---
title: "Andorra permanent residency: renewal and the 10-year permit"
url: https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency
description: "Renewing Andorra residency: durations, when to apply, presence required, Catalan A1 then A2, refusals, and the 10-year “permanent” permit."
updated: 2026-10-11
language: en
publisher: Andorre Fiscal (https://andorrefiscal.fr)
---

# Renewal and “permanent” residency in Andorra

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

No Andorran authorisation is granted once and for all: each must be renewed (renovació), at intervals that depend on the status, up to the ten-year permit often called “permanent” residency. Here are the durations, the presence requirements, the Catalan required and the grounds for refusal at 11 October 2026.

By [the Andorre Fiscal editorial team](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/about#redaction) · Verified on 11 October 2026 · [7 official sources](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency#sources)

- **10 years** length of renewals after 7 years (5 years in certain cases)
- **60 days** submission window before expiry, work authorisations
- **6 months** submission window before expiry, residence without work
- **A1 then A2** in Catalan for employees

## Key points

- Employees and the self-employed: 1 year, then three renewals of 2 years, then 10 years; statuses without work: 2 years, 2 years, 3 years, then 10 years after 7 years, or after 5 years for French, Spanish and Portuguese nationals.
- The application is submitted before expiry: within the preceding 60 days for a work authorisation, within the preceding 6 months for residence without work, according to the e-tràmits information sheets.
- Each renewal checks presence (permanent, 183 days or 90 days depending on the status), activity, resources and continued compliance with the initial conditions.
- Employees must prove their Catalan: level A1 at the first renewal, A2 at the second.
- The 10-year permit is not “permanent” residency in the strict sense: for an employee, it can then be refused only on grounds of public order or interruption of residence; for the other statuses, the conditions must still be met.

## 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.

**Length of authorisations by status**

| Status | Initial authorisation | Renewals | 10-year permit |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Employee, self-employed | 1 year | 2 years, three times | After 7 years |
| Family reunification with an employee | 1 year at most | 2 years, three times | After 7 years |
| Passive, international professional, scientific interest, digital nomad | 2 years | 2 years, then 3 years | After 7 years |
| Same statuses: French, Spanish, Portuguese nationals | 2 years | 3 years | After 5 years |
| Programme for entrepreneurs, geriatric facility | 1 year | 1 year | Not provided for |
| Cross-border worker | 1 year | 3 years | Not provided for |

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](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process), and the maximum response time stated is 2 months.

**Renewal documents and fees**

| Status | Documents specific to renewal | Fee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Employee | CASS points statement, comú certificate of residence, payslips at the first renewal, proof of the required level of Catalan | €22.61 |
| Self-employed | CASS points statement, comú certificate, evidence of the company’s activity and turnover | €22.61 |
| Residence without work | Comú certificate, housing and latest bills, insurance, resources of more than 300% of the minimum wage, investment maintained (passive), dependants’ continued dependence | €500 |

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](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/costs-afa-deposit#par-statut) 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](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/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

**Employee — Permanent presence**

- Reside and work in Andorra on a permanent and effective basis
- Unemployment tolerated: 60 consecutive days and 90 days a year, with registration with the employment service

**Self-employed — 183 days a year**

- Reside and work in Andorra for at least 183 days
- Genuine activity proven by turnover

**Without work — 90 days a year**

- Main and effective residence for at least 90 days per calendar year
- Investment, resources and insurance maintained

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.

## Catalan on renewal

Since Llei 6/2024, renewal of a residence and work permit has been conditional on [Catalan](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/glossary#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](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/languages) and our news item [Catalan: level A1 required at the first renewal](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/news/catalan-required-for-permit-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).

> **Caution: 12-month ban for the self-employed**
>
> Two consecutive refusals for lack of activity or residence bar you from applying again for a self-employed authorisation for 12 months; the same period follows a withdrawal or a voluntary departure (art. 38 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](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process).

## 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:

**The ten-year permit by status**

| Status | What the law provides | Text |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Employee | Granted if you have resided and worked in Andorra during the last period; subsequent renewals can be refused only on grounds of public order or interruption of residence | Art. 62 |
| Retired employee | Renewable as long as you reside in Andorra, without the conditions of passive residency | Art. 60, 63 and 97 |
| Self-employed | The law continues to require compliance with the conditions of the status; exceptional renewal for those who have had a genuine activity and obtained their initial authorisation before the age of 60 | Art. 58 ter |
| Statuses without work | Granted if you still meet the conditions: investment, resources, insurance, 90 days of presence | Art. 32 |

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).

