AndorraBusiness / work residence permit

Active residence in Andorra

The active residence programme for foreign nationals wishing to work and live in Andorra permanently. It provides for a residence permit for gainful activity, either as an employee or on a self-employed basis. It requires a deposit with the financial authority, registration with the local authorities and permanent residence in the country. The permit is initially issued for a short period, with the possibility of repeated renewal for longer periods.

Visa term

The first permit for 1-2 years, renewals for 2-3 years, thereafter up to 10 years

Processing time

About 2-4 months

Work

Yes: employment or business; a change of sector only after the third renewal

Residence

A minimum of 183 days a year

Source: govern.ad — A.1. Residència i treball: initial residence and work permit

Employment or your own business

There are two main ways of obtaining a residence permit for active gainful activity in Andorra: by concluding an employment contract with an employer, or by setting up and running your own company.

Employees

A concluded employment contract with a local company
Compliance with the established quotas for foreign workers
Permanent residence in Andorra

The self-employed and business owners

Registration of a company (a minimum of 3000 EUR of capital for an SL)
The office of administrator or owner of the company
Permanent residence in Andorra

When this programme will not suit you

You are seeking residence without intending to work in Andorra

Consider the passive residence programme (Residència passiva), with its investment requirements

You have no criminal record, or you have serious problems with the law

Active residence requires a clean criminal record; other programmes may also be unavailable

You are prepared to live there for fewer than 183 days a year

Passive residence requires only 90 days of residence a year

What it costs

Deposit with the Andorran Financial Authority (AFA)A non-refundable payment from 2026 (previously refundable)	50 000 EUR
Minimum share capital of the company (SL)For the self-employed and for companies; paid up in full on registration	3 000 EUR
State fee for consideration of the applicationA fixed amount for each permit application	190,96 EUR
Monthly CASS contributions (social insurance) for the self-employedThe amount as at 2025; reviewed annually	+563 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Monthly CASS contributions (social insurance) for the self-employed” adds 563 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	53,190.96–53 753,96 EUR

Paid separately

Refund of the AFA deposit — From 2026 the payment to the AFA is entirely non-refundable, unlike under the previous regime

Documents to gather

Originals and copies of all foreign documents must bear an apostille or be duly legalised.

A valid passport, or an identity card for citizens of the EU/EEA
A criminal-record certificate from the country of citizenship and all countries of residence
An employment contract (for employees) or company registration documents (for the self-employed)
Proof of accommodation: a tenancy agreement, title of ownership or a certificate of residence
Marital status: a certificate of no registered marriage, a marriage certificate, a divorce decree or an official certificate of a stable partnership
An up-to-date CV with originals and copies of diplomas
A colour photograph 35x45 mm, taken within the last 6 months
Consent to a medical examination
Documents on the company's capital and bank statements
Documents on registration with CASS (social insurance)

How the process runs

The process comprises an advance reservation, the preparation and filing of documents, consideration by the authorities, the decision and registration.

1
Reserving the authorisation
depends on the category: 3 months for qualified professionals, 6 months for investors and business owners
Before the procedure begins, the work authorisation must be reserved through the official electronic system. The timelines depend on the quota and the category of applicant.
2
Preparing and filing the documents
several weeks
All the necessary documents must be gathered and translated and bear an apostille. The documents are filed in person (a prior appointment is required).
3
Consideration by the administrative authorities
a maximum of 60 working days
The Ministry of the Interior carries out checks, including of criminal record, financial standing and the authenticity of the documents.
4
The decision and issue of the permit
1–2 weeks after consideration
If the decision is positive, an initial permit is issued for 1 year. Notification is sent to the applicant at the address given.
5
Registration with the parish (comú)
within 3 months of the permit being issued
Registration with the local authorities is compulsory. Confirmation of professional or commercial qualifications is also required within 3 months.

Who you can bring with you

The family may join an active resident subject to certain conditions and requirements.

Spouse

May join through the family reunification procedure 3 months after the active residence permit is obtained, regardless of citizenship

Minor children

May be included in the application or join later on proof of dependency and adequate funding; provision for health care and education is required

Ascendants (parents, grandparents)

May join through the family reunification procedure on proof of economic and medical dependency

Renewal and the grace period

The initial permit is issued for 1 year and may be renewed up to three times for periods of 2 years. After 7 years of continuous residence and work, each subsequent renewal is issued for 10 years. Renewal requires evidence of continuing professional activity, permanent residence in Andorra and compliance with tax and social obligations. The renewal application must be filed no later than 60 days before the current permit expires.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Long-term status (equivalent to permanent residence) after ~10 years

Route to citizenship

Citizenship after 20 years, with Catalan

Frequently asked questions about Active residence

What happens if I cannot spend 183 days a year in Andorra?

If an active resident cannot meet the 183-day requirement, this may lead to loss of tax resident status and to difficulties with renewing the permit. For those who can spend only 90 days in the country, the passive residence programme is provided.

Do I need to speak Catalan fluently to obtain active residence?

No, Catalan is not required for active residence. However, for citizenship later on, an examination in Catalan must be passed with a minimum result of 60 out of 100 points.

Can I obtain Andorran citizenship while keeping my current citizenship?

No, Andorra does not allow dual citizenship. To obtain Andorran citizenship you must renounce your other citizenship within 5 years of starting the naturalisation process.

How long must I live in Andorra to obtain long-term residence status?

After 7 years of continuous active residence and professional activity you receive a permit for 10 years, which is effectively equivalent to long-term status. Full citizenship requires 20 years of continuous residence (or 10 years if you were educated in Andorra).

Can I own a company in Andorra while living abroad?

Technically yes, but only if the company carries on genuine economic activity in Andorra. The company cannot merely be a 'letterbox': a physical office is required, at least one employee or an administrator with active residence, and management decisions taken on the spot.

Other ways to move to Andorra

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Andorra.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.