Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Who Should Register?

The Embassy recommends that all American Citizens residing in Slovakia or visiting the country for more than a short trip should register with the ACS Unit of the Embassy’s Consular Section.

Why Should I Register?

Registration with your Embassy while abroad has many advantages:

• It enables the Embassy to record your identity and U.S. citizenship, meaning that we’ll have it on file should you lose your passport.
• It enables the Embassy to find/contact you in the event of an emergency (not only if there should be a major disaster such as an earthquake, but also if your relatives in the States should seek to contact you due to a family emergency.)
• It gives you the opportunity to participate in the Embassy’s Warden System (see below.)

What About Privacy?

Registration records fall under the restrictions of the U.S. Privacy Act. When you register, you will be given the opportunity to authorize release to particular persons (such as your Next-of-Kin.)

What is the Embassy’s Warden System?

The Warden System is a network to enable the Embassy to maintain communications with Americans in Slovakia in the event of an emergency. It includes an organized “telephone tree” or “cascade”, whereby volunteer American-citizen Wardens agree to relay messages between the Embassy and other American citizens residing near them in an emergency. Because of the Privacy Act, Americans who choose to participate in the Warden System will be asked to sign an Affidavit, authorizing the Embassy to release certain basic information about them (name, address, phone, and email) to the volunteer American-citizen Warden responsible for their "zone" in Slovakia.

How Do I Register?

You can either register online

or in person during regular ACS hours at the Embassy (please bring your U.S. passport.) Please note that online registration does not prove citizenship.