U.S. Embassy Bratislava

Hviezdoslavovo námestie 4,
811 02 Bratislava
Slovakia
Telephone: +(421) (2) 5922 3000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(421) 903-703-666
Email: BratislavaACS@state.gov

U.S. Embassy Bratislava

European Judicial Network in Civil and Commercial Matters - Slovakia

Slovakia is a party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters.  Complete information on the operation of the Convention, including an interactive online request form are available on the Hague Conference website.  Requests should be completed in duplicate and submitted with two sets of the documents to be served, and translations, directly to Slovakia’s Central Authority for the Hague Service Convention.  The person in the United States executing the request form should be either an attorney or clerk of court.  The applicant should include the titles attorney at law or clerk of court on the identity and address of applicant and signature/stamp fields.  In its Declarations and Reservations on the Hague Service Convention, Slovakia formally objected to service under Article 10, and does not permit service via postal channels.  For additional information see the Hague Conference Service Convention web page and the Hague Conference Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Service Convention.  See also Slovakia’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Hague Service Convention.

Service on a Foreign State:  See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.

Service of Documents from Slovakia in the United States:  See information about service in the United States on the U.S. Central Authority for the Service Convention page of the Hague Conference on Private International Law Service Convention site.

Prosecution Requests:  U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters:  Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.

Slovakia is a party to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters.  The Central Authority for Slovakia for the Hague Evidence Conventiondesignated to receive letters of request for the taking of evidence is the Ministry of Justice.  See the Hague Evidence Convention Model Letters of Request for guidance on how to prepare a letter of request.  Letters of Request should be prepared in duplicate.  Slovakia accepts Letters of Request written in or translated into Slovak, French and English.  Requests for compulsion  of evidence under the Hague Evidence Convention are transmitted directly from the requesting court or person in the United States to Slovakia’s Central Authority and do not require transmittal via diplomatic channels.  See Slovakia’s Declarations and Reservations on the Hague Evidence Convention.  See also Slovakia’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Hague Evidence Convention.

Requests from Slovakia to Obtain Evidence in the United States:  The U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention is the Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L St., N.W., Room 11006, Washington, D.C. 20530.

Voluntary depositions may be conducted in Slovakia regardless of the nationality of the witness, provided no compulsion is used. Permission from the Slovakian Competent Authority is required before depositions are taken pursuant to a commission. No prior permission is required for depositions taken by U.S. consular officers at the U.S. Embassy or at another location such as hotel or office. A U.S. consular officer is permitted to administer oaths to witnesses, interpreters and/or stenographers.  If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly. Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava well in advance to obtain information about fees, as well as to schedule such services.  Participants using their own equipment are responsible for obtaining their own clearances from Slovak Customs authorities for bringing equipment into Slovakia. Check with the Consular Section of the Slovak Embassy in the U.S. for details. If you intend to bring equipment to Slovakia for the deposition, it is advisable to contact the Slovak technical support provider with details regarding that equipment to ensure that it is compatible to electrical equipment in Slovakia.  After advance arrangements are completed, confirm with the U.S. Embassy a few days in advance of the actual deposition.

Slovakia is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents. Slovakia’s competent authority for the Hague Apostille Conventionwill authenticate Slovak public documents with Apostilles.  For information about authenticating U.S. public documents for use in Slovakia, see the list of U.S. Competent Authorities.  To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.