International professional residency: the status for freelancers in Andorra

Professional with international reach (or “projection”): what is it?

Created in 2012, this status, which the law calls “professional amb projecció internacional”, belongs to the family of residence permits “without work”, like passive residency, but it allows a professional activity, provided that it is directed abroad. The law lays down three cumulative conditions (Llei 9/2012, art. 98):

• the base from which the activity is carried on is located in Andorra;
• the activity has at most one employee;
• the services are provided mainly to non-resident persons or entities.

Any other gainful activity in Andorra, whether salaried or not, requires the corresponding immigration authorisation (art. 98.2), for example an employee work permit. In principle, the status is aimed at freelancers and consultants whose clients are mainly abroad; their sector must still be among those selected by the Govern.

The conditions to meet

Beyond the activity itself, the application must be convincing on several points:

With the minimum wage of July 2026, the resources threshold amounts to about €56,500 a year for a single person (indicative calculation: €1,568.67 × 12 × 3). On the other hand, the law requires no investment, unlike passive residency.

The €47,500 AFA deposit, refundable

The holder deposits with the AFA, the Andorran Financial Authority (formerly INAF), a non-interest-bearing sum of €47,500, plus €9,500 per dependant (art. 99). Llei 2/2026 did not change this regime. Unlike passive and self-employed residency, the sum remains a deposit: it is returned if you leave the country, or if the authorisation is cancelled or not renewed, less the AFA’s fees and subject to deductions for unpaid obligations in Andorra.

Single person

€47,500

Couple

€57,000

Couple and two children

€76,000

On top of this come the immigration fees for residence without work: €3,000 for the initial authorisation, €1,000 per dependant and €500 at each renewal (art. 154, as amended by Llei 5/2025). The law does not provide for them to be refunded. Compare with the other statuses in Costs and AFA deposit.

Freelancing: international professional, self-employed or digital nomad?

The international professional status combines professional activity, no investment and a refundable deposit; its main limitation is a very small quota. The digital nomad status can be an alternative for an employee of a foreign company or a self-employed person with no Andorran clients, and self-employed residency remains the route for those targeting the local market.

Digital nomad: 50 places out of a quota of 100 shared with the entrepreneurs’ programme (Decree 11/2023, with no end date set by the text).

The full overview is in Types of residency. To see where you stand, which permit to live in Andorra? Take the test.

Duration, renewal and quota

authorisations in 2026Decree 74/2026, in order of receipt

10

then 10 years after 7 yearsFrench, Spanish, Portuguese nationals: 2 + 3 years, then 10 years after 5 years

2 + 2 + 3 years

to file the renewalbefore expiry

6 months

The durations are those of passive residency (art. 32 and 33): 2 years, then 2 years, then 3 years at each renewal, and 10 years after 7 years. French, Spanish and Portuguese nationals obtain 2 years, then 3 years, then 10 years after 5 years. According to the e-tràmits sheet, the renewal application is filed within the 6 months before expiry, with proof of the economic viability of the activity, of resources, of insurance and of housing.

Decree 74/2026 provides for only 10 authorisations for this status in 2026. Applications are processed in order of receipt (art. 35): you are better off filing a complete application early in the year (see the documents and timescales for a residence application). Finally, Llei 6/2024 requires the Govern to extend the Catalan requirement (A1 then A2) to residence without work within five years of its entry into force: check, when you renew, whether it already applies.

Tax: it all depends on your presence

The 90 days of presence are enough to keep the authorisation, not to become an Andorran tax resident. That tax status requires spending more than 183 days in Andorra in the calendar year, or having the centre of your activities or economic interests there (IRPF law, art. 8).

Social security and accounting obligations depend on how the activity is organised, and the texts consulted do not detail them for this status. The renewal sheet refers to the viability “of the company”: have a professional clarify the expected structure before you file. To keep track of your presence, count your days of presence in Andorra and read Tax residency.

Points to watch