Andorra (AD)
Andorra is a tiny parliamentary co-principality nestled in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, governed jointly by the French President and the Bishop of Urgell.
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Region: Europe
Language: Catalan
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Moderate (index 70)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Andorra.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Permanent Residency (Residència Permanent)
Eligibility
Persons who have accumulated 20 years of legal authorised residence in Andorra. Under a May 2026 reform, the 20-year period no longer needs to be fully consecutive — all legal residence periods count, provided the applicant has maintained at least 5 years of continuous residence immediately before the application. This is one of the longest permanent residency requirements in Europe and applies to all nationalities equally.
Duration
Permanent (indefinite)
Requirements
- ✓20 total years of legal authorised residence in Andorra (under May 2026 reform, non-consecutive periods are accepted provided the last 5 years are continuous)
- ✓No conviction for an intentional crime carrying a sentence of 1 or more years' imprisonment, or for two or more intentional crimes (May 2026 reform tightened threshold from 4 years)
- ✓Proof of financial self-sufficiency or stable income throughout the period
- ✓Ongoing CASS contributions (or approved passive resident status) during qualifying periods
- ✓Valid Andorran residence permit at time of application
Andorra requires 20 years — far longer than the 5–10 years typical in EU countries. The 2025 legislative reform introduced flexibility: interrupted residence periods now accumulate rather than resetting the clock, provided the final 5 years are continuous. Spouses of Andorran nationals may qualify for citizenship separately after 5 years of residence (see additionalPaths). EU citizens are subject to the same 20-year requirement as all others.
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Citizenship
Name
Andorran Nationality (Nacionalitat Andorrana)
Eligibility
Andorran nationality is one of the most restrictive in Europe. Main paths: (1) By birth to an Andorran parent (jus sanguinis). (2) Marriage to an Andorran national — under a May 2026 reform, requires 5 years of legal Andorran residency (completed before or after the marriage). (3) Naturalisation after 20 years of accumulated legal residence (with 5 years continuous immediately before the application, per May 2026 reform).
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓20 total years of legal residence for the general naturalisation path (May 2026 reform: non-consecutive periods accepted; last 5 years must be continuous)
- ✓OR 5 years of legal Andorran residency for spouses of Andorran nationals (May 2026 reform tightened from 3+3)
- ✓Catalan language test — demonstrable proficiency (B1 minimum)
- ✓Knowledge of Andorran history, institutions and culture
- ✓No conviction for an intentional crime carrying 1 or more years' imprisonment, or for two or more intentional crimes (May 2026 reform tightened from previous 4-year threshold)
- ✓Renunciation of previous citizenship (Andorra does not permit dual citizenship)
- ✓Demonstrated integration into Andorran society
- ✓Approval by the Govern d'Andorra (discretionary — the government may refuse)
Fewer than 30,000 Andorrans hold nationality out of a population of approximately 79,000 — citizenship is genuinely rare. Renunciation of prior citizenship is required, which is a significant barrier for EU nationals (losing EU freedom of movement) and UK nationals. Children born in Andorra to foreign parents do not automatically receive Andorran nationality unless a parent is Andorran. The Andorran passport gives visa-free access to over 120 countries including the EU/Schengen area and the USA.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Citizenship for Spouses of Andorran Nationals (May 2026 Reform)
Eligibility
Spouses of Andorran nationals who have accumulated 5 years of legal Andorran residency — completed before or after the marriage — may apply for citizenship. Under the May 2026 reform, this replaced the previous 3 years marriage + 3 years residence requirement with a single 5-year residency condition. The marriage must be subsisting and genuine at the time of application; if the marriage dissolves before the application is approved, eligibility is cancelled.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship if approved
Requirements
- ✓5 years of legal Andorran residency (accumulated before or after marriage, under May 2026 reform)
- ✓Marriage to an Andorran national, genuine and subsisting at the time of application
- ✓Catalan language proficiency test (B1 minimum)
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Renunciation of previous nationality
- ✓No history of fraudulent marriage or residency irregularities
- ✓Approval by the Govern d'Andorra
This is the fastest citizenship path for foreigners — 5 years vs 20 years for general naturalisation. The May 2026 reform tightened eligibility by requiring residency rather than just marriage years. If the marriage dissolves before approval, the application fails; a 20-year wait for subsequent citizenship applications applies after a marriage-based application collapses.
Citizenship by Descent (Children of Andorran Nationals)
Eligibility
Children born to at least one Andorran national parent acquire Andorran nationality at birth regardless of the country of birth. Children born in Andorra to foreign parents do not automatically receive citizenship unless a parent is Andorran.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent from birth
Requirements
- ✓At least one parent must be an Andorran national at the time of birth
- ✓Birth registered at the Registre Civil d'Andorra
- ✓For births outside Andorra: registration at the nearest Andorran diplomatic mission
Andorra follows jus sanguinis (descent) not jus soli (birthplace). Foreign parents of Andorran-born children receive no citizenship benefit from the birth. Dual citizenship is generally not permitted, so a child born with two nationalities will typically need to choose upon reaching adulthood.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
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Dual citizenship is not allowed — Andorra does not recognise dual citizenship. Applicants for Andorran nationality are required to renounce their previous citizenship before the Andorran passport is issued. This is a significant barrier for EU nationals (renouncing EU citizenship means losing EU freedom of movement rights) and UK nationals. Most long-term expats in Andorra retain their home-country citizenship and rely on their residence permit for access to Andorran services. Exceptions may exist for children of mixed-nationality couples in limited circumstances.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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