Moving checklist for Slovakia: what to sort out before, during and after your move

Moving house is stressful anywhere. Moving in a country where the forms, the utility companies and sometimes even the alphabet are unfamiliar adds another layer. Most of that stress doesn't come from moving day itself, though – it builds up in the weeks before, when notice periods, utility transfers, packing and paperwork all pile up at once. We've put together this moving checklist for Slovakia from thousands of moves we've done in Košice, Prešov and across eastern Slovakia. It works whether you're moving across town, to another city, or into or out of the country – and it includes the steps foreign residents most often miss.

Your moving timeline at a glance

If you only have a minute, this table covers the essentials. Details for each stage follow below.

8 to 6 weeks before moving

This is the decision stage. The earlier you settle on a date and the scope of your move, the cheaper and calmer it will be.

• Check your notice period. Read your lease (nájomná zmluva) and give notice in writing. One to three months is common for rentals in Košice and Prešov. If your contract is only in Slovak, ask a colleague or a translator to check the termination clause.
• Plan your deposit. Landlords usually hold one or two months' rent as a deposit (kaucia). Agree in advance how and when it will be returned – especially if you're leaving the country.
• Set a budget. Include movers, a deposit on the new place, cleaning, small purchases and, if you're moving internationally, travel.
• Declutter. Go room by room: keep, sell or donate, throw away. Every box you don't move saves time and money.
• Pick your date. The end of the month and summer are busiest. Mid-month gives you more choice.
• Measure the new place. Door widths, the lift and room sizes tell you whether the sofa fits or the wardrobe needs taking apart.

4 weeks before moving

• Book your movers. Ask for a quote and compare what's included. With us you can get an estimate online in two minutes – the calculator works in English – and you get 5% off when you reserve your date through it.
• Get packing materials – boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers and bags. Our guide How to pack for a move tells you how much you'll need.
• Book time off for moving day and ideally the day after.
• Arrange childcare and pet care for the day itself. Everyone will be calmer.
• Decide what you'll pack yourself and what to leave to professionals. Professional packing pays off most for kitchens, glassware and artwork.

2 weeks before moving

This stage is mostly contracts and services. It helps to list everyone you pay regularly.

• Electricity and gas: in eastern Slovakia the usual electricity supplier is VSE, though you may have another. Arrange to end supply at the old address and transfer it to the new one. Many providers have English-speaking customer lines or online forms.
• Water: in apartment blocks this usually runs through the building manager (správca); in a house you'll transfer the connection with the water company.
• Internet and TV: check your provider covers the new address. Installation can take up to two weeks.
• Mail forwarding: Slovak Post offers a forwarding service – worth it for the first few months.
• Start packing things you don't use: books, seasonal clothes, decorations, storage.

1 week before moving

• Pack most of the household, keeping only what you'll need until moving day.
• Defrost and dry the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours before. A wet fridge in the van is a common source of damage.
• Sort out parking. The van needs to stop as close to the entrance as possible. On housing estates you can usually hold a space; in the centre of Košice or Prešov you may need to reserve one. See our guide to moving in a panelák.
• Tell the building manager and neighbours – a notice on the board two or three days ahead avoids friction at the lift.
• Confirm the booking and send exact addresses, floors and lift details.

The day before

• Pack a first-night box: toiletries, towels, bedding, chargers, medication, toilet paper, simple food, a few plates and basic tools.
• Put passports, residence cards, contracts, cash and valuables in one bag you carry yourself.
• Take apart what you can (beds, tables), bag the screws and tape the bags to the parts.
• Charge your phone and keep the crew leader's number handy.

Moving day

1. Photograph the meters – electricity, gas and water, at both addresses. A dated photo is the best evidence for your final bills.
2. Walk the crew through what goes, what stays and what's fragile.
3. Stay reachable and tell the crew at the new place which room each box belongs in (labels by room help a lot).
4. Check everything before you leave – cupboards, the cellar, the balcony, the loft. Close windows.
5. Hand over the keys and sign a handover report (preberací protokol) recording the condition of the flat.

After the move: registration and services

This is where foreign residents most often get caught out. Rules depend on your citizenship and residence status, so always check the current requirements with the relevant office.

Don't forget the less obvious ones: loyalty cards, online shops, subscriptions, gym memberships and your embassy, if you're registered with it.

The most common moving mistakes

• Booking too late – at the end of the month and in summer, capacity can be full for weeks.
• Not being packed when the crew arrives – the hourly rate keeps running.
• Overfilled or half-empty boxes – heavy ones split, half-empty ones crush when stacked.
• Unlabelled boxes – and three days hunting for the kettle.
• Nowhere for the van to stop – every 50 metres of extra carrying adds time.
• Forgetting the cellar – cellars and lofts are cleared last, so they're the first thing forgotten.
• No handover photos – the most common reason for deposit disputes.

Moving with limited Slovak

You don't need to speak Slovak to move smoothly. Our team speaks English and we're used to working with international clients – the business started in Melbourne before we brought it home to Slovakia. When dealing with landlords, building managers and offices, it helps to have key documents translated, keep written records of everything agreed, and ask a Slovak-speaking colleague to join phone calls with utility companies. Building notices are almost always in Slovak, so a translation app is handy for the board in the hallway.

Summary

A good plan is half the move. Start six to eight weeks ahead, book movers three to four weeks before the date, work through this checklist step by step, and don't forget to register your new address afterwards. If you'd rather leave the heavy lifting to someone else, see our moving services in Košice and Prešov or check the price list.