September 2010 – An amendment to the Slovak Trade Licensing Act (the “Amendment”; the “Act”) has entered into force. This Amendment implements certain changes relating to the organisation of Small Trade Offices and the manner of issuing business and trade licences in Slovakia, with effect as of 1 June 2010.
The Amendment extends the authority of the Small Trade Offices in Slovakia (which were historically responsible for issuing business and trade licences in Slovakia). The Amendment strengthens the role of these offices as single contact points (the “Contact Point”) not only for issuing business and trade licences in Slovakia but also with respect to the incorporation process for companies and the establishment of businesses by self-entrepreneurs (in Slovak: živnostník).
To establish a present in Slovakia, it would be sufficient to approach the Contact Point, which in addition to issuing the relevant business and trade licences, will administer the necessary filing with the Commercial Register, the Tax Authorities and the applicable Insurance Companies. The transfers of documents through a Contact Point to other state authorities will be carried out electronically, which should ensure the expediency of the process.
The Amendment also abolished the former model of issuing a separate business licence for each activity and, instead, introduced a consolidated Certificate of Trade Authorisation (in Slovak: osvedčenie o živnostenskom oprávnení). This certificate will contain a list of all registered business and trade licences on one single document. The extract or official copy of the Certificate of Trade Authorisation will be available at any Contact Point throughout Slovakia, subject to the payment of a fee.
For further information, please contact Viliam Mysicka, Counsel, at .