---
title: "How to get Andorra residency: steps, documents, timescales"
url: https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process
description: "How to get residency in Andorra: appointment at the Immigration Service, criminal record, medical check, housing, fees and response times."
updated: 2026-10-11
language: en
publisher: Andorre Fiscal (https://andorrefiscal.fr)
---

# Getting your residency in Andorra: application, steps and timescales

> Markdown version of the page https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process (Andorre Fiscal), up to date as of 11 October 2026. To cite this page, use its address: https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process

All residence applications go through the Govern’s Immigration Service, in person and by appointment. The application rests on a common core (identity, criminal record certificates, medical examination, housing), supplemented according to the status. Here is what the texts and the official e-tràmits information sheets say at 11 October 2026.

By [the Andorre Fiscal editorial team](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/about#redaction) · Verified on 11 October 2026 · [14 official sources](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process#sources)

- **60 days** maximum stated time, authorisations with work (working days)
- **2 months** maximum stated time, residence without work
- **3 months** to register with the comú after approval
- **1 year** to regularise an expired authorisation

## Key points

- The application is submitted in person to the Immigration Service, by appointment; each e-tràmits information sheet states the documents, the fee and the maximum response time.
- The common core: passport, criminal record certificates from every country of residence, sworn statement, photo, housing, civil status and medical examination.
- Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised, and some must be less than 3 or 6 months old.
- Applications are processed in order of arrival and within the limit of the quotas: an incomplete application can cost you your place.
- After approval, registration with the comú within 3 months is compulsory, on pain of cancellation.

## Where do you submit the application? The Immigration Service, by appointment

The Govern’s [Immigration Service](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/glossary#servei-immigracio) (Servei d’Immigració), under the authority of the minister responsible for the Interior, examines all applications; for residence without work, the examination falls to the police service, within the Immigration Service (Decree 407/2025, art. 1). The immigration medical service rules on fitness to reside and to work. A refusal is decided by the minister responsible for the Interior or by the person the Govern delegates for that purpose (Llei 9/2012, art. 48).

The official information sheets published on [e-tràmits](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/glossary#e-tramits) make it clear: these procedures are not carried out online. You must book an appointment, the cita prèvia, on the [Govern’s appointment website](https://cita.govern.ad), then go to the counter, yourself or through a representative entered in the register of representatives or an authorised professional. Each authorisation is entered in the central immigration register, and the card issued on approval or renewal is the only document that proves your situation (art. 8). For an overview of the permits and the common conditions, see our page on [becoming resident in Andorra](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency).

## Documents to provide: criminal record, medical examination, housing…

The lists in the e-tràmits information sheets are indicative and not exhaustive: the service may request any additional document (Decree 407/2025, art. 3). The common core is as follows:

- the application **form** specific to the status;
- a valid **passport**, or the identity card for nationals of the European Union and the European Economic Area;
- the **criminal record extracts** from the country of origin, the country of nationality and each previous country of residence, with a sworn statement concerning any criminal record;
- a colour **photo** measuring 35 × 45 mm, taken within the last 6 months;
- **proof of housing** (lease, title deed or certificate of accommodation, with a certificate of domicile if the home is not in your name);
- **civil status** documents: marriage certificate, divorce judgment, certificate of stable union, as the case may be;
- the **medical examination** forms and the forms consenting to the tests;
- the **comú registration** form and the signature document.

Official foreign documents must be **apostilled** under the Hague Convention, or legalised. For [family reunification in Andorra](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/family-reunification#documents), marriage and birth certificates must be less than 3 months old. The criminal record certificates must cover every country where you have lived: the law requires the absence of any record of intentional offences that could threaten public order, in Andorra as in those countries (art. 43). The home must meet habitability standards (art. 45): see [Finding a home in Andorra](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/renting).

