CONTACTE

RESIDENT STATUS IN ANDORRA

There are two main categories of residence in the Principality of Andorra :

• Active residence, i.e. the residence status granted to people wishing to work in Andorra and already having an employment contract.

• Passive residence, i.e. the residence status granted to people wishing to live in Andorra without carrying out professional or gainful activities.


1)WORKING IN ANDORRA (active residence)

1) If you have a contract for seasonal work:
2) If you have an employment contract for an indefinite period:
3) If you are on temporary assignment in Andorra on behalf of a foreign company:
4) Conditions for the issue of a permit to carry out a profession:
5) Job offers
 

New in French: Loi qualifiιe sur l'Immigration (2002) ; Loi relative au contrat de travail (2003)


The indispensable condition for obtaining a residence permit in Andorra as an employee is to have found a job.

If you have found employment you must register with the Immigration Service at the Department of the Interior in order to legalise your stay in the Principality.
Different documents will be required for your dossier, depending on the type of employment contract signed.
The Law on Immigration of the 15th May 2002 regulates the different kinds of immigration.

1) If you have a contract for seasonal work :

In order to obtain a residency and temporary work permit, the first condition is that the immigration quotas must be open. If that condition is satisfied, you must then provide the following documents:

• Extract from police-records
• Original and photocopy of valid passport or ID card
• Record of civil status or official family record book
• Lease, document proving residency and relevant conditions
• Three ID photos
• Curriculum vitae as well as a certified true copy of a document certifying the profession of the applicant

2) If you have an employment contract for an indefinite period :

The general immigration quota determines whether or not the work permit can be granted in the case of an employment contract of indeterminate duration.

To apply for a work permit on the basis of an employment contract of indeterminate duration, you must submit the following documents:
• Extract from police-records
• Original and photocopy of valid passport or ID card
• Record of civil status or official family record book
• Lease, document proving residency and relevant conditions
• Three ID photos
• Curriculum vitae as well as a certified true copy of a document certifying the profession of the applicant, that he or she has the relevant professional experience and a sufficiently high level of qualifications corresponding to the employment for which the permit is requested

A commission will then decide whether or not to issue the work permit. In taking its decision, the commission will give priority to European Union nationals, and will rely on the following criteria:

• the worker must have a high level of qualifications corresponding to the employment for which the permit is requested
•  the worker must have appropriate proven professional experience
• the salary proposed by the employer must be 10 to 20% higher than the average salary in Andorra

3) If you are on temporary assignment in Andorra on behalf of a foreign company :

These permits concern temporary foreign workers in Andorra who are on a mission for a foreign company under contract with an Andorran company. Maximum validity is 6 months.

You will need to submit the following documents when registering :

• Certificate of good character
• Original and photocopy of your current passport or identity card
• Certified copy from the Civil Registry Office and marriage certificate
• Rental agreement, ownership deed or evidence of accommodation and living conditions
• Three passport photos
• Document confirming that you are insured with your Regional Health Board.


4) Conditions for the issue of a permit to carry out a profession :

• In the Principality of Andorra a profession is deemed to be any occupational activity requiring a specialised qualification satisfying the criteria of the relevant professional association.

• If there are no Andorran qualifications for a particular specialisation the Andorran authorities will recognise the diplomas issued in the neighbouring countries, i.e. France and Spain.
Diplomas issued by specialised educational centres in other countries may also be recognised in Andorra if they will be accepted in France or Spain or if the holder has his/her diploma validated by the Andorran authorities.

• In principle, a foreign national wishing to exercise a profession independently must have lived in the Principality of Andorra for 20 consecutive years. The Government may adapt this condition depending on the needs of the Principality's labour market.

• People employed in a profession but having signed an employment contract will be deemed to be employees whose status is regulated under the heading « employees».

• The permit to exercise a profession remains valid for 10 years, if the nature of the work does not justify a shorter period. Renewed permits remain valid indefinitely. If a request fo renewal is turned down, the person concerned may continue in his/her profession for a period of 2 years to enable him/her to put an end to his/her activities.

5) Job offers

Job offers in the Andorran market can be found in the local newspapers or in EURES, the European research service.

Daily newspapers :

Diari d'Andorra (http://www.DiariAndorra.ad)
C/ Bonaventura Riberaygua 39 4art.
Andorra la Vella
Tel. : (00 376) 863 700
Fax : (00376) 863 800

El Periòdic d'Andorra (http://www.elperiodico.es)
Andorrana de Publicació
C/ Sant Salvador 10
Andorra la Vella 

Weekly magazines :

7 Dies
C/ Bonaventura Riberaygua 39 4art.
Andorra la Vella
Tel. : (00 376) 863 700
Fax : (00 376) 863 800

Informacions
C/ de la Unió 2, 3°pis
Andorra la Vella
Tel. :( 00376) 821 134
Fax : (00 376) 860 839

Monthly magazines :

Actual
Av. Princeps Benlloch 68
Andorra la Vella
Tel. : (00 376) 865 776
Fax : (00 376) 867 771

Andorra Magazine
C/ Verge del Pilar 5 3er pl. Desp. 12
Andorra la Vella
Tel. : (00 376) 867888
Fax : (00 376) 867887

EURES
European Commission
DG Employment and Social Affairs- EURES Service
Rue Joseph II, 27
1040 Brussels
E mail : http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/elm/eures/fr/indexfr.htm