Today on "About Business in Slovakia," we would like to talk about the opportunity to run a language school business using the iCanSchool franchise as an example.
In the first part, I will tell you a little about the legislation, and in the second part, I will move on to the financial picture of the language school business and the franchise offer.
In the first part, I will tell you a little about the legislation, and in the second part, I will move on to the financial picture of the language school business and the franchise offer.
Legal Framework for Language Schools in Slovakia
Language schools can operate under a semi-regulated business activity called "Vyucovanie v odbore cudzieho jazyka – XY" (Teaching in the field of foreign languages – XY) or "Vyucovanie slovenského jazyka pre cudzincov" (Teaching Slovak for foreigners). To register such an activity, a diploma or a statement that you have lived in the native language-speaking country for more than 10 years is sufficient. For example, since I am from Crimea, we were able to register two types of activities.
Registration in the network of schools and educational institutions
You probably understand that the quality of such schools can vary, and therefore the Ministry of Education has a parallel system of permits for language schools, called registration in the network of schools and educational institutions, based on Law 245 of 2008 on schools. Registration is possible under almost the same conditions as for universities. This process takes more than two years, and a license can only be obtained for the region. Our schools in Bratislava and Košice have successfully gone through this process.
Changes in the law on foreigners
Now, let's move on to the changes in the law on foreigners, specifically regarding the fact that, starting from July 15, 2025, in order to obtain permanent residency (PR), it will be necessary to pass a language exam at the A2 level. This is not a state exam, as there is currently no such exam in Slovakia, since the European framework for languages has not yet been officially adopted here. The decree Vyhláška 321/2008 Z. z. on language schools is still set to be amended.
According to the amendment to Law no. 404/2011 Z. z., which introduces a new § 54 para. 4: "Slovak language proficiency under § 52 para. 6 is verified by successfully passing a language exam according to a special regulation68c). The language difficulty of the exam according to the previous sentence corresponds to level A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages." The footnote to reference 68c reads: "68c) § 6 para. 6 of the Decree of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic no. 321/2008 Z. z. on language schools."
According to the amendment to Law no. 404/2011 Z. z., which introduces a new § 54 para. 4: "Slovak language proficiency under § 52 para. 6 is verified by successfully passing a language exam according to a special regulation68c). The language difficulty of the exam according to the previous sentence corresponds to level A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages." The footnote to reference 68c reads: "68c) § 6 para. 6 of the Decree of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic no. 321/2008 Z. z. on language schools."
Opportunities for Language Schools: Potential in Conducting Slovak Language Proficiency Exams
You’ve probably understood that our school is in a very interesting position and could start administering this new type of exam for foreigners. But how many of them are there? There are more than 100,000 foreigners with temporary residence permits...
Financial Prospects and Unique Advantages of Collaborating with Our Language School
The financial picture could be as follows:
The franchise can be extended to your region, and by splitting the revenue into three parts, you may receive one-third of the profit.
- Together with us, you can provide knowledge to children and adults and prepare them for the exams required for obtaining permanent residency (PR).
Perhaps one more interesting point I’ll mention at the end is a unique feature of a school registered in the network: an exemption from VAT. This means that, regardless of turnover, we have the right to issue invoices without VAT because we are an educational institution. Nice, right?
Feel free to contact us, we are open to collaboration in other regions of Slovakia!
The franchise can be extended to your region, and by splitting the revenue into three parts, you may receive one-third of the profit.
- Together with us, you can provide knowledge to children and adults and prepare them for the exams required for obtaining permanent residency (PR).
Perhaps one more interesting point I’ll mention at the end is a unique feature of a school registered in the network: an exemption from VAT. This means that, regardless of turnover, we have the right to issue invoices without VAT because we are an educational institution. Nice, right?
Feel free to contact us, we are open to collaboration in other regions of Slovakia!
Alona Kurotova