## The documents specific to each status

**Documents, fees and timescales by status**

| Status | Specific documents | Initial fee | Maximum stated time |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Employee | Employment contract, certificate of professional and salary conditions, CV and diplomas, CASS points statement if any | €190.96, paid by the employer | 60 working days |
| Self-employed | Foreign investment authorisation, company more than 34% owned, position as director, payment of €50,000 to the AFA; or authorisation to practise for a liberal profession | €190.96 | 60 working days |
| Residence without work | Resources (pension certificate, tax return, bank certificates), insurance, residence undertakings; investment for [passive residency](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/passive-residency); business plan and CV for the [international professional](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/international-professional) | €3,000, plus €1,000 per dependant | 2 months |
| Digital nomad, entrepreneurs | Favourable decision of the Ministry of the Economy, resources, health and incapacity insurance, housing | €224.61 | 2 months |
| Family reunification | Marriage and birth certificates less than 3 months old, 100% insurance cover, proof of the applicant’s resources | €22.61 | 60 working days |
| Cross-border worker | Employment contract, certificate of residence in the country of domicile | €190.96 | 60 working days |

Fees: Llei 9/2012, art. 154. Timescales: e-tràmits information sheets consulted on 11 October 2026. The information sheet for residence without work (D.1) still shows conditions and amounts predating the laws of 2025 and 2026: rely on the law. The total cost of each status, payment to the AFA included: see [AFA deposit and the cost of residency](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/costs-afa-deposit).

## The steps, from submission to the residence card

1. Choose the status and check the quota

   Applications are processed in strict order of arrival (art. 35), and a lack of places in the quota is a ground for refusal (art. 49). See [Types of residency](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/residency-types).
2. Gather the prerequisites

   Depending on the status: job offer and the employer’s steps with the employment service, foreign investment authorisation and company, decision of the Ministry of the Economy, housing.
3. Submit the application and pay the fee

   By appointment, at the counter. The fee is due on submission or on issue, and no authorisation is handed over without payment (art. 155 and 156).
4. Undergo the medical examination

   At the immigration medical service, which checks fitness to reside and, where applicable, to work (Llei 9/2012, art. 44). For residence without work, failing to attend the appointment without justification amounts to a declaration of unfitness (Decree 407/2025, art. 7).
5. Make the payment to the AFA, if due

   For residence without work, the Immigration Service notifies the amount once the application has been checked; the bank certificate of payment allows the authorisation to be issued (Decree 407/2025, art. 9). A self-employed person pays their €50,000 at the time of submission.
6. Receive the decision and the card

   Within the maximum time stated on the e-tràmits information sheet for the status.
7. Complete the follow-up formalities

   Registration with the comú of your [parish](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/parishes) within 3 months (art. 22 bis and 79). Passive residency: investment within 6 months, proof to be provided within the following month (Decree 407/2025, art. 14). Self-employed: an active registered business within 3 months.

## After approval: residence card, comú, CASS

Approval does not end the procedure: three formalities follow, one of which determines whether you keep the permit.

- **The residence card**: issued by the Immigration Service on approval and then at each renewal, it certifies your situation (Llei 9/2012, art. 8). In the event of loss, theft or destruction, a duplicate costs €22.61, or €56.15 for residence without work (art. 154).
- **Registration with the [comú](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/glossary#comu)** of your parish, within 3 months of approval, to be proved to the Immigration Service within the same period (art. 22 bis): without this proof, the authorisation is cancelled (art. 79).
- **The CASS**: the employer declares the employee within the 7 days preceding recruitment, at the latest on the first day of work; a self-employed person registers within 3 days of starting their activity, and the director of a new company pays contributions 30 days after the company is entered in the Companies Register. Residents without work keep the insurance required by their status (art. 90): CASS voluntary insurance is restricted by conditions of age, contributions or residence, for example 50 years of age and 180 monthly contributions.

The Immigration Service also issues certificates of registration in the central immigration register, useful for proving your dates of residence, for example in a nationality application: €5.73, or €6.79 for residence without work (art. 154), by appointment, with a stated response time of 2 working days. The comú’s certificate of residence, for its part, is required on renewal: see [when to submit the renewal application](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency#quand).

## How long does it take to obtain residency?

- **first applications with an activityemployee, self-employed, cross-border worker, reunification**: 60 working days
- **residence without work and renewalsmaximum stated response time**: 2 months
- **to submit a renewalbefore expiry: work / without work**: 60 days / 6 months

The e-tràmits information sheets show a maximum response time of **60 working days** for first applications as an employee, self-employed person or cross-border worker and for family reunification, and of **2 months** for residence without work and renewals. To this must be added the preparation time, often the longest part: obtaining criminal record certificates and having them apostilled, setting up a company, obtaining a foreign investment authorisation or finding a home.

