Do you want to improve your qualifications, but are put off by the cost of the course? Through the national “Skills for the Labor Market” project, you can receive up to 1,500 euros toward a course. And you don’t have to be unemployed to qualify. Employees, parents on maternity leave, and people who are just returning to the job market can also apply for this grant.
In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know: who is eligible for the grant, how much money you can receive, which courses qualify, and a step-by-step guide to the entire process. The terms and conditions are effective as of July 1, 2026, and the project runs through the end of 2027.
What Is the National “Skills for the Labor Market” Project
This is a program of the Central Office of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family, funded by the European Union. The total budget amounts to nearly 43 million euros, and the project is expected to support approximately 38,000 people.
The project consists of three activities:
- Support for the retraining of job seekers
- Support for the acquisition and development of skills among young job seekers in the NEET category
- Support for the education of job seekers
The first two activities are intended for people registered as unemployed. The third activity targets those who are working or outside the labor market but are not registered as unemployed. It is precisely this third option that tends to be the least well-known, even though 14 million euros have been allocated for it.
The subsidy is provided pursuant to Section 54(1)(d) of Act No. 5/2004 Coll. on Employment Services.
Who Can Apply for the Benefit
The answer depends on your current situation. There are two basic categories of applicants.
Job Seeker (UoZ)
A job seeker is a citizen registered with the employment office who is able to work, wants to work, and is looking for a job. At the same time, they must not be an employee, must not be working under a contract for services, must not be self-employed, and must not be engaged in gainful employment abroad.
Disadvantaged job seekers constitute a special group. This includes, in particular:
- graduates under the age of 26 who completed their studies less than two years ago
- citizens over 50 years of age
- long-term unemployed (registered for more than 12 months)
- people with an education level below secondary vocational
- single parents caring for a child
- citizens with disabilities
- parents who stopped receiving maternity or parental benefits less than two years ago
Disadvantaged status is assessed as of the date the application is received by the office.
Young job seekers in the NEET category
These are job seekers under the age of 30 who are neither working, studying, nor participating in vocational training. Both age and NEET status are verified as of the actual start date of the course, not at the time the application is submitted.
Job Seeker (ZoZ)
This is a category that most people overlook. According to Section 7 of the Employment Services Act, a job seeker is a citizen who is looking for another job or is interested in education and training for the labor market, and who is not currently a job applicant.
Specifically, this means that the following individuals may apply for the benefit:
- an employee who wants to change careers or advance
- a parent on parental leave planning to return to work
- a person who has been out of the labor market for a long time and wants to return
- a person looking for a better job
Registration as a job seeker is free and does not affect your employment status or social security contributions.
Who Is Not Eligible to Apply for the Benefit
Among job seekers, the following are excluded from the target group:
- full-time high school or college students
- old-age pension recipients
- disability pension recipients who have reached retirement age
- self-employed individuals
The last point will surprise most people. A self-employed person cannot apply for the allowance intended for job seekers, and compliance with this condition is verified twice: both when the application is submitted and before payment is made.
The minimum age for participants in adult education is 16.
How much money can you receive
This is where the difference between the two programs is most pronounced.
Grant for job seekers
Course fees are covered at 100% of the cost. The average estimated price of a course is set at 1,250 euros, and for demanding IT courses for young job seekers, it can be as high as 2 ,500 euros. This is not a cap, but an average that helps the office manage its budget. If the office approves several less expensive courses, it may also approve one more expensive one.
Disadvantaged job seekers are also entitled to a flat-rate allowance of 0.95 euros per instructional hour, up to a maximum of 190 euros. The condition is that they attend the course exclusively in person, that is, physically in a classroom with an instructor. Taking the course online disqualifies the applicant from receiving the flat-rate allowance.
Allowance for Job Seekers
Fixed maximum amounts apply here:
| Type of training | Maximum grant |
|---|---|
| Accredited program in digital skills | 1,500 euros |
| Other accredited program | 1,000 euros |
| Program offered by a certified institution (non-accredited, micro-certificate) | 800 euros |
If the course costs more, you must pay the difference yourself. The provider will always issue an invoice for the full price of the course, even if the agency only covers a portion of it.
