Slovakia has seen a steady increase in migrant numbers in recent years. The country has been actively working to streamline access for labour migrants - especially in sectors with critical labour shortages, such as production, the automotive industry, transport, and agriculture - including through the issuance of national visas and introduction of legislation amendments. As a result, the number of people holding temporary residence status, in particular, is now exceptionally high. This trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policies and financial support for migrant integration in the country.

As the number of migrant residents in the country continues to rise, public authorities are becoming more involved in migrant integration. The influx of people displaced from Ukraine who were granted temporary residence has significantly increased the integration-related workload and responsibilities of local authorities. According to recent data, almost 120 000 Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection status in Slovakia, placing great financial pressure on municipalities when it comes to supporting migrant integration. Despite the continuing increase in the number of foreigners with temporary or 'tolerated' residence status, cities are finding that they are not receiving adequate funding to facilitate integration. As a result, the burden of supporting these individuals falls indirectly upon people with permanent residence, who contribute to city services. 

According to the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, out of 255 898 foreigners living in Slovakia at the end of 2023, 109 043 had temporary residence permits (32 632 had permanent residence; 114 223 had tolerated status). In 2022, out of 222 525 foreigners, 98 281 had temporary residence permits, 28 794 had permanent residence permits, and 95 450 had tolerated residence. Therefore, the net increase of temporary residence holders between 2022 and 2023 reached 11%. The largest groups are third-country nationals (TCNs) from countries such as Ukraine, with 53 160 temporary residents; Serbia, with 19 045 temporary residents; Vietnam, with 9 082 residents; Russia, with 8 434 residents; and Georgia, with 5 217 temporary residents. 

Recently, the Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia initiated communication with relevant institutions to address this issue, emphasising that while local government revenues from shared taxes are tied to permanent residence, local governments provide services to all residents. This includes everything from delivering public transport and security to culture, sports activities, cleanliness, public lighting, and the city's reconstruction of public spaces, roads, and sidewalks. If the local government has no income from foreigners, then the citizens with permanent residence are indirectly paying for these services. Issues therefore arise where capacity planning is necessary, for example in kindergartens, public transportation, and waste management: the local government has minimal information, making the capacity planning of some services complex and practically impossible. In the case of public services, this primarily means that the costs of these services are borne by residents with permanent residence, although everyone uses the services.

Cities in Slovakia pay the costs of integrating foreigners and operating integration centres from their own city budgets. An exception occurred during the so-called 'refugee crisis', when the state partially reimbursed these costs, and international institutions provided financial support. Thus, the broader activities of integration centres rely on financial support from donors and cooperation with third-sector organisations. This year is critical as financial support from international organisations is slowly ending, and the financing of integration activities for people from Ukraine and migrants with temporary residence in the near future remains unclear.