Slovakia

Slovakia has no small-amount exception for drugs other than cannabis - the lowest band in the law is already a prison offence of up to 2 years. The limits are hard grams: 0.2 g of methamphetamine or amphetamine, 0.3 g of cocaine, 0.5 g of heroin, 0.5 g of fentanyl, 0.8 g or 3 tablets of MDMA, 3 tabs of LSD, 10 g of dried psilocybin mushrooms. Anything not on that list - most research chemicals and novel synthetics - gets just 1 gram. And carrying a substance across the border only counts as simple possession if it is strictly for you and no part of it is for anyone else; otherwise it is trafficking, which starts at 1 to 5 years even for a trace.

From paras 171 and 173 of zakon c. 300/2005 Z. z. as in force 18. 8. 2026. Possession of a non-cannabis narcotic or psychotropic substance: up to 2 years at nepatrne mnozstvo (at or below the Annex 1 figure); 6 months to 3 years at male mnozstvo (up to 5x that figure); 1 to 6 years at vacsie mnozstvo (up to 250x) or on reconviction within 24 months. Unauthorised production or trafficking - which includes import, export or transit that fails the personal-use carve-out - is 1 to 5 years even at nepatrne mnozstvo, rising to 3 to 10 years at vacsie mnozstvo.

Verified Sep 7, 2026

Bringing cannabis into Slovakia is a crime either way, but which crime depends on why you are carrying it. The Criminal Code counts importing as ordinary possession when the cannabis is for personal consumption, is not meant even partly for passing on or for financial gain, and stays within the "larger quantity" band, which for cannabis is about 500 grams. On that footing the possession scale applies: up to 1 year for 2 grams or less, 6 months to 3 years above that up to about 10 grams, and 1 to 6 years above that. Carry it in for any other purpose and it is trading, which starts at 1 to 5 years in prison even for the smallest amount. The cannabis band is written to cover herb, resin and any psychotropic substance containing any THC, so a hemp or CBD product that contains THC is not automatically outside it.

Section 135b(1) of the Slovak Criminal Code says that possession of a narcotic or psychotropic substance also means importing, exporting, moving, transporting, buying, exchanging or otherwise obtaining it for oneself or another, at most in a larger quantity, for the purpose of personal consumption and without any part of it being intended for further distribution or financial gain. Section 135b(2) defines trading to include import, export, transit and transport, except where the conduct is possession under 135b(1). For cannabis herb or resin Annex 1 sets the negligible quantity at 2 grams; section 135d makes a small quantity up to five times that (about 10 grams) and a larger quantity up to 250 times it (about 500 grams). Possession under section 171 is punished by up to 1 year for cannabis in a negligible quantity, 6 months to 3 years in a small quantity, and 1 to 6 years in a larger quantity or on a repeat conviction within 24 months. Trading under section 173 is punished by 1 to 5 years even in a negligible quantity, 3 to 10 years in a larger quantity, 7 to 15 years in a considerable quantity, and more above that.

Verified Aug 25, 2026

Cannabis is illegal in Slovakia and possession is a crime carrying prison, not a fine. Up to 2 grams carries up to 1 year, more than 2 grams up to about 10 grams carries 6 months to 3 years, and above that 1 to 6 years. Growing even two plants for your own use is a criminal offence, there is no medical cannabis programme, and driving is zero-tolerance -- it is illegal to drive while a drug may still be present in your body.

Possession of cannabis: up to 1 year for a negligible amount, meaning up to 2 g; 6 months to 3 years for a small amount; and 1 to 6 years for a larger amount or where the offender was convicted of the same offence in the previous 24 months (Criminal Code s. 171). Growing up to a negligible amount strictly for personal use: up to 6 months, rising to up to 2 years and then 6 months to 3 years with quantity (s. 172). Production or trafficking: 1 to 5 years at the base level, and 3 to 10 years in aggravated cases (s. 173).

Verified Aug 30, 2026

Slovakia does not allow importing medication without a valid prescription and only in the amount needed for the trip; a Ministry of Health permit is required to import medication by mail, even for personal use.

Import without prescription or permit may result in seizure.

Verified Jul 28, 2026

Importing guns, ammunition, or even spent shell casings into Slovakia without prior authorization is illegal; a weapons consignment note from a Slovak Embassy is required first.

Arrest and long detention; possession penalty 3–8 years.

Verified Jul 28, 2026

You must declare EUR 10,000 or more in cash when entering or leaving the EU through Slovakia; the threshold applies to each traveller individually, and there is no EU-wide rule for cash carried between EU countries.

Undeclared cash can be detained, and each EU country applies its own "effective, proportionate and dissuasive" penalties, which can include significant fines.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

If you buy an antique or a folk-art piece in Slovakia you may need a Ministry of Culture permit to take it out - and Slovakia regulates export INSIDE the EU too, so driving it to Vienna counts. Many categories have no minimum value at all: any archaeological find, and any religious item or folk piece over 100 years old - folk costumes and embroidery, folk pottery, folk jewellery, shepherds'' axes and carved crpak cups. Others trigger on value, such as paintings over 50 years old worth more than EUR 10,000, or meteorites and fossils above EUR 3,000 at any age. Exporting a listed item without the permit can cost you up to EUR 100,000.

