Andorra looks simple from the outside: 10% corporate tax, a 10% ceiling on income tax, mountains, safety. The move itself is a sequence of quotas, deposits, leases and registrations, and the order matters more than the paperwork.
This guide walks you through the practical side as of September 2026: which permit fits, what to do in which week, what a flat costs and where people trip up. General information, not advice. The tax detail lives in our Andorra country guide.
Which permit fits you#
| Route | Who it’s for | Key requirement (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Active residence (self-employed / foreign investment) | Founders who run their business from Andorra | Andorran company with 34%+ ownership and a director role, 183+ days a year, CASS, €50,000 non-refundable to the AFA; 150 quota slots |
| Liberal profession | Doctors, lawyers, architects and other regulated professions | Recognized degree and professional registration; 30 slots (+20 for doctors) |
| Passive residence (no lucrative activity) | Investors and retirees with capital | €1,000,000 in Andorran assets or €400,000 in the Housing Fund, €50,000 non-refundable (+€12,000 per dependant), income above 300% of the minimum wage, 90+ days, no work |
| Digital nomad | Remote employees of foreign companies | Favourable report from the economy ministry, housing, health insurance, 90+ days |
| Employee | People with an Andorran job offer | Employer applies within the yearly work-permit quota |
The active route is the one entrepreneurs usually mean when they say “moving to Andorra”. It’s also the one with real substance tests: you own and run the company, you live there more than half the year, and renewals check that the business actually does something. If you’re a remote employee, compare Andorra with other programs in our digital nomad visa guide.
Quota slots for self-employed residence are handed out in order of application, with citizens of countries that have an agreement with Andorra first, then EU/EEA citizens, then everyone else. Being European gives you priority, not a free pass.
From decision to Andorran resident
Before you go: check your exit
Exit tax, extended tax liability and your existing companies decide whether Andorra works at all. Start with our leaving Germany guide and settle this before you reserve anything.
Before you go: gather documents
Criminal record certificates from your home country and every country you lived in, apostilled or legalized, plus passport, photos, CV and diplomas. Order them early; some countries take weeks.
Before you go: find housing
You need a rental contract or a property title (or a purchase in progress) for the file. In Andorra, the flat is often the bottleneck, not the paperwork. More below.
Before you go: reserve a quota slot
For active residence, apply for the pre-reservation of a self-employed permit. Once granted, you have six months to complete the foreign-investment steps and file.
Before you go: foreign-investment authorization and company
Get the government’s foreign-investment authorization, then incorporate the SL at a notary, register it and apply for the trade licence at the parish (comú). A local advisor typically runs this in parallel with the permit.
Week 1: file for residence and pay the AFA
The €50,000 goes to the Andorran Financial Authority when you submit the application. Within three months of filing you must show that your company holds a registered, active business in Andorra. The official processing deadline is up to 60 working days.
Week 1: medical check
Part of every residence file. The immigration service schedules it after you apply; bring your passport and any existing medical records if asked.
Month 1: CASS registration
As a self-employed owner you register with the CASS, Andorra’s social security. That’s your public health cover and pension record, and a condition of the active permit.
Month 1: bank account
Andorra has a handful of conservative banks. Expect in-person onboarding and detailed source-of-funds questions. Keep your EU account running until the Andorran one works.
Month 1: mobile, internet and electricity
Andorra Telecom is the single telecom operator for mobile, fibre and TV. Electricity comes from FEDA or a local distributor, depending on your building. Your landlord or agent will know which.
Month 3: register in your parish
Once the permit is granted, register with your comú within three months. You’ll then receive your residence card.
Month 3: driving licence and schools
Exchange your foreign driving licence at the mobility department. Don’t sit on it; foreign licences only work for a limited time after you become resident. Children can join the Andorran, French or Spanish public school systems, all free.
After year one: tax residency certificate
Once you’ve lived there more than 183 days in a calendar year, you can request a tax residency certificate from the tax department. That’s your best proof for your old country’s tax office.
Finding a flat#
Andorra has fewer than 90,000 residents, narrow valleys and a lot of new arrivals. The result is a tight rental market where good flats go through agents and word of mouth before they hit a portal. Housing is Andorra’s hottest political topic, with repeated measures on rents and leases and a public Housing Fund (the one passive residents can invest in); availability is still the main headache.
Typical rents for long-term unfurnished leases, as an estimate for September 2026 based on current listings:
| Parish | 1-bedroom | 2–3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|
| Andorra la Vella | €1,000–1,500 | €1,500–2,500 |
| Escaldes-Engordany | €1,100–1,600 | €1,600–2,700 |
| La Massana | €1,000–1,400 | €1,500–2,300 |
| Ordino | €900–1,300 | €1,400–2,200 |
| Encamp | €800–1,200 | €1,200–1,900 |
New builds and anything with a view and a garage sit at the top of the range. Canillo and Sant Julià de Lòria can be cheaper, with longer commutes in winter.
- Agents. Most rentals go through licensed real-estate agencies. Agency fees and one or two months’ deposit are normal; ask in writing what’s refundable.
- Contracts. Get a proper long-term lease in your name. It goes into your residence file, and short holiday lets won’t do.
