Agricultural and food products, tobacco, raw materials, oil, gas and electrical energy, chemical industry products, wood, textiles, footwear, ceramics, metals

Basic information

1

Outline of the system

The import licensing system of the Slovak Republic is based on the premise that imports into the Slovak Republic are free except where specific products are subject to automatic or non-automatic import licences. This system is maintained under the Decree of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic 15/1998 Coll. “On the Conditions of the Issuance of an Official Licence for the Export and Import of Goods and Services”, as amended, published in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic.

Activities related to the operation of the import licensing system fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic. The rules for import licensing procedures are neutral in application and administered in a fair and equitable manner.

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Product coverage

Some agricultural and food products, tobacco and substitutes of tobacco products, raw materials, oil products, gas and electrical energy, products of chemical industry, wood and wooden products, textile products, footwear, ceramic products, metals and metal products.

Nature of licensing

Automatic

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If Automatic, administrative purpose

Automatic import licensing is applied for statistical and monitoring purposes.

Non-Automatic

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If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime

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Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports

The licensing is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports.

6

Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports

Not applicable (no quantitative restrictions).

7

The system applies to products originating from which country?

It applies to products originating in and coming from all countries.

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Expected duration of licensing procedure

Eligibility of applicants

12

Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?

13

What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?

All natural persons or legal entities domiciled in the Slovak Republic, irrespective of nationality or origin, are eligible to apply for a licence, provided that their economic activities have been registered in the Slovak Republic.

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Is there a registration fee?

15

Is there a published list of authorized importers?

Contact point for information on eligibility

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Ministry/Authority

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Address

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Telephone

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Fax

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E-mail address

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Website

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Contact officer

Submission of an application

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Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application

Documentation requirements

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What information is required in applications?

The application for a licence contains the usual information regarding the importer, product(s) in question, country of origin and proposed period of validity.
A (sample) specimen of the application is contained in Annex F-I to the Decree of the Ministry of Economy 15/1998, as amended.

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What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?

The following documents have to be annexed to the application:

- extract from the commercial register or trade licence, which could not be older than 1 year,
- other documents as set forth in the Decree of the Ministry of Economy 15/1998, as amended (for example sanitary or phytosanitary certificates to import of the agricultural products).

Window of submission of an application

26

How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?

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Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain

There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which the applications can be made.

Issuing the license

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Can a licence be granted immediately on request?

The licence can be granted immediately on request, however vast majority of automatic licences is granted within two or three calendar days.

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Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence

Generally, the application for a licence is not restricted in time, unless otherwise provided in the implementing legislation. According to the Decree of the Ministry of Economy 15/1998 Coll., as amended, the Ministry of Economy has 14 calendar days to process the application for a licence for products subject at present to automatic licensing.

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Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?

Only the Ministry of Economy has the authority to issue licences on imports of goods.

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Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?

Only the Ministry of Economy has the authority to issue licences on imports of goods.

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Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?

No.

Fees and other administrative charges

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Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?

The administrative fee is set at the level of 0.1% from the value of imported goods, at least 1.000 SKK.

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What is the amount of the fee or charge?

The administrative fee is set at the level of 0.1% from the value of imported goods, at least 1.000 SKK.

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Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?

No deposit or advance payment is required in connection with the issue of licences.

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Amount or rate?

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Is it refundable?

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What is the period of retention?

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What is the purpose of this requirement?

Refusal of an application

40

Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?

The application for a licence shall be refused if it does not meet the set requirements.

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Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?

The reasons for any refusal are communicated to the applicant, who has a right of appeal to the Ministry of Economy and, at a second instance, to the court.

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Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?

The reasons for any refusal are communicated to the applicant, who has a right of appeal to the Ministry of Economy and, at a second instance, to the court.

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If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?

The reasons for any refusal are communicated to the applicant, who has a right of appeal to the Ministry of Economy and, at a second instance, to the court.

Importation

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Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?

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What documents are required upon actual importation?

No further documents are required.

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Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?

There are no other administrative procedures required to importation apart from health, veterinary, sanitary and quality regulations.

Conditions of licensing

47

What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?

A licence is generally valid for a calendar year.

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Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?

There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence.

49

Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?

Licences are not transferable among importers.

Foreign Exchange

50

Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?

The foreign exchange is automatically provided for goods to be imported and a licence is not a condition for obtaining foreign exchange.

51

Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange?

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Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued?

53

What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?