Types of residence in Andorra: all administrative categories

Reading time: 8 minutes

Andorra offers several types of residence depending on whether the applicant carries out a professional activity in the country. Broadly speaking, there are two main categories: active residences (with work) and passive residences (without lucrative activity).

This article outlines the current residence types under the Qualified Immigration Law and its latest amendment, Law 5/2025 of 6 March, on sustainable growth and the right to housing.

🧾 Active residences

Active residences allow individuals to live and work legally in Andorra. The holder must be affiliated with the CASS and contribute either as an employee or as a self-employed professional.

➤ For more insight on daily life in the Principality, read Living and working in Andorra: what to know before moving.

👔 Employment residence

This is the most common residence type, representing the majority of applicants.

• Granted to people employed by a company established in Andorra.
• The initial permit is linked to the employment contract.
• The company must have an available immigration quota.
• The residence is issued for the duration of the contract (usually one year) and can be renewed.
• The employee is registered with the CASS as a salaried worker.
• The employer acts as the guarantor.

🧾 Self-employment residence

Authorises the holder to reside and conduct an economic activity as a self-employed professional or as a shareholder-director of an Andorran company.

• Requires foreign investment authorisation (Law 5/2025) to hold at least 35 % of a local company’s share capital.
• A €50,000 deposit with the AFA (Andorran Financial Authority) is required, although certain liberal professionals may be exempt.
• The activity must be carried out from Andorra.
• The holder must be registered with the CASS as self-employed.
• The initial authorisation is valid for one year and renewable.

➤ Full details are available in Self-employment residence in Andorra.

⏳ Temporary residence (seasonal workers)

Used to cover temporary or seasonal needs — mainly in the tourism and service sectors — and limited in duration.

• Validity depends on the season (e.g., winter or summer campaigns).
• The holder does not gain permanent resident status.
• Renewals are subject to minimum gaps between contracts, except for specific cases under Law 11/2022.

🚧 Cross-border workers

Allows individuals to work in Andorra while residing outside (typically in Alt Urgell or Ariège).

• Does not grant residence in Andorra but a cross-border work permit.
• Daily return to the habitual residence outside the country is mandatory.
• Governed by Articles 24 and 25 of Law 9/2012, amended by Law 5/2025.

🧩 Other active authorisations

Specific permits also exist for:

• Employees seconded by foreign companies (Article 27).
• Teaching staff of foreign or international schools (Article 29).
• Researchers, students, and trainees (Article 30).

These are exceptional and rarely granted categories.

🏡 Passive residences (without lucrative activity)

Passive residences — officially known as residences without lucrative activity — are designed for individuals wishing to live in the country without working there.

💰 Non-lucrative residence

This is the most well-known passive residence category.

• Applicants must prove sufficient financial means to support themselves without working.
• Requires a minimum investment of €600,000 in Andorran assets (real estate, company shares, deposits, or other authorised instruments).
• A €50,000 deposit with the AFA is required, plus €10,000 for each dependent.
• The holder must reside at least 90 days per year in Andorra.
• It targets investors, wealthy families, and retirees seeking a safe, high-quality lifestyle with favourable taxation.

➤ More information in Passive residence in Andorra.

🌍 Professionals with international projection

Allows residents to live in Andorra while performing most of their professional activity abroad.

• At least 85 % of income must come from clients outside Andorra.
• Common among consultants, digital creators, and athletes.
• In practice, it is extremely difficult to obtain, as the category is highly restricted and rarely approved.

🎭 Residence for scientific, cultural or sporting interest

Designed for individuals of recognised prestige in these fields.

• Permits residence without formal employment in the Andorran labour market.
• The holder may continue activities related to their discipline.
• Like the previous one, it remains a rare and residual permit.

🪙 The residence deposit

Only two residence types — non-lucrative and self-employment — may require a financial deposit, and not in every case.

➤ For full, updated details, see The residency deposit in Andorra: origin, evolution and applicable regimes.

❓ Common confusions

People often confuse administrative residence with tax residence.
The first grants the right to reside, while the second entails tax obligations in that jurisdiction.

➤ To clarify these concepts, read Types of residence in Andorra: active, passive and tax.

🧭 Choosing the right residence

The right choice depends on the applicant’s professional situation, income source, and investment capacity.

Each type entails different rights and obligations with the CASS, the Government, and the AFA, as well as distinct presence and renewal requirements.

➤ You may also consult The CASS in Andorra: how the Andorran social security system works.

📞 Want to know which residence regime best suits your situation?

Contact ELYSIUM Consulting — we’ll help you select the most advantageous option with full legal certainty.

Last review date: November 2025