The course fee is not subject to the VAT exemption under Section 31(1)(c) of the VAT Act.
Which courses are eligible
Not every course is eligible for reimbursement. It must be a training program with defined objectives and methods, organized through planned activities, and culminating in an examination and the issuance of a certificate of completion.
Three Types of Eligible Programs
An accredited educational program leads to the acquisition of a professional qualification published in the National Qualifications Framework on the kariernabrana.sk portal. It must be registered in the Register of Accredited Educational Programs in the ISVD system.
A non-accredited educational program is delivered by a certified educational institution and must be entered in the Register of Non-Accredited Educational Programs. All non-accredited programs funded from public sources must be enteredmandatorily.
A program leading to a micro-certificate must consist of at least 25 instructional hours, and both the institution and the specific program must be listed in the relevant ISVD registry.
Forms of Education
Full-time, distance learning, and blended learning are all eligible. Full-time learning includes three options: traditional classroom instruction, real-time online instruction, and a hybrid combination of both.
Note that there is one exception. For programs that do not require accreditation or authorization (typically language or communication courses), only the in-person format is permitted. This restriction does not apply to digital and green skills.
What Is Not Covered
The following are excluded from funding:
- courses for obtaining a Class B driver’s license
- education for which you have already received a grant in the past five years
- studies leading to a degree under the Education Act or the Higher Education Act
For job seekers, the following also applies:
- training required by the current employer
- renewal or extension of existing licenses, certification cards, and language maintenance courses
- Interest-based education not related to the job market
What the Office Focuses On
Eighty percent of the project’s budget is to be allocated to training related to job vacancies published by the Alliance of Sector Councils, as well as to the fields of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and green transformation.
When choosing a course, it’s worth checking the Labor Market Barometer from the Alliance of Sector Councils first. A course focused on a profession in high demand has a significantly higher chance of being approved.
How to Apply for a Grant, Step by Step
Step 1: Registration
Job seekers are automatically registered. Job seekers must submit an Application for Job Placement. It can be submitted at any employment office or electronically via slovensko.sk.
Step 2: Selecting a Course and Provider
The office will not select a course for you and is not permitted to communicate with the provider during the selection phase. You choose the course yourself. The provider must be a certified educational institution pursuant to Section 10 of the Adult Education Act and must be registered in the Register of Certified Educational Institutions.
However, as part of its professional counseling services, the Office can help you identify your educational needs and an area suitable for the labor market.
Step 3: Confirmation from the Provider and Price Survey
The selected provider will complete and confirm the “Provider’s Confirmation of Training Provision” form. They will attach a price survey no older than three months, which demonstrates the reasonableness of the price.
The price survey is conducted either by contacting two other providers of the same or a similar course, or by submitting screenshots from their websites clearly showing the price.
Step 4: Submitting the Application
The application must be delivered to the office no later than 30 calendar days before the expected start of the course. The date of delivery, not the date of dispatch, is decisive.
The deadline is calculated retroactively. The first day of the deadline is the day preceding the scheduled start of the course, and the last day is the thirtieth day. If the last day falls on a weekend or a holiday, this date applies for electronic submissions; for in-person and mail submissions, the nearest preceding business day applies.
Applications may be submitted in person at the reception desk, by mail, or electronically via slovensko.sk using a qualified electronic signature.
Applicants must submit their application to the office where they are registered. Applicants may submit their application at any office; however, it will be reviewed by the office corresponding to their permanent residence.
Step 5: Application Review
There is no legal entitlement to the benefit. Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The office evaluates, in particular:
- whether the job position you are applying for is related to the selected course
- whether this position is in demand on the job market
- whether you have provided a relevant justification for the need for the course
- whether the price is in line with the market
- whether both the provider and the program are registered in the relevant registries
The director of the office decides on approval. If any correctable deficiencies are found, the office will ask you to correct them.
Step 6: Signing the Agreement
You cannot start the course without a signed agreement. The agreement can be signed electronically via slovensko.sk, in person at an office, or, in exceptional cases, by mail with an officially certified signature.
