Guide to living in Andorra, residency, personal advice on relocating to Andorra

Unique to the internet !!! The easiest explanation available and above all the most up to date step by step guide to what is required to obtain passive residency in Andorra:-

Each year the Andorran Government issue 500 permits for residency. As at 18th December 2009 there were 197 remaining. Each family counts as just 1 for the purpose of the quota.

1) Do you satisfy the criteria for residency in Andorra?

a) Are you over 18 years old ?
b) Do you have sufficient capital, currently 3 times the annual minimum wage of €915.20 (this sum will be revised from 1 Jan 2010 to take into account inflation for 2009 (STOP PRES !!! The Government has anounced a zero inflation for 2009 so, no change !!), amounting to a total of € 32, 947.20. For each additional family member, applicants will require an additional 100 % of the minimum annual wage or in real terms € 10,982.40 for each person including ALL children regardless of age). This is proven by a local bank certificate.
c) Do you have or will you be able to obtain private medical insurance to satisfy the insurance requirements for medical coverage in Andorra?
d) Can you afford to pay €30,000 plus €7,000 for each member of the household on a non interest
bearing bond?
e) Can you afford to purchase or rent a property in Andorra?
f) Are you prepared to spend 183 days per year in Andorra, or at least in principle (This is a declaration on an immigration form).

2) If the answer is yes and you decide to proceed you should do the following:-

a) Contact me for preliminary advice.
a) Apply for a police report both from your country of origin, and the country where you currently reside. Also be reminded that from the date of issue of this document the clock is ticking and you have 3 months from the date of issue of the police certificate (and the 3 month rule applies to all documents required).
b) Once obtained, arrange to have the police report(s) apostillised in the country of issue.
c) At the same time of legalising the police report(s) you should apostillise your marriage certificate if your spouse is accompanying you.
d) Arrange private medical insurance. ( At a later stage this can be done locally and painlessly in Andorra within a day or two, and can cost about € 1500 for a couple, no medical required ), alternatively any existing medical cover may be sufficient if it covers you in Andorra.


3) At the same time you should consider a preliminary visit to Andorra to:-

a) Meet with me to explain and assist in completing the documents since they are all done in Catalan. At that point also we can go over and clarify all other outstanding requirements and registrations with the local parish level of Government. There is an important matter concerning an Andorran Government issued declaration which must be signed by your insurance company, which due to it's wording, is often impossible. But fear not, a local company will produce one the very next day, of course for an annual premium!
b) We will look at property and set in motion any purchase or rental agreement.
c) We will open a bank account in Andorra.
d) We will obtain from Immigration the relevant documents and declarations

4) Once all documents and certificates are ready you will need to return to Andorra to do the following :-

a) Deposit the necessary funds in your bank account here that you opened and we will obtain a certificate from the bank that such funds are available in the account.
b) We will arrange a meeting with the Immigration Officer responsible for passive residency where you will need to produce amongst all the other documents your original passports
c) Once accepted you will be required, normally within one to two days but within a maximum of one month to attend a medical, this is two visits one for blood tests and basic analytics, and the second visit is for you to see a doctor who should then issue his medical approval.
d) Funds will then need to be lodged with the Government, and within a few weeks you should be the proud owner of a passive resident's permit !