Living and working
There are many expatriates living and working in Slovakia. It is normal for foreign investors to employ expatriates from their own country to head up the start-up teams with management and specialists etc.
Any expat coming to work in Slovakia will find it relatively easy to obtain a temporary stay permit. For EU citizens this can be obtained at the Slovak Police foreigner departments (cudzinecka policia). For those expatriates outside the EU, contact must be made via the nearest Slovak Embassy. This is the link to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic who holds the list of Slovak Embassies. It is important to check the corresponding Slovak Embassy pages to your country and follow the corresponding Consular and Visa information Section.
Proof of Residence
Obtaining a valid flat/house rental contract is part of application procedure for the temporary stay permit. In some cases the EDC maybe able to offer support and assistance to potential investors in finding appropriate accommodation during their startup phase.
Family Relocation/Education
This raises many questions with parents especially those with younger children. Clearly the best conditions can be found in the larger cities like Kosice, which can offer numerous possibilities. For children of age 1-6 there are nurseries and kinder gardens. There are 2 kinder gardens with English language as the daily conversation language for children in the districts of KVP and TERASA.
For (Slovak) children of age 6-14 years there are basic schools. Foreign language teaching starts in 3rd resp.in 1st class (language oriented basic schools). Second foreign language starts after next 2 years. Primary foreign language is usually English or German, secondary foreign language is usually German, French, Russian.
However, the most recognized school for expat children is the Quality School International (QSI) in Kosice. Education is in English and follows a recognized curriculum. The majority of students are from American families hence the recognised educational plan. The school recognized by Alliance Francaise is the French Gymnasium (Lycee) at L.Novomeskeho Square with French bi-lingual section and which offers the DELF certification. It is housed in the same building as the QSI. The French Gymnasium covers the span of basic school and gymnasium as well (age 10-18 years).
A gymnasium is the linguistic equivalent in English of a Secondary Grammar School and is for children of age 14-18 years. There to prepare students for University Studies, they usually have high quality educational standards with education of several subjects in primary foreign language and some of them in a secondary foreign language. For example in Evangelist Gymnasium there are subjects religion, geography, math, history, biology in English ( German/French ). Gymnasium Srobarova is one of the others with education in foreign languages. They have education in English (physics, maths, history) and German language (history, ethics). They provide leaving examination compatible with French DEFL for school year 2004/2005. German leaving exams are granted directly from Germany upon the exams completed at the Gymnasium and English leaving exams are granted on site. Parents looking for Spanish Secondary Grammar school could be interested in Spanish Gymnasium in Kosice. The complete list of available schools is on Kosice Self-governing Region website.
We have omitted to mention that there are apprentices, business academies and universities, based on the assumption that expat children will not attend those facilities. If expats are interested in these higher educational facilities the school of your choice would be able to guide you and provide the information you require. These facilities can also provide a businessman with information in respect to the potential source of skilled labor.
Basic Living
The plethora of restaurants, taverns and large shopping malls provides expats with the opportunity to live 
comfortably in the Kosice region even without any knowledge of the Slovak language. If lost it is advisable to speak to those under 35 years old, as you are more likely to find the younger ones speak some standard of English or German. If you speak Russian ask for help from the older generation. You will also find that Spanish and French is also becoming popular among the younger Slovaks.
Culture
The region is steeped in culture with many opportunities to visit the art galleries, theatres, cinemas, opera houses, shows and exhibitions, especially in the City of Kosice. In Kosice you will find an architectonic jewel
(Kosice Theatre regarded among top 5 European theatres with its velvet and gold interior). The theatre is popular with U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o. involved in sponsoring and organizing many events there.
A Hidden Jewel
The Kosice regional countryside offers many opportunities to take part in a multitude of sporting events from windsurfing on the lakes, hiking and mountain biking on the hundreds of km of well marked tracks that abound the whole of Slovakia, skiing and mountain climbing. The hidden jewel is Slovensky Raj with the views and countryside on a par with anything in Europe. A visitor to Slovakia can find almost anything here except of course an ocean and beach, so come, enjoy and allow us at EDC the opportunity to make your visit and potential investment in the Kosice region worthwhile.