On 3 February 2026, Act No. 29/2026 Coll. was adopted, fundamentally reforming the legal framework governing the Commercial Register in Slovakia, with effect from 17 August 2026. The new legislation represents a comprehensive reform aimed not only at modernising registration procedures, but also at increasing legal certainty and reducing the administrative burden on the business environment.

Replacement of the Existing Legislation

The newly adopted Act fully replaces the currently effective Act No. 530/2003 Coll. on the Commercial Register. This constitutes a substantial recodification introducing new rules governing the operation of the Commercial Register, reflecting the needs of a digitalised economy and more efficient communication with public authorities.

Reduced Administrative Burden and Greater Efficiency

One of the principal objectives of the new legislation is to reduce the administrative burden imposed on entrepreneurs, particularly commercial companies. A key instrument for achieving this objective is the introduction of the legal binding effect of data recorded in the Commercial Register, which will also be accessible online.

In practice, this means the implementation of the “once-only” principle, pursuant to which information recorded in the Commercial Register will no longer need to be repeatedly evidenced in commercial transactions or before public authorities. At the same time, cooperation among public authorities in the exchange of information will be strengthened. These measures are expected to contribute to greater efficiency in doing business and to eliminate duplicative administrative formalities.

Retention of the Dual Registration System

The new legal framework preserves the existing dual system for entering data into the Commercial Register. Consequently, applications for registration will continue to be processed by:

• registry courts; and
• registrars, namely notaries public.

At the same time, registry courts will retain jurisdiction over selected matters, in particular:

• the removal of registered entities from the Commercial Register;
• domestic and cross-border corporate transformations;
• applications submitted through the single contact point; and
• applications filed by entities exempt from court fees.

Legal Representation Restricted to Qualified Persons

The Act also refines the rules governing legal representation in registration proceedings, with the aim of eliminating unqualified or improper practices in the filing of applications.

Under the new rules, applicants may only be represented by:

• an attorney-at-law;
• a notary public; or
• an employee of the applicant.

However, the possibility for the registered entity itself to submit an application without legal representation remains preserved.

Stricter Requirements Regarding the Form of Documents

In order to increase the reliability and credibility of data entered in the Commercial Register, the Act introduces stricter requirements concerning the form of constitutive and certain other corporate documents.

Under the new legislation:

• the constitutive document of every commercial company must be executed either in the form of a notarial deed or as an agreement authorised by an attorney-at-law; and
• the same requirement will apply to selected corporate resolutions, including, for example:
• increases or reductions of registered share capital; and
• transfers of ownership interests.

Although this measure entails an increase in formal requirements, it simultaneously strengthens legal certainty and enhances the protection of parties to legal relationships.

Conclusion

The new Act on the Commercial Register introduces a balanced combination of administrative simplification and stricter formal requirements where necessary. The introduction of the legal binding effect of registered data and the digitalisation of processes may significantly facilitate business operations, while the enhanced requirements concerning corporate documentation should contribute to greater transparency and credibility within the business environment.

Entrepreneurs should therefore prepare for these changes well in advance, particularly with regard to the required form of documents and the procedure for filing applications with the Commercial Register.

In the following articles, we will address the individual legislative changes in greater detail and analyse them systematically from the perspective of practical application.