When must I replace my ID card?
Within 30 days — and missing the deadline costs up to €150. You must apply for a new ID card within 30 days of a change of details (a new name, surname or address, for instance) or of the document's expiry. Failing to apply in time is fined up to €150. The basic fee for issue is €7; on loss or theft it can rise to €25. The good news: losing the card itself carries no fine, provided you report it without delay — the penalty attaches only to failing in your duties, that is, an unreported loss or using an invalid document. The application goes to the documents department of the police, and you can file it at the same time as reporting the loss.
📋 The rules
- A new document must be applied for within 30 days
- The clock runs from a change of details or from expiry
- Fine for missing the deadline: up to €150
- Fee: €7; on loss or theft up to €25
- Apply at the documents department of the police
🔓 Exceptions
- Losing the card carries no fine if you report it without delay
- The new application can be filed at the same time as reporting the loss
- The penalty attaches to an unreported loss or use of an invalid document
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The fine of up to €150 is not for losing the document — it is for failing to act. The penalty attaches to an unreported loss, to using an invalid card, and to not applying for a new one within the 30-day window. So if you lose it, act at once: report the loss and simultaneously file for a replacement — both are done in one visit. Do not underrate the misuse risk either: someone else's ID is used to sign contracts and take out loans, and a late report weakens your position in any dispute over such a contract. Check the expiry date at least a month ahead — issue is not same-day.
📎 Official sources
- Slov-Lex · Identity Cards Act (395/2019) →
- slovensko.sk · Loss or theft of an ID card →
- Ministry of the Interior · Administrative fees →
❓ Frequently asked
When must I apply for a new ID card?
Within 30 days of a change of details or of the document expiring. A change of details means, for instance, a new name, a new surname, or a change of permanent address.
What does an ID card cost?
The basic fee for issue is €7. On loss or theft the fee can rise to €25, since it counts as a repeat issue of the document.
What is the fine for missing the deadline?
Up to €150. You are not fined for losing the document itself, but for failing in your duties — an unreported loss, using an invalid card, or not applying for a new one in time.
What do I do if it is lost or stolen?
Report the loss without delay and file for a replacement at the same time. Both are handled together at the documents department of the police, so one visit is enough.
Will I be fined for losing it?
No, provided you report it without delay. The penalty attaches only to a failure of duty, not to the loss itself. A late report does, however, expose you to misuse of the document.
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