Timing also matters: quotas are annual, and the passive residency quota was exhausted as early as 22 January in 2025, according to the press. For renewals, the information sheets indicate a submission window of 60 days before expiry for work authorisations and of 6 months for residence without work; in all cases the law requires you to submit before expiry (art. 55). The rules are detailed in [Renewal and permanent residency](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency).

## If you are refused: grounds and appeals

The law gives an exhaustive list of the grounds for refusing a first application (art. 49):

- conditions not met;
- falsified or omitted documents;
- sham family or contractual ties;
- threat to public order;
- medical unfitness;
- no place available in the quota;
- application made in fraud of the law.

If your application does not meet the conditions of the status applied for but meets those of another, the service may, with your agreement, grant you that other status (art. 50).

The refusal of a first application places you in an irregular situation (art. 51). The immigration law provides for an expedited procedure (art. 158):

1. Administrative appeal to the Govern

   Within **8 working days**.
2. The Govern’s response

   Expected within 15 working days.
3. Appeal to the court

   Within 8 working days.

The e-tràmits information sheets, for their part, mention a one-month time limit taken from the Administration Code: if in doubt, act within the 8 days and get assistance. The refusal of a renewal comes under other articles: see the [grounds for refusing a renewal](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency#refus).

## Common mistakes

- **Forgetting a criminal record certificate**: you need one for each previous country of residence, not just for the country of nationality.
- **Providing documents that are not apostilled or are too old**: a photo more than 6 months old, civil status certificates more than 3 months old for reunification.
- **Relying on out-of-date amounts**: some websites, and even an official information sheet, still show the 2022 to 2025 thresholds for passive residency.
- **Submitting too late in the year**, when the quota has already been used up.
- **Starting work before approval**: a tourist is not allowed to work (art. 17).
- **Forgetting to register with the comú** within 3 months: the authorisation is then cancelled without further procedure (art. 79).
- **Letting your authorisation expire**: regularisation remains possible for one year, but it is not guaranteed (art. 81 and 82).

The sums to budget for each status are detailed in our guide to [the cost of residency and the AFA deposit](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/costs-afa-deposit).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do you need to make an appointment (cita prèvia) with the Immigration Service?

Yes. The e-tràmits information sheets state that these procedures are not available online: you must book an appointment (cita prèvia) on the Govern’s appointment website, then go to the counter. A representative entered in the register of representatives, or an authorised professional, can act on your behalf, but the medical examination requires you to be present.

### Which criminal record certificate must you provide, and does it need an apostille?

A criminal record extract from the country of origin, the country of nationality and each country where you have resided, with a sworn statement (e-tràmits information sheets; Llei 9/2012, art. 43). Like any official foreign document, it must be apostilled or legalised. On the French side, bulletin No. 3 is requested online on the Ministry of Justice website or by post, and since 1 May 2025 the apostille has been the responsibility of the regional councils and inter-departmental chambers of notaries.

### Do you need to have your documents translated?

The information sheets mainly require official foreign documents to be apostilled or legalised. A sworn translation is expressly mentioned only for certain procedures, for documents written in a language other than Catalan, Spanish or French: ask the Immigration Service what it expects for yours.

### Can you stay in Andorra while the application is being examined?

A foreign national may stay for up to 90 days as a tourist, without working (Llei 9/2012, art. 16 and 17). For a family reunification application, the law allows you to stay beyond that, until the decision (art. 115).

### What happens if my authorisation expires before the response to my renewal application?

If you submitted your application before the expiry date, you can continue to reside and, where applicable, to work within the limits of your authorisation, even if the decision comes after it has expired (art. 82).

### My authorisation has expired: is it too late?

Not necessarily. For one year after expiry, you can apply for regularisation, provided you prove permanent and effective residence and meet the conditions for renewal (art. 81 and 82). After one year, the authorisation is cancelled (art. 79).

[Read: Renewal › When should you submit the renewal application?](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency#quand)

### Can the Immigration Service ask for other documents?

Yes. The published lists are indicative, and the Govern may request any additional document and carry out any checks it considers useful (Decree 407/2025, art. 3).