Documented in the Act. Para 10 ods. 1 pism. a) makes it an offence to export an object of cultural value from Slovakia without a valid permit, and para 10 ods. 2 provides: "Za priestupok podla odseku 1 pism. a), i) a k) ministerstvo kultury ulozi pokutu do 100 000 eur. Pokutu mozno ulozit aj opakovane." - a fine of up to EUR 100,000, and it may be imposed repeatedly. For a business or entrepreneur, para 11 ods. 1 pism. a) sets a range of EUR 10,000 to EUR 200,000.

Verified Sep 7, 2026

Driving after any alcohol is illegal in Slovakia — the legal BAC is 0.00% (zero tolerance) — and police run frequent random breath tests.

A fine of up to EUR 1,300, confiscation of your licence and possible imprisonment.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

Drinking alcohol in the street is illegal in Bratislava's Old Town, and most Slovak cities ban public drinking except in designated areas, events, and registered cafes/bars.

A EUR 33 fine for drinking alcohol in the street in Bratislava Old Town; tourists have also been fined or imprisoned for being a public nuisance, particularly between 10pm and 6am.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

Slovakia counts your vape supplies in PACKAGES, not millilitres, and the number depends on how you arrive: ten consumer packages of e-liquid or nicotine pouches if you fly in, but only TWO by car, bus or train. Age 17 or over. Anything beyond that is taxable - Slovak excise duty on e-liquid is EUR 0.20 per ml - so declare it.

Beyond the package allowance the excess is taxable in Slovakia at EUR 0.20 per ml of e-liquid and EUR 0.10 per gram of nicotine pouches and other nicotine products. No exemption at all for a traveller under 17. The exemption also depends on the goods being in your personal baggage, non-commercial, for your own or household use or a gift, and imported only occasionally.

Verified Sep 4, 2026

Slovakia splits the allowance by how you travel. By air: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of smoking tobacco, plus ten consumer packages of smokeless tobacco. By ANY other transport - car, bus, train from Ukraine or Serbia: only 40 cigarettes, or 20 cigarillos, or 10 cigars, or 50 g, plus two packages. Age 17+, and you can mix products as long as the percentages add up to no more than 100%.

Above the limit only the quantity inside the limit stays exempt; the excess is taxed in Slovakia. Critically, the Financial Administration states that tobacco products over the limit can only be released into free circulation if they carry a SLOVAK control stamp - foreign-market packs cannot simply be duty-paid at the border. No exemption at all for a traveller under 17.

Verified Sep 4, 2026

An electronic vignette is required to drive on Slovak motorways and certain highways; buy it online, at petrol stations, post offices, or border stations.

Heavy on-the-spot fines for no vignette; licence confiscation if unpaid.

Verified Jul 28, 2026

Slovakia accepts a foreign photocard driving licence for short visits — the UK FCDO states a photocard licence is valid for up to 6 months — and you must exchange it for a Slovak licence if you stay longer.

Drink-driving with any alcohol in your system can bring a fine of up to EUR 1,300, confiscation of your licence and possible imprisonment.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

Slovak law requires winter tyres in snowy conditions, and chains may be needed in certain mountainous areas; heavy snow is common November–March in the northern mountains.

Non-compliance can result in fines.

Verified Jul 28, 2026

It is illegal to photograph security or military installations in Slovakia; authorities may confiscate images, fine or reprimand you, or expel you.

Confiscation of images, fine, reprimand, or expulsion.

Verified Jul 28, 2026

Slovakia's telecom law never uses the word "jammer" - but using one is still an offence, because transmitting on frequencies without authorisation is. A private individual (not a business) faces a fine of EUR 200 to EUR 20,000. Do not bring a signal blocker or GPS jammer into Slovakia.

Section 124(4) of Act No. 452/2021 Z. z.: a person who is NOT an entrepreneur and who breaches or fails to fulfil an obligation under s.124(1) to (3) commits a misdemeanour (priestupok), for which the Authority imposes a fine of EUR 200 to EUR 20,000. That is the band that applies to an ordinary traveller. Businesses face far more: up to 5 percent of the previous accounting period's turnover, or up to EUR 300,000 where there is no calculable turnover.

Verified Sep 6, 2026

Same-sex relationships are legal in Slovakia but not recognised as unions (a 2014 amendment bans same-sex marriage); discrimination and verbal abuse have been reported, and a 2022 hate-motivated shooting targeted an LGBTQ+ venue.

No criminal penalty for same-sex relations; crimes based on orientation are classed as hate crimes.

Verified Jul 28, 2026

Anyone over 16 in Slovakia must carry a passport or Slovak ID at all times (a photocopy is not sufficient); authorities can request it at any time.

A fine of up to EUR 1,600 for failing to show ID when the Slovak police ask for it.

Verified Jul 30, 2026