> French and Spanish nationals who can show effective and uninterrupted residence and the exercise of a professional activity […] in Andorra, for a minimum period of five years […] shall receive as of right, when their residence permit is renewed, a permit of the longest duration provided for by Andorran legislation […].
>
> — [Convention of 4 December 2000 between France, Spain and Andorra, Article 7, last paragraph (free translation)](https://www.senat.fr/leg/pjl01-281.html)

Even with a ten-year permit, a prolonged absence can lead to cancellation. The only permanent settlement is [Andorran nationality](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/andorran-citizenship), 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](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/residency-types).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there genuine permanent residency in Andorra?

No. Andorran law has no status of “permanent” residency: the expression refers to the ten-year authorisation, granted after seven years (or five years in certain cases), which must also be renewed (Llei 9/2012, art. 28, 32 and 62). Only Andorran nationality removes the need for any authorisation: the immigration law covers only persons who do not have Andorran nationality, and acquiring it cancels the current authorisation (art. 1 and 79).

[Read: Andorran nationality](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/andorran-citizenship)

### Can you renew your residence card online or from abroad?

Not online: according to the e-tràmits information sheets, the renewal is submitted in person, by appointment (cita prèvia), at the Immigration Service; a registered representative or an authorised professional can act for you. Above all, it presupposes that you have complied with the presence required by your status during the period that has elapsed.

[Read: Procedures and timescales › Where do you submit the application? The Immigration Service, by appointment](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process#qui)

### Does a long absence mean losing your residency?

It can lead to cancellation of the authorisation if you have not resided in Andorra for the required period (Llei 9/2012, art. 73), and justify the refusal of a ten-year permit for interruption of residence (art. 62). Holidays, medical treatment abroad and certain business assignments nevertheless count as presence.

[Use: 183-day counter](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/tools/183-day-counter)

### Is renewal automatic for a passive resident?

No. You must prove that the investment is maintained, resources above 300% of the annual minimum wage, insurance, housing, registration with the comú and the 90 days of presence, and pay a fee of €500.

[Read: Passive residency › Passive residency conditions since 13 February 2026](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/passive-residency#conditions)

### Do you need to undergo another medical examination on renewal?

The e-tràmits renewal information sheets that we consulted (employee, self-employed, family reunification, residence without work) do not mention it. The Immigration Service may, however, request any relevant document.

### Does the ten-year permit exempt you from Catalan?

The law ties the Catalan requirement to employees’ first two renewals (A1 then A2) and provides for no further level for the ten-year permit. Nationality, on the other hand, requires a B1 level diploma for those under 70.

[Read: Andorran nationality › Catalan B1 and proof of integration](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/andorran-citizenship#catalan-integration)

### What happens if my renewal is refused?

You can lodge an appeal, which has suspensive effect for a resident: you remain in a regular situation until the final judgment (art. 70). If the decision becomes final, you are in an irregular situation and must leave the country (art. 72 and 114).

[Read: Procedures and timescales › If you are refused: grounds and appeals](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process#refus-recours)

## Sources

1. [Llei 9/2012, qualified law on immigration, consolidated version](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2012009) — Scope (art. 1), durations (art. 24 to 33 ter), renewal criteria (art. 52 to 66), refusal and appeals (art. 67 to 72), cancellation, including cancellation linked to the acquisition of nationality, and regularisation (art. 73, 79 to 82).
2. [Llei 6/2024 on Andorra’s own and official language](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2024006) — Catalan A1 and A2, transitional regime until 26 April 2026, extension to other statuses.
3. [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, documents, fee of €22.61.
4. [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, resources, investment maintained.
5. [e-tràmits: residence and work for self-employment, renewal (J.2)](https://www.e-tramits.ad/tramits/ca/j2-residencia-i-treball-per-compte-propi-autoritzacio-de-renovacio/p/GV000502) — 183 days of presence, evidence of activity.
6. [Decree 407/2025, regulation on residence without work](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/R20251112A) — Documents for renewal (art. 20).
7. [Convention of 4 December 2000 between France, Spain and Andorra (French Senate)](https://www.senat.fr/leg/pjl01-281.html) — Permit of the longest duration after 5 years of residence and activity (art. 7).

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
- [Andorran nationality](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/andorran-citizenship): Conditions and length of residence
- [Languages and integration](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/languages): Catalan, French, Spanish
- [183-day counter](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/tools/183-day-counter): Track your days in Andorra over the year
- [Catalan A1 required to renew your work permit](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/news/catalan-required-for-permit-renewal): Since 26 April 2026, employees must prove their level of Catalan to renew.
- [Procedures and timescales](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/application-process): From application to residence card