Registering a Slovak s.r.o. After 17 August 2026: What Changed
On 17 August 2026 a new Commercial Register Act (No. 29/2026 Coll.) took effect in Slovakia, replacing the 2003 legislation and launching a new register information system. If you were planning to incorporate a Slovak s.r.o. this autumn, three things changed at once: the founding document now has to be a notarial deed, the company’s registered data became legally binding online, and a company doing only free trades no longer needs a separate trade licence application.
Here is what the new regime means in practice for a founder who is not in Slovakia.
What changed on 17 August
| Until 16 August 2026 | From 17 August 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Founding document | certified signatures were enough | notarial deed or attorney-authorised contract |
| Proving registered data | you produced a register extract | online data is legally binding |
| Free trades at incorporation | separate notification at a one-stop shop | licence arises with the register entry |
| Business name reservation | did not exist | 60 days for 50 € |
| Single-member companies per person | maximum 3 | no limit |
| Fine on a statutory representative | up to 3,310 € | up to 4,000 €, repeatedly |
The notarial deed requirement
This is the change with a price tag. The memorandum of association (or the deed of foundation for a single-member company) must now be drawn up by a notary as a notarial deed, or authorised by an attorney. A certified signature under a document you drafted yourself is no longer sufficient.
It is not limited to incorporation. The same qualified form applies to a share transfer agreement, resolutions changing the registered capital, a cross-border conversion project and certain general meeting resolutions amending the memorandum. The professional now takes responsibility for the content of the document, not merely for verifying who signed it. The law also splits the roles: the notary who drafted the document generally cannot be the one who registers it.
If you are not in Slovakia
Nothing in the new act changes the position of foreign founders, but it adds a step that has to be scheduled. In practice you will either attend at the notary yourself, or grant a power of attorney with a certified signature. Documents issued abroad still need an apostille or consular legalisation and an official translation into Slovak. Budget for the notary’s calendar as well as their fee — it is now on the critical path of your incorporation.
The residence-permit rule for directors of third-country nationality is unchanged; we cover it in the guide to directors of a Slovak s.r.o..
What it costs
Court fees did not rise. What is new is a professional fee on top of them.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Court fee — first registration of an s.r.o. | 220 € |
| Court fee — first registration of a joint-stock company | 550 € |
| Court fee — change of registered data | 50 € |
| Business name reservation (60 days) | 50 € |
| Notarial deed / attorney authorisation | new cost, typically in the hundreds of euros |
| Notary acting as registrar | additional fee |
Total incorporation costs now land above 500 €, against a noticeably lower figure under the old regime. Minimum share capital is unchanged at 5,000 € (750 € per shareholder); ongoing costs are set out in running costs of a Slovak s.r.o.
If you need an operating company immediately, a ready-made Slovak company remains the faster route — bearing in mind that the share transfer agreement itself now also requires the qualified form.
What actually got easier
Free trades no longer need a separate application. If the company will carry out only free trades listed in Annex 4a to the Trade Licensing Act — which covers most consulting, IT, e-commerce and general services activities — the trade authorisation now arises with the entry in the Commercial Register. One filing and one waiting period disappear. Regulated and craft trades still require proof of professional competence and a separate notification.
Registered data is legally binding online. Data entered and published in the register is accessible to everyone and does not have to be proven before public authorities or in commercial dealings. No more ordering a register extract for a bank, a tender or a landlord.
You can reserve a name. A reservation lasts 60 days, costs 50 € and is recorded in a public register kept by the District Court in Žilina. Given that you now wait for a notary appointment, this is a genuinely useful instrument.
The cap on chains is gone. One individual may now be the sole shareholder of any number of Slovak s.r.o. companies; the previous limit of three has been abolished. Cross-border mergers, divisions and conversions are registered within 5 working days instead of 21.
The registrar is expected to complete a standard entry within about two working days, so the notary appointment — not the court — is now the slow part of the process.
Existing companies: no action required, but check three things
The act does not apply retroactively. Companies registered by 16 August 2026 keep their founding documents, filings submitted by that date are assessed under the old rules, and no new obligations arise.
However, the fine on a director for failing to keep registered data current or to file documents in the collection of deeds rose from 3,310 € to 4,000 € — and it can now be imposed repeatedly, until the obligation is met. Before that becomes a recurring cost, verify:
- the registered office is an address where the company genuinely receives post — an unclaimed delivery there is deemed served once the storage period expires;
- the directors, shareholders and signing rules on file match reality;
- the financial statements are filed in the collection of deeds for every year.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still register a Slovak company entirely online? Not entirely. The founding document must be executed as a notarial deed or authorised by an attorney, which means an appointment, in person or through an attorney-in-fact. The filing itself remains electronic.
How long does registration take now? The register entry itself should be made within roughly two working days. The realistic constraint is scheduling the notary and, for foreign founders, obtaining apostilled and translated documents.
Do I still need a trade licence for a Slovak s.r.o.? If the company will only do free trades from Annex 4a, no separate application is required — the authorisation arises with the register entry. Regulated and craft trades still need a separate notification and proof of competence.
Does my existing Slovak company need new documents? No. The act is not retroactive. Only your next registered change will follow the new rules.
We can incorporate under the new rules
The new regime is not an obstacle, just a different sequence and a different budget. We handle company formation in Slovakia end to end — name reservation, documents prepared for the notary, the register filing, and the tax and VAT registrations that follow — and then run the accounting, payroll and filings in English. If you are still deciding on the structure, start with our guide to forming a company in Slovakia.