Slovakia is a central European country bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary in the south, Austria in the south west, and the Czechia in the north west. The population is around five and half million people.

The capital is Bratislava, the largest city in the country. It brings a million tourists into the country every year, and is definitely worth visiting during your time there. Slovakia has been a member of the European Union and Eurozone since 2004. The country as it exists today was founded in 1993, when Czechoslovakia split up into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Since then, the country has been growing in importance in Europe,

Slovakia is a rich and diverse country -  there are many famous vineyards that you can visit, mountains you can climb, historic castles you can explore. You also go skiing at the Poland border, and there is the Slovak national park where you can discover a monastery from the 13^th century.

The local people are friendly, and there are opportunities, to learn, grow, and enjoy yourself in Slovakia.

The Slovakian Culture:

Slovakia has a culture that celebrates cuisine: the national meal is Bryndzove Halusky, a potato dumpling with goat cheese and bacon. The Slovakian people like to eat stuffed cabbage leaves, dry fruit, fish, and meat. Their meals are often served with dumplings with different flavours (cheese, potatoes, fruits), and they love to make their own homemade bread.

The country has history stretching back hundreds of years, from the Communist regime of the 70’s and 80’s, to medieval castles that date back to the eleventh century.

The national sport is ice hockey, and their national team is one of the best in the world.

The Cost Of Living In Slovakia:

Like a lot of central Europe, the cost of living in Slovakia is really cheap, renting a one bedroom apartment, it might only cost around €332 (or around €465 for 2 bedrooms). The price of a ticket for public transportation can be less than one euro. If you would like to have a dinner with two courses in a classy restaurant it might be between €5 and €12. In Slovakia you can have a high level of life satisfaction without having to spend too much money.

Working In Slovakia:

Since 2007, Slovakia has been one of the highest producers of cars per capita in the world. This has been helped by the Slovak Technical University, which educates world-class engineers.

The average salary for the country is €1331 monthly but if you are a graduate or you present some special skills, your salary would likely be more than the average. You benefit from around twenty-five days off a year and will likely work around forty hours a week.

EU Citizens have free entry to the country, and have the right to stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic for a period exceeding three months if:

- they’re employed in Slovakia

- They’re an independent worker in the territory of Slovakia

- They have sufficient resources ensuring they’re not a burden on the social security system during their stay and can pay for health insurance

- There is a high probability that they will find a job

A European Union resident staying in the Slovak Republic for more than three months has an obligation to ask for an extension of the stay if exceeding 30 days from the first day they entered Slovak territory.

If you’re not an EU citizen, you can apply to live and work in Slovakia relatively easily.

Read about the best jobs to go for in 2019, or learn which questions you shouldn’t be asked in a job interview.