Passport Office Queues Grow as Slovaks Rush for Travel Documents, Minister Advises Trying Smaller Cities

Slovak citizens are facing long queues and fully booked appointments at passport offices as demand for travel documents surges. The Interior Ministry acknowledged the problem and advised people to try applying for passports in smaller cities where appointment availability may be better. The ministry said it is preparing additional assistance specifically for Bratislava, where the situation appears most severe. The passport rush reflects increased travel demand as pandemic restrictions have eased, but the limited capacity at passport offices has created bottlenecks for citizens needing to renew or obtain new travel documents.