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

RESIDENCY

A foreign individual over 18 years of age who wishes to fix his or her effective residence in Andorra without carrying out any working or professional activity must obtain a passive residency permit from the Ministry of the Interior, or known locally as the Immigration Department. People have asked me whether they can carry on an internet business here, or continue consultancies or employment in other countries. The bottom line is yes and many people with passive residency run their own business. It is only if you are doing business in Andorra, employing people here, have a commercial premises etc, that you will need a business and work permit, otherwise the Andorran Government is not interested in you or your income.

Andorra is a favourite destination for those considering retirement. No personal taxation, a high standard but moderate cost of living, political and economic stability with no strikes, virtually no unemployment and the lowest crime rate in all europe are attractive features. These factors combined with a climate of up to 300 days per year sunshine and a lack of humidity easing arthiritis and rheumatism pains, make Andorra a healthy retirement destination.

Passive residence permits called residencias, which confer the full rights of residency without authorisation to work (in Andorra)are available to applicants, retired or otherwise.

Applicants need to either own or rent a property in Andorra and agree to reside in Andorra for a minimum of 183 days per year, although this is not strictly monitored. Please note that you are NOT required to purchase any property and a rental contract is sufficient for the application for passive residency. I am aware that some agencies and internet based websites are not actually explaining this !

The applicants must prove that they have funds available in a local bank equivalent to 300% of the annual minimum wage, and an extra 100% of that figure for each family member and the current minimum wage is €915,20 per month (€10,982.40 per year). That means one person will need to show funds of €32,947.20, two persons €43,929.60, three persons 54,912.00 and so on in increments of €10,982.40. This is proven by a bank certificate. Please note again that you do NOT have to prove continual annual income whatsoever.

Applicants must also prove that they have private medical insurance, however a local company in Andorra will arrange medical coverage certificates the same day, without medicals etc, from about 850€ per year per person. This I stress is basic coverage to say the least but sufficient for residency applications.

Applicants require a police report from their country of origin and, also their last country of residence if not the one of origin. These documents and the marriage Certificate if relevant need also to be apostillised with the stamp of the Hague Convention, currently housed in Milton keynes (please see the section headed Apostilles). A very basic medical is also required upon acceptance of the documents. Once the Doctor signs the report you must then deposit the bond with Government.

The procedure is conducted in the official language, Catalan. Upon successful application, the applicant will be required to pay to the andorran government a non interest bearing but refundable bond. The bond is currently € 30.000 for a single applicant and € 7.000 for each other member of the same household including children of all ages. Please note here that you CAN USE the funds deposited in the bank to obtain the bank certificate to pay the bond to the Government. Once the applicant has been accepted, his residencia is issued for a period of one year, renewable after the first year for a period of 3 years. Final approval, once the documents have been tendered takes usually about a month.

I have successfully processed many applications and have extensive contacts within the Andorran Government. The procedure briefly outlined above sounds complicated, but need not be providing that you have someone here helping and advising. On the page headed " Applying For Residency" I have tried to produce the easiest explanation I can as to what is required and how you should consider proceeding.