### How much does a residence certificate or a duplicate card cost?

The law sets these fees: €5.73 for a certificate of registration in the central immigration register (€6.79 for residence without work) and €22.61 for a duplicate card (€56.15 for residence without work), under Article 154.

## Sources

1. [Llei 9/2012, qualified law on immigration, consolidated version](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2012009) — Examination and refusal (art. 35, 43 to 51), renewal and regularisation (art. 55, 81, 82), fees (art. 152 to 156), appeals (art. 158).
2. [Decree 407/2025, regulation on residence without work](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/R20251112A) — Examining service, documents, medical examination, payment to the AFA, proof of the investment.
3. [e-tràmits: residence and work, initial authorisation (A.1)](https://www.e-tramits.ad/tramits/ca/a1-residencia-i-treball-autoritzacio-inicial/p/GV000484) — Common documents, apostille, submission in person, time limit of 60 working days.
4. [e-tràmits: family reunification, initial authorisation (B.1)](https://www.e-tramits.ad/tramits/ca/b1-residencia-per-raons-de-reagrupament-autoritzacio-inicial/p/GV000489) — Certificates less than 3 months old, resources, insurance.
5. [e-tràmits: residence without gainful activity, renewal (D.2)](https://www.e-tramits.ad/tramits/ca/d2-residencia-sense-activitat-lucrativa-renovacio/p/GV001310) — Submission within the 6 months before expiry, appointment compulsory.
6. [e-tràmits: residence and work, renewal (A.2)](https://www.e-tramits.ad/tramits/ca/a2-residencia-i-treball-autoritzacio-de-renovacio/p/GV000485) — Submission within the 60 days before expiry.
7. [Llei 5/2025 on sustainable growth and the right to housing](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2025005) — Fees for residence without work (€3,000, €500, €1,000).
8. [e-tràmits: certificate of registration in the central immigration register (L.1)](https://www.e-tramits.ad/tramits/ca/l-1-certificat-dinscripcio/p/GV000508) — For any holder, current or former; €5.73; response within 2 working days; by appointment.
9. [Govern d’Andorra: appointment booking (cita prèvia)](https://cita.govern.ad) — Website to which the e-tràmits information sheets refer for procedures to be carried out in person.
10. [CASS: affiliation and declaration of employees](https://www.cass.ad/afiliacio-alta-i-baixa) — Declaration by the employer within the 7 days preceding recruitment, at the latest on the first day of work.
11. [CASS: affiliation of self-employed workers](https://www.cass.ad/compte-propi) — Affiliation within 3 days of the start of the activity; 30 days after entry in the register for the director of a new company.
12. [CASS: special schemes and voluntary insurance](https://www.cass.ad/regims-especials) — Voluntary insurance restricted by conditions of age, contributions or residence (for example 50 years of age and 180 monthly contributions).
13. [Service-public.fr: criminal record extract (bulletin No. 3)](https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F14710) — Request online on the Ministry of Justice website or by post.
14. [France Diplomatie: legalising or apostilling a French document](https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/services-aux-francaises-et-aux-francais/formalites-avant-le-depart/certificat-copie-legalisation-notariat/legaliser-ou-faire-apostiller-un-document-francais-a-destination-de-l-etranger) — Apostille by the regional councils and inter-departmental chambers of notaries since 1 May 2025.

Consolidated texts on the Portal jurídic d’Andorra have no official value: only the version published in the BOPA is authentic. [How we verify](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/methodology).

**General information, not advice.** This guide sets out the rules in force on 11 October 2026, based on official texts. It is no substitute for a professional review of your situation (lawyer, tax adviser, gestoria). Spotted an error or a change? [Write to us](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/contact).

## Further reading

- [Types of residency](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/residency-types): Every status compared
- [Costs and AFA deposit](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/costs-afa-deposit): What each status really costs
- [Renewal](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency): Durations, presence, permanent residency
- [Renting a home](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/renting): Rents, leases, Llei 11/2026
- [Healthcare and insurance](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/healthcare): CASS, top-up insurance, hospital
- [Where to live: the 7 parishes](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/parishes): From Canillo to Sant Julià