Residence in Andorra

Self-employed residence and work

Foreign nationals who wish to live in Andorra and carry out a self-employed activity there can obtain a self-employed residence and work permit. Before the permit is granted, applicants must first reserve the permit and then meet a number of requirements set out in Law 9/2012, the Qualified Immigration Law.

1. General case (6 months from the reservation):

a) Obtain foreign investment authorisation to set up an Andorran company in which the applicant holds more than 34%, and have the company legally incorporated.

b) Hold a seat on the company’s board and carry out effective management and control of the business.

c) Pay €50,000 to the Andorran Financial Authority (AFA) when submitting the application. This payment is final and non-refundable and goes to the State. It is only returned if the initial permit is refused.

This payment is not required in two cases:

• where the company carries out a business project selected by an entity recognised by the Government;
• where the company is engaged in the digital economy, entrepreneurship or innovation, provided the activity has high technological added value.

 d) Once these requirements are met, prove within a maximum of three months from the date the application is registered that the company holds a business licence that is duly registered and active in Andorra. At renewal, this activity must be evidenced by the income generated.

2. Regulated professionals (3 months from the reservation):

a) Obtain Government authorisation to practise the regulated profession.

b) Obtain membership of the relevant professional association, where applicable.

Duration and renewal: the initial permit is valid for one year and is renewed three times for periods of two years. After seven years, renewals are granted for ten years.

Please note: a new application for this permit cannot be made for at least 12 months in three cases:

• if renewal has been refused twice in a row for lack of activity or residence;
• if an application has been withdrawn;
• if the holder has voluntarily deregistered from the country.

Aleix Advocats will assist you with every step:

• The foreign investment authorisation application and incorporation of the company in Andorra.
• Opening the company’s bank account.
• Obtaining the tax number.
• Registering the company, shareholders and directors with the Andorran Social Security Fund (CASS).
• Registering the company’s commercial activity.
• Reserving and applying for the self-employed residence and work permit, for the main holder and family members.

Residence without gainful activity

Passive residence is for people who wish to make Andorra their main and effective place of residence, for at least 90 days per calendar year, without carrying out any employment or professional activity there.

Holders of this permit may carry out whatever is needed to manage their own assets. In particular, they may act as directors of companies in which they hold 50% or more, provided the directorship is unpaid.

Financial requirements

1. Investment in Andorran assets. The main holder must make a permanent and effective investment of at least €1,000,000 in one or more of the following:

• real estate located in Andorra;
• shares in the capital of companies resident in Andorra;
• debt or financial instruments issued by resident entities, or Andorran investment funds, for a maximum of 36 months (after which the investment must be moved into another type of asset);
• debt issued by Andorran public administrations;
• life insurance products taken out with entities resident in Andorra;
• non-interest-bearing deposits with the AFA.

The minimum is reduced to €400,000 if the investment is made, directly or indirectly, in the Housing Fund (Fons d’Habitatge).

Where the investment is in real estate, each property unit acquired must be worth more than €800,000. In addition, the purchase of property by a foreign national requires foreign investment authorisation under Law 5/2025, which limits the number of properties that can be acquired and prohibits properties for tourist use. It is also subject to the tax on foreign real estate investment.

2. Payment to the AFA. In addition to the investment, the holder must pay €50,000 to the Andorran Financial Authority, plus €12,000 for each dependant. These amounts are not deducted from the investment: they are paid on top of it. They are final and non-refundable and are only returned if the initial permit is refused.

3. Sufficient means. Applicants must show annual income of more than 300% of the current annual minimum wage for the main holder, plus an additional 100% for each dependant. This can be evidenced by, for example, a pension certificate, the tax return from the last country of residence or bank statements.

Other requirements

• Insurance valid in Andorra covering sickness, disability and old age. Minors and people over 60 only need sickness cover.
• Housing in Andorra, owned or rented, meeting minimum habitability standards. A purchase in progress is accepted if completed within one year.
• A signed undertaking to make Andorra the main and effective place of residence and to keep the insurance in force.
• A criminal record certificate showing no convictions for intentional offences.
• A medical examination at the Immigration Medical Service.
• Non-EU/EEA nationals must be lawfully able to enter and move within the Schengen area.

