Renewal and “permanent” residency in Andorra

Length of residency: 1, 2, 3 then 10 years

One year at the outset for an employee or a self-employed person, two years for the statuses without work; the ten-year permit then comes after seven years, or five years in certain cases.

Llei 9/2012, art. 24, 28, 28 ter, 30 bis, 32, 33, 33 bis, 33 ter and 109.

The foreign spouse of an Andorran obtains a ten-year authorisation straight away (art. 107). For French or Spanish employees and self-employed people, a 2000 convention also shortens the path to the longest permit (see below).

When should you submit the renewal application?

The law requires renewal to be applied for before expiry (art. 55). The e-tràmits information sheets specify the submission window: within the 60 days before expiry for employee, self-employed, cross-border worker and family reunification authorisations; within the preceding 6 months for residence without work. Submission is made in person, by appointment, and the maximum response time stated is 2 months.

Common documents: form, passport, photo and current card. Sources: e-tràmits information sheets A.2, J.2 and D.2; Decree 407/2025, art. 20; Llei 9/2012, art. 154. The renewal fees for each status are compared in our guide to costs.

Family members also renew their own authorisation, which is tied to the holder’s: see renewal for dependants and family reunification.

If you submitted in time, you keep your rights until the decision, even after expiry (art. 82). If the authorisation expired less than a year ago, regularisation remains possible, provided you prove permanent and effective residence and meet the conditions for renewal (art. 81). One year after expiry, the authorisation is cancelled (art. 79).

Presence and activity requirements

Some absences count as presence: holidays, medical treatment abroad, training decided by the employer or a business assignment of 12 months at most authorised by the Immigration Service (art. 53). Conversely, not residing in Andorra for the required period is a ground for cancelling the current authorisation (art. 73). To keep track of your days of presence, use our counter.

Your days in Andorra

Count your days in Andorra over the year, against the 90-day and 183-day thresholds.

Open the counter

Catalan on renewal

Since Llei 6/2024, renewal of a residence and work permit has been conditional on Catalan: level A1 at the first renewal, A2 at the second (Llei 9/2012, art. 54 bis and 58). The level is proved by an official diploma issued by the Govern or by a recognised equivalent qualification. Until 26 April 2026, attending the training provided for by the quota regulation was sufficient for the first renewal; since then, level A1 has been required.

The law requires the Govern to extend this requirement, within five years of its entry into force, to the self-employed, cross-border workers, residence without work and the digital economy statuses: check when you renew whether your status is already concerned. Conversely, a good knowledge of the country’s language, institutions, culture and history can earn you the next renewal period directly (art. 54). See also Languages and integration and our news item Catalan: level A1 required at the first renewal.

Grounds for refusal and the 12-month ban

The law limits the grounds for refusing a renewal (art. 67):

• the conditions for renewal are not met: presence, activity, resources, Catalan, continued compliance with the initial conditions;
• data or documents have been falsified or omitted;
• the employee changed sector during their first year;
• the holder represents a threat to security or public order.

To these are added cases specific to certain statuses: initial authorisation obtained in fraud of the law or conditions not complied with (art. 58 and 58 ter), a family member in an irregular situation (art. 54 ter).

A refusal requires an administrative file to be opened, examined under the Administration Code; the decision lies with the minister responsible for the Interior (art. 68 and 69). For a resident, an appeal against a refusal of renewal has suspensive effect until the final judgment (art. 70); it does not for a cross-border worker (art. 71). Time limits for appeals are short: see Procedures, application and timescales.

Permanent residency: the 10-year permit

Andorran law has no status called “permanent” residency. In practice, the expression refers to the ten-year authorisation, granted after seven years, or five years in certain cases. Its scope differs according to the status:

Llei 9/2012, articles cited.

French and Spanish nationals benefit from a specific rule: the convention of 4 December 2000 provides that after 5 years of effective and uninterrupted residence and professional activity in Andorra, they receive as of right, on renewal, the permit of the longest duration provided for by Andorran law, except on grounds of public order, public security or public health (art. 7).

Even with a ten-year permit, a prolonged absence can lead to cancellation. The only permanent settlement is Andorran nationality, which in principle requires 20 years of residence and the renunciation of your original nationality. To compare the statuses from the outset, see Types of residency.