Minimum child support in Slovakia is set to increase significantly from 1 January 2027. The statutory minimum will rise from 30% to 100% of the applicable subsistence minimum for a dependent child. Based on the current subsistence minimum, this means an increase from EUR 40.44 to EUR 134.80 per month.
This is particularly important for foreign parents, expats and international families living in Slovakia, especially where child support was determined several years ago or one of the parents lives abroad.
Minimum child support will increase to EUR 134.80
Under the current Slovak Family Act, every parent must fulfil their maintenance obligation at least in the amount of 30% of the subsistence minimum for a dependent child, regardless of their income or financial circumstances.
The approved amendment removes the 30% threshold. From 1 January 2027, the statutory minimum will correspond to 100% of the applicable subsistence minimum for a dependent child.
At the current level, this represents EUR 134.80 per month.
However, this is only the statutory minimum. Slovak courts may set child support at a significantly higher amount depending on the needs of the child and the income, earning capacity, assets and overall circumstances of the parents.
Important: EUR 134.80 is not a permanently fixed amount
The minimum child support amount will be directly linked to the Slovak subsistence minimum (životné minimum).
The subsistence minimum is reviewed under Slovak law as of 1 July each year. If the statutory conditions for an adjustment are met, the amount may increase.
This means that the statutory minimum child support may also change.
For parents, the practical rule is simple:
check the applicable minimum child support amount every year around 1 July.
The amount of EUR 134.80 is therefore not a permanent figure.
Do you have an older Slovak child support judgment?
This change may be especially relevant if your Slovak court judgment sets child support at, for example, EUR 50, EUR 80 or EUR 100 per month.
The wording of an existing judgment does not simply rewrite itself when the law changes. At the same time, the new statutory minimum cannot be ignored.
It may therefore be necessary to assess:
- whether the amount currently being paid remains legally sufficient,
- whether an application for an increase in child support should be filed,
- how the new statutory minimum affects enforcement of unpaid maintenance,
- and whether an older Slovak judgment should be reviewed in light of the new legislation.
This is particularly important in international families, where one parent lives in Slovakia and the other parent lives abroad.
Non-payment can also have criminal-law consequences
Failure to pay child support in Slovakia is not only a family-law or civil-law matter.
Under Section 207 of the Slovak Criminal Code, a person who fails to fulfil a legal maintenance obligation for at least two months within a period of two years may, depending on the circumstances, commit the criminal offence of neglect of compulsory maintenance.
The basic offence may result in imprisonment of up to two years. Intentional avoidance of the maintenance obligation may carry a higher penalty, with more serious cases subject to stricter sanctions.
A single late payment does not automatically constitute a criminal offence.
However, paying only a small amount does not necessarily mean that the legal obligation has been properly fulfilled either.
For foreign parents living in Slovakia, this is an important point: child support is a statutory legal obligation and persistent non-payment may have consequences beyond debt enforcement.
What should expats and foreign parents do before January 2027?
If you have a Slovak child support judgment issued several years ago, or the ordered amount is below the new statutory minimum, it is advisable to review your legal position before the amendment takes effect.
This applies whether you are:
- the parent paying child support,
- the parent receiving child support,
- a foreign national living in Slovakia,
- or part of an international family where one parent lives in another country.
Cross-border cases can also involve additional rules on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement, so they should be assessed individually.
Have your child support judgment reviewed
If you have a Slovak child support judgment and you are unsure what the 2027 change means for you, contact me and have your judgment reviewed.
I can assess how the new minimum applies to your case, whether an increase may need to be requested, and what you should be aware of when paying or enforcing child support in Slovakia.
Do not wait until unpaid maintenance or a dispute arises. In child support cases, an incorrectly assessed obligation may have not only financial but, in certain situations, also criminal-law consequences.