Attached to the agreement is an Education Voucher, which you must submit to the provider before the course begins.
Step 7: Completing the Course
Job seekers must remain registered with the office throughout the entire course. The office reserves the right to verify attendance at in-person classes. If the provider prevents such verification or if attendance does notwith the findings, the course fee will not be reimbursed.
You must notify the office of your enrollment in the course within eight calendar days of its start date.
Step 8: Request for Reimbursement
After completing the course, you must submit a Request for Reimbursement no later than 30 calendar days from the expected completion date specified in the agreement.
The attachments are:
- the original invoice issued by the provider to you, not to the office, no later than 10 days after the end of the course
- a copy of the certificate of completion
- the original power of attorney for payment of the course fee
- For applicants, additionally: Specification of the retraining completed and, if applicable, proof of non-attendance
The invoice must include the program name, number of hours, start and end dates, training voucher number, description of the service, and IBAN.
The Office will pay the course fees directly to the provider within 30 calendar days of the application being submitted. The lump-sum allowance for disadvantaged job seekers will be deposited into your account or sent via postal money order.
Comparison of the Two Programs
| Job Seeker | Job Seeker | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is eligible | Registered unemployed | Employee or person outside the labor market |
| Amount of the subsidy | 100% of the course price | 800 to 1,500 euros depending on the type |
| Average amount | 1,250 euros; up to 2,500 euros for IT | Fixed caps |
| Additional payment | No | Yes, above the limit |
| Flat-rate expense allowance | Yes for disadvantaged individuals, up to 190 euros | No |
| Self-employed | Depends on the situation | Excluded |
| Where to file | Your local office | Any office |
| Early termination | Pro-rata reimbursement for serious reasons | Certificate required |
A participant may be included in the project no more than twice. The second grant is provided primarily for continuing education and only after the obligations under the first agreement have been fulfilled.
Project Time Limits
Applications will be accepted through August 2027. Courses must be completed no later than October 31, 2027. Payments will be made through December 2027.
When planning, please note that at least 30 days must elapse between the submission of your application and the start of the course, plus the time required for evaluation and signing the agreement. Realistically, therefore, plan on two months from the decision to the start of the course.
Most Common Applicant Mistakes
Submitting the application too late. The 30-day deadline is non-negotiable. If you miss it, the course must be rescheduled for a later date.
Starting the course before signing the agreement. This is grounds for non-reimbursement of the contribution without the possibility of rectification.
Course from a non-certified institution. Check the entry in the Register of Certified Educational Institutions before submitting your application.
Missing or outdated cost analysis. It must be current, meaning no older than three months.
Weak justification. The agency will not appreciate a statement such as “I want to learn.” Specify exactly which position you are aiming for, why it is in demand on the market, and how the course will help you achieve it.
An invoice issued to the office. It is always issued to you as the graduate.
Online format when claiming the lump-sum allowance. Disadvantaged applicants who wish to receive the flat-rate allowance must attend the course in person in a classroom.
Where to Find Verified Registers
- Register of Certified Educational Institutions, Register of Accredited and Non-Accredited Programs, and Register of Micro-Certification Programs: ISVD Adult Education Information System
- List of providers in the field of digital and green skills: Alliance of Sector Councils website
- Job Vacancies: Labor Market Barometer from the Alliance of Sector Councils
- National Qualifications Framework: kariernabrana.sk
- Application forms: upsvr.gov.sk or slovensko.sk
Would you like to have your course costs reimbursed?
We are a certified educational institution registered in the ISVD registry, so our courses meet the requirements of the Skills for the Labor Market project. We’ll help you choose the right program, fill out the provider’s confirmation and cost estimate, and guide you through the entire application process.
Contact us, and together we’ll determine which grant you’re eligible for and which course will best help you in the job market.
This information is based on Notice No. 9/NP ZpTP/RK-UoZ and 9/NP ZpTP/VZ-ZoZ, Update No. 8, effective July 1, 2026. Conditions are subject to change; the current version can be found at upsvr.gov.sk.