- Scams. Never pay a deposit for a flat you or someone you trust hasn’t seen, and be wary of “owners abroad” who only want a transfer. Tight markets attract fake listings.
- Buying. Foreign buyers need authorization, and since 2026 some face an extra property tax. Details: Andorra country guide.
What it costs per month#
Estimate as of September 2026, based on current rental listings and typical Andorran prices (Numbeo data for Andorra is thin, so treat these as ranges):
| Item | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | €1,000–1,500 | €1,500–2,300 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | €120–220 | €170–300 |
| Mobile and internet | €60–100 | €90–140 |
| Groceries | €350–500 | €650–900 |
| Health insurance (private top-up) | €60–200 | €120–400 |
| Transport (car, fuel, parking, bus) | €150–350 | €250–500 |
| Eating out and other | €300–600 | €500–1,000 |
| Total | €2,040–3,470 | €3,280–5,540 |
Not included: your CASS contributions as self-employed. On the CASS table for 2025 they ranged from about €147 a month (the reduced 25% base in your first 12 months) to about €808 at the highest base. Everyday shopping is cheaper than in Spain or France thanks to the 4.5% IGI; rent and heating are where Andorra gets expensive.
CASS reimburses a share of medical costs based on official tariffs, not the full bill for routine care. Most residents add a private top-up policy. Passive and digital nomad residents need full private health cover anyway.
Valid for the whole process, plus copies. EU/EEA citizens can often use their national ID card for some steps, but bring the passport.
From your country of nationality and every country you lived in, recent and apostilled or legalized.
Apostilled, for family members and dependants.
Required for active and liberal-profession routes; regulated professions need recognized degrees.
Lease or property title in Andorra.
Especially for passive and digital nomad routes, covering illness and disability.
Source of funds for the €50,000 and your investment, plus income proof for passive residence.
Recent colour photos, 35 × 45 mm.
For the exchange after you become resident.
What can go wrong
The €50,000 is gone.
Since 13 February 2026 the AFA payment for active and passive residence is a non-refundable contribution, refunded only if your first application is refused. Some innovation and digital projects can be exempted; don’t count on it.
Active vs passive mix-ups.
Passive residents may not work in Andorra. Active residents must genuinely run their company from Andorra and live there 183+ days a year.
Quota slots run out.
Only 150 foreign-investment self-employed permits for 2026. After a pre-reservation, the clock runs: six months to complete the investment.
No treaty with Germany.
Germans moving to low-tax Andorra while keeping substantial German interests face extended limited tax liability under §2 AStG for ten years, plus exit tax on company shares.
Housing first, or nothing.
Without a lease or purchase, your file is incomplete. Signing a sham lease to tick the box is not a plan; renewals check where you really live.
Not EU, not Schengen.
Your Andorran residence card doesn’t give you rights to live in Spain or France. Non-EU nationals should check transit rules carefully.
Taxes and days#
You’re Andorran tax resident with more than 183 days a year there, or when your main economic interests are there. Your old country may still see it differently, especially if you keep a home there. Our tax residency guide explains how countries test residence, and the day tracker helps you document your days from the start.
Germans should read leaving Germany and our exit tax guide before signing the lease, not after. Andorra and Germany have no double tax treaty, so there’s no tie-breaker to rescue you from a leftover German flat.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Weighing Andorra against Cyprus, Malta or Dubai? Try the Jurisdiction Finder, or map your move in a strategy session.
FAQ#
How long does it take to move to Andorra?
For active residence, plan three to six months: housing, quota pre-reservation, foreign-investment authorization, company setup and the permit itself. The permit stage alone can take up to 60 working days.
Do I get the €50,000 back if I leave?
No, not anymore. Under Law 2/2026 the AFA payment is final for active and passive residence, except when your initial application is refused.
Can I keep working for my old employer?
On the digital nomad permit, yes, if you work remotely for a foreign company. On passive residence, you can’t work in Andorra at all. On the active route, you work in your own Andorran company.
Do I need to speak Catalan?
Daily life works in Catalan, Spanish and French, with English common in banks and advisory firms. Renewals increasingly ask for basic Catalan, so a beginner course early is a good investment.
Is public healthcare enough?
CASS covers you once you contribute, but it reimburses only part of routine care. Most residents add private top-up insurance.
When can I prove I’m Andorran tax resident?
After a calendar year with more than 183 days in Andorra, request a tax residency certificate from the tax department. Keep your lease, CASS record and travel data together as supporting evidence.
Sources#
- Govern d’Andorra – self-employed residence and work, initial authorization (J.1)
- Govern d’Andorra – residence without work, initial authorization (D.1)
- Govern d’Andorra – digital nomad residence (D.3)
- BOPA – Consell General, 12 February 2026, no. 15 (Law 2/2026)
- CASS – self-employed contributions
- CASS – reimbursement up to 100%
- Andorra Telecom
- FEDA – Forces Elèctriques d’Andorra
- §2 AStG – extended limited tax liability
- Andorran Banking – double taxation treaties
- La Veu Lliure – the €50,000 becomes a non-refundable contribution
- Augé – Omnibus Law 2 (Law 2/2026)
- Augé – passive residence 2026
- Andorra Solutions – self-employed residence quota 2026
