From 17 August 2026, the rules governing the establishment of limited liability companies in Slovakia will change significantly. It will no longer be possible to establish a company without the involvement of a lawyer or notary, and registering changes within an existing company in the Commercial Register will also become more complex.
Currently, it is sufficient for the founders’ signatures to be certified by a notary or the civil registry office. Under the new rules, the deed of incorporation or the memorandum of association must either be drawn up by a notary in the form of a notarial deed or be countersigned by a lawyer.
Notaries will also be given broader powers, allowing them to carry out the initial registration of joint-stock companies and register changes to their corporate details.
One company formation, up to two notaries
Up to two different notaries may be required to establish a company. One notary may draw up the deed of incorporation or the memorandum of association, but may not subsequently register the company in the Commercial Register. If the founder also wishes to entrust the registration to a notary, a second notary must be appointed.
A limited liability company may be registered in the Commercial Register by the founder or by a notary. When changes to the details of an existing company are registered, an employee of the company may also act on its behalf, provided that they have been granted a power of attorney that has been countersigned by a lawyer or officially certified.
Expected costs of company formation from 17 August 2026
| Service | Current price | From 17.08.2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of a Limited Liability Company by a Notary | 204,06 EUR | 270,60 EUR |
| Notarial preparation of the deed of incorporation or memorandum of association with share capital of EUR 5,000 | – | 70–100 EUR |
| Preparation of the document and registration in the Commercial Register through a notary | – | 340–370 EUR |
| Electronic self-registration through the Registration Court | – | 290–320 EUR |
| Registration of changes to the company’s details by a notary | 68,76 EUR | 70,11 EUR |
In addition to the notary’s basic fee, the final cost of preparing the deed of incorporation or memorandum of association also includes fees for access to the relevant registers, copies of the notarial deed, and 23% VAT. If a lawyer is involved, the fee is determined individually by the lawyer.
Not only company formation: the rules on corporate amendments are changing too
Currently, registering changes generally requires only minutes or a resolution bearing a certified or electronic signature. However, from 17 August 2026, a notarial deed or a lawyer’s countersignature will be required in several cases.
This includes, for example:
- a change in the managing director,
- the transfer of a business share,
- an increase or reduction in the share capital where this changes the proportion of the business shares,
- an amendment to the memorandum of association that changes the proportion of the members’ voting rights,
- a change in the company’s legal form,
- as well as cross-border corporate transformations.
For simpler changes, such as a change to the company’s registered office or scope of business activities, a certified signature will continue to be sufficient. In the case of a single-member limited liability company, the required documents may also be prepared by a lawyer.
For companies with multiple members, where decisions concern managing directors, business shares or share capital, the course of the general meeting must also be recorded in a notarial deed. If the agreement on the transfer of a business share is drawn up by a notary, both the seller and the buyer must be present in person.
Higher fines and stricter rules on corporate transformations
Sanctions applicable to managing directors will also become stricter. Currently, a fine of up to EUR 3,310 may be imposed if a managing director fails to submit an application to register a change in the Commercial Register within the statutory 30-day deadline or fails to file the required document in the Collection of Deeds.
From 17 August 2026, the maximum fine will increase to EUR 4,000. Moreover, the penalty may be imposed repeatedly until the managing director fulfils the relevant obligation.
The rules governing corporate transformations will also become stricter: a merger, consolidation or division of a company must not result in the successor company becoming over-indebted. Following the transformation, the value of the company’s liabilities may not exceed the value of its assets.
Data recorded in the Commercial Register will acquire legal evidentiary value
The data available online in the Commercial Register will become legally binding. Companies will no longer need to prove this information separately with documents when dealing with business partners or public authorities.
Changes to a managing director’s name or address will be entered in the register automatically by the state.
If a company carries out only unregulated business activities, its business authorisation will arise automatically upon registration in the Commercial Register. A separate licence will still be required for craft and regulated activities.
Further changes worth noting
- The ban on chain ownership of companies will be abolished: a company or an individual may become the founder or sole owner of an unlimited number of single-member companies.
- The chosen company name may be reserved for 60 days for a fee of EUR 50. Before registration, the competent authority will verify that the proposed name is not identical to the name of a state or public authority.
- A new register will be established for persons whom a court has disqualified from holding certain management or representative positions. The persons concerned will remain listed only for the duration of the disqualification.