Deadlines

• The investment must be made within a maximum of six months, extendable by a further six months in cases of force majeure or third-party fault. The holder then has one month to evidence it to the Immigration Service. Otherwise, the permit is cancelled.
• Once the permit is granted, the certificate of registration with the local parish (comú) must be submitted within three months, failing which the permit is cancelled.

Quota, duration and renewal

For 2026, the Government has set a quota of 163 passive residence permits. They are granted in order of application, with priority, in this order, to nationals of states that have signed an agreement with Andorra, then to EU/EEA nationals, and finally to all others.

The initial permit is valid for two years. The first renewal is for two years and subsequent ones for three years. After seven years as a holder, renewals are for ten years. For Spanish, French and Portuguese nationals, renewals are for three years, and ten-year renewals are available after five years as a holder.

Aleix Advocats will assist you with every step:

• Opening a bank account in Andorra.
• Obtaining the certificates showing sufficient income to live in Andorra without working.
• Evidencing the payment to the Andorran Financial Authority.
• Planning and evidencing the investment in Andorran assets within the legal deadlines, including, where applicable, the foreign real estate investment authorisation.
• Taking out insurance covering sickness, disability and old age in Andorra.
• Finding and evidencing housing in Andorra.

Applying for the residence permit without gainful activity and the subsequent parish registration.

An internationally-focused professional is a foreign national who makes Andorra their main and effective place of residence for at least 90 days per calendar year in order to carry out a professional activity on the following terms:

a) The headquarters or base of the professional activity is in Andorra.

b) They employ no more than one person.

c) Their clients are mainly people or entities not resident in Andorra. This requirement is met when at least 85% of the services provided are used outside Andorra.

Any other gainful activity in Andorra requires the corresponding immigration permit.

The Government grants the permit if the applicant meets the following conditions:

a) They demonstrate the economic viability of their project and show that it will generate enough resources for them and their dependants to live in Andorra for the full term of the permit.

b) The activity falls within one of the sectors in which the Government considers it appropriate to admit foreign professionals. The applicant’s qualifications and professional experience are also taken into account.

c) They deposit €47,500 (non-interest-bearing) with the Andorran Financial Authority, plus €9,500 (non-interest-bearing) for each dependant. The deposit is returned if the holder deregisters or if the permit is cancelled or not renewed, less AFA fees and any amounts withheld for outstanding obligations in Andorra.

The general requirements must also be met: insurance, housing, undertaking of effective residence, clean criminal record and medical examination.

Aleix Advocats will assist you with every step:

• The foreign investment authorisation application.
• Setting up a company with international activity.
• Opening a bank account in Andorra.
• Evidencing your experience in the activity you intend to carry out from Andorra, invoicing abroad.
• Obtaining the certificates showing sufficient income to live in Andorra.
• Evidencing the deposit with the Andorran Financial Authority.
• Taking out insurance covering sickness, disability and old age in Andorra.
• Finding and evidencing housing in Andorra.
• Applying for the residence permit.

This Andorran residence permit is for people with international recognition for their talent in science, culture or sport. They must make Andorra their main and effective place of residence for at least 90 days per calendar year. The Government has full discretion to assess whether the applicant enjoys such recognition.

These residents may manage their own assets and continue their professional activity, provided that at least 85% of the services provided are used outside Andorra.

The applicant obtains the permit if they meet the following conditions:

a) They show that their activity generates enough resources for them and their dependants to live in Andorra for the full term of the permit.

b) They deposit €47,500 (non-interest-bearing) with the Andorran Financial Authority, plus €9,500 (non-interest-bearing) for each dependant. The deposit is returned if the holder deregisters or if the permit is cancelled or not renewed, less AFA fees and any amounts withheld for outstanding obligations in Andorra.

Aleix Advocats can help you at every stage of your application for residence for scientific, cultural or sporting interest, and in particular in evidencing your international recognition in these fields:

• Opening a bank account in Andorra.
• Obtaining the certificates showing sufficient income to live in Andorra.
• Evidencing the deposit with the Andorran Financial Authority.
• Taking out insurance covering sickness, disability and old age in Andorra.
• Finding and evidencing housing in Andorra.
• Applying for the residence permit for scientific, cultural or sporting interest.