certain situations, individuals with a legitimate interest, such as for legal proceedings, can also request this document
Marriage certificates are issued by the registry office (matričný úrad) in the location where the marriage was registered. If you are outside Slovakia, you can request a marriage certificate through the Slovak embassy or consulate in your country, or by authorizing Schmidt & Schmidt to act on your behalf.
Required documents
- Valid ID
- Names of the spouses
- Date and place of marriage
Divorce certificates (Rozvodový list)
A divorce certificate serves the purpose to verify the legal dissolution of a marriage. It is required for procedures such as remarrying, updating marital status on legal records, immigration applications, and legal matters involving custody, support, or property division.
In Slovakia, divorce certificates are not issued as a standalone document. Instead, a divorce is confirmed through a final court decision (rozsudok o rozvode) issued by the court that granted the divorce. This document serves as proof of the divorce. The decision becomes legally binding after the appeal period has expired, usually 15 days after it is issued unless an appeal is lodged.
One can request it from the district court (okresný súd) that handled your divorce case.
You may need to provide proof of identity and case details, such as the names of both former spouses and the date of the divorce.
Required documents
- Valid ID
- Case details/Case number
- Names of both parties
Death certificates (Úmrtný list)
A death certificate serves the purpose to provide official confirmation of a person’s death. It is often needed for legal and financial matters such as settling estates, claiming life insurance, finalizing wills, notifying government agencies and closing bank accounts.
In Slovakia, death certificates (úmrtný list) are official documents issued by the registry office (matričný úrad) and serve as proof of an individual's death.
In cases where the death occurred abroad, the certificate can be registered in Slovakia through a Slovak consulate or the Special Registry (Osobitná matrika) in Bratislava.
Required documents
- Valid ID
- Details of the deceased
- Proof of relationship to the deceased or a legal interest in obtaining the certificate.
- If the death occurred abroad, additional documents like the foreign death certificate (translated and possibly legalized or apostilled).
Police clearance certificate
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), also referred to as an Extract from the Criminal Records Disclosure, is issued by the Criminal Register of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Slovak Republic. This document certifies that the applicant has no record of criminal activity involving Slovak police authorities. It is often required when applying for immigration or residency in other countries.
Individuals born in Slovakia, outside Slovakia, or with an undocumented birthplace can apply for a copy of their Extract from the Criminal Record. Applications can be submitted through the Slovak Embassy or directly within Slovakia. The criminal record information is maintained by the Register of Convictions under the Criminal Register of the General Prosecutor's Office.
In order to obtain a Police clearance certificate from Slovakia, one must present the following documents:
Required documents
- Valid ID
- Application Letter
- Completed Application Form
- Residence Proof
- Passport Entry and Exit Stamps
- Visa Pages (color copy)
- Fingerprint Card
For International Use
If you need a PCC for use abroad, it must be obtained from the General Prosecutor's Office or its regional branches. This version is issued on official letterhead and often requires an apostille for international validation.
Educational Documents
Foreign educational documents only carry the same legal value as Slovakian documents if they are exempt from legalization or have undergone the necessary legalization process. Documents from countries with bilateral agreements with Slovakia are fully exempt from legalization. Documents from countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 undergo a simplified procedure called Apostille. If neither countries are part of the convention or have bilateral agreements they undergo consular legalization
Certificates, diplomas, and school attendance confirmations issued by elementary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions in Slovakia intended for use abroad must be certified by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic will not legalize documents unless they have been initially certified by the Ministry of Education or another relevant state institution.
Apostille of duplicate documents in Slovakia
Slovakia joined the Hague Convention on the Simplified Legalization of Documents on the 11th March 1973.
Thus, documents issued in Slovakia are subject to legalization under a simplified procedure - apostille, after notarized translation into any language, such documents acquire full legal force in the territory of the wished destination.
You can order an apostille for copies and duplicates of documents from Slovakia from us.
