Relocating to Andorra
Residency, company, housing, banking, schools, vehicle. The path is mapped but dense, and the order in which you do things changes the timescales a great deal. Here is the real sequence, the one that avoids losing two months.
The two residency routes
Passive residency is for those not carrying on an activity in Andorra: it requires an investment in the country and a minimum annual presence. Active residency is for those who work there or set up a company, with a greater presence requirement.
The choice between them depends on your professional and financial situation, and it has lasting tax consequences. It is the first decision to take, and the only one on which qualified advice is essential — delivered by our licensed partner firm and not by us.
The order that saves two months
Many files drag because the steps are taken out of order. The bank account in particular is almost always the slowest link — and it conditions the rest.
| Procedure | File handled alone | File prepared |
|---|---|---|
| Passive residency | ≈ 14 weeks | ≈ 8 weeks |
| Company incorporation | ≈ 10 weeks | ≈ 6 weeks |
| Bank account | ≈ 5 weeks | ≈ 2 weeks |
| School enrolment | ≈ 6 weeks | ≈ 3 weeks |
The gap comes from no special treatment: it comes from a complete file first time, filed in one go, with the expected documents in the expected form. The leading cause of doubled timescales is an incomplete file.
Housing, the real bottleneck
The Andorran market is tight and a significant share of properties is never published online. A search from abroad, without a local network, rarely succeeds — and proof of address is required for the residency file. This is where support changes things most.
Daily life
Bank, health insurance, school enrolment, driving licence, vehicle registration, telecoms. Individually simple, collectively time-consuming, especially in Catalan and during administrative hours. Our daily-life package groups them, from €2,400.
Schooling your children
Three systems coexist: Andorran, French and Spanish. The choice commits the whole of their schooling and depends on your long-term plan and the language of instruction you want. Places are settled before March for the following September — it is the step to anticipate most.
Taxation, in one honest sentence
Andorra applies lighter taxation than its neighbours, but obtaining residency does not automatically settle your tax situation at home: tax residency rules, bilateral treaties and the reporting obligations of your country of departure continue to apply. That is precisely why advice must come from a licensed firm, before any step is taken.
What comes afterwards
Relocation does not stop at obtaining residency. There are renewals, deadlines, declarations, property management. That is the role of the concierge subscription, which takes over once the file is granted.
Please note: the timescales and amounts given are orders of magnitude we have observed. Residency and tax rules change — any decision must rest on current advice from our licensed Andorran partner firm.
The full sequence
- Prior advice on the type of residency, before any other step.
- Opening the bank account — start this first, it is the slowest.
- Company incorporation if active residency, with foreign investment authorisation.
- Housing search and signature of the lease or deed.
- Filing the residency application complete, in a single go.
- Everyday procedures: health insurance, school, licence, vehicle, telecoms.
- Annual concierge for deadlines and follow-up once settled.
The mistakes we see most often
The first decision carries the heaviest consequences.
The type of residency is decided before everything else, and it corrects badly afterwards. A prior conversation avoids months of delay.
What people ask us most
How long does residency take?
Around fourteen weeks handling the file alone, roughly eight weeks with a prepared file. The gap comes from a complete file first time.
What is the difference between passive and active residency?
Passive is for those not carrying on an activity in Andorra, with an investment and a minimum presence. Active is for those who work there or set up a company.
Where should I start?
With advice on the type of residency, then opening the bank account: it is the slowest link and conditions the rest.
Is housing hard to find?
Yes. The market is tight and a significant share of properties is never published online. It is where support changes things most.
Do you give tax advice?
No. It is delivered by our licensed Andorran partner firm. We coordinate the procedures; we do not advise on taxation.
Does residency settle my tax situation?
No, not automatically. Tax residency rules and the obligations of your country of departure continue to apply. Hence the importance of prior advice.
When should I enrol my children?
Before March for the following September. Three systems coexist — Andorran, French and Spanish — and the choice commits their whole schooling.
What happens after residency is granted?
Renewals, deadlines and property management. That is the role of the concierge subscription, from €290 a month.
Your relocation, in the right order.
Describe your project and your situation. We set out the sequence, realistic timescales and what must go through the licensed firm.