Andorra Work Visa: How to Get a Residence and Work Authorisation

Andorra is a small, prosperous principality in the Pyrenees between Spain and France. It is not a member of the European Union, the EEA or the Schengen Area, so almost every foreign national who wants to work here needs a permit — and that permit is issued only within a fixed annual quota set by the government.

In Andorra, the work permit and the residence permit are a single document: the residence-and-work authorisation (autorització de residència i treball). This guide explains what it is, who needs one, the documents, the costs, the timelines and the renewal ladder — and gives professional drivers an honest picture of a very small labour market.

What is an Andorran work permit?

The main permit for a salaried foreign worker is the residence-and-work authorisation, issued by the Immigration Service (Servei d’Immigració), a joint unit of the Department of Immigration and the Police within the Ministry of Justice and Interior. It lets you live in Andorra and work for the Andorran employer who sponsored you, for as long as it is valid. It is not a visa: nationals who need a visa to enter apply separately at a Spanish or French consulate, because Andorra has no consulates of its own for entry visas.

Work visa, work permit, and the quota (cupo)

Three ideas are easy to confuse. The authorisation is the right to live and work; the entry route is how you physically reach Andorra (through Spain or France); and the quota — the cupo — is the hard limit on how many authorisations the government will grant each year. Quotas are set by sector by decree and can be exhausted. Separate quotas cover general residence-and-work authorisations, frontier (cross-border) work, self-employment, and the winter ski season, and each is published by decree in the Official Gazette (BOPA); construction, hotels, retail, and ski stations are the usual focus. Once the quota for your sector runs out, no further permits are issued for that sector until the next quota period, no matter how strong your application is.

Who needs an Andorran work permit?

Almost everyone who is not an Andorran national. Because Andorra is outside the EU, EEA and Schengen, even citizens of Spain, France, Portugal and the rest of the EU need the residence-and-work authorisation to work for an Andorran employer — although EU and EEA nationals may present a national identity card instead of a passport. Nationals of Spain, France and Portugal are given priority access to quota slots ahead of all other foreign nationals. There is no free movement of workers into Andorra.

Types of Andorran work permits

• Residence-and-work authorisation (salaried) — the standard permit for an employee sponsored by an Andorran company.
• Self-employed authorisation (per compte propi) — for foreign nationals running their own registered Andorran business, usually with a minimum ownership stake.
• Frontier (cross-border) worker permit (treball fronterer) — for people who live in Spain or France and commute to work in Andorra without becoming residents.
• Seasonal/temporary immigration authorisation — short-term, quota-limited permits for the winter ski season and summer tourism in sectors such as hotels, shops and ski stations. These are tied to one season and are not renewable.
• Passive (non-lucrative) residence — for investors, retirees or remote workers paid from outside Andorra. It does not allow you to work for an Andorran employer, so it is not a work permit.

The employer-led process and the quota

The employer, not the worker, drives the process — you cannot apply on your own. A registered Andorran company that is up to date with tax and social security must have a quota slot available in the relevant sector, show that the role could not be filled locally, sign a compliant employment contract, and submit the application on your behalf. Because priority within the quota goes to Andorran, Spanish, French and Portuguese candidates, the practical question is often not only whether you qualify but whether a slot still exists when your employer files. In practice, the employer first tests the local market, typically through the Employment Service, and can name a foreign candidate only once no resident worker is available for the role.

Eligibility

To be sponsored for a residence-and-work authorisation, you generally need a firm job offer and signed contract from a legally constituted Andorran company, an available quota slot in your sector, proof of accommodation in Andorra, a clean criminal record, and a passed medical examination. The employer must be compliant and able to justify the hire. Your salary and conditions must meet Andorran labour-law standards.

Documents you’ll need

Requirements are set by the Immigration Service and confirmed on the official G.1 procedure. Typical documents include:

• A valid passport (EU/EEA nationals may use a national ID card), with photocopies.
• The signed application form, completed by both the worker and the sponsoring company.
• Criminal-record certificates from your country of origin, country of nationality and countries of residence, apostilled under the Hague Convention or duly legalised, with no entries.
• A sworn declaration regarding criminal records.
• One recent colour photograph (35 x 45 mm, white background, taken within the last six months).
• The employment contract with an Andorran company.
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract, title deed or certificate).
• Proof of civil status, a signature document, and consent to the medical examination.
• For seasonal permits, a visa endorsement and a signed exit-order notification.
• A CASS points extract if you have worked in Andorra before.

Step by step

1. Your employer checks that a quota slot is available for the relevant sector and role.
2. You sign an employment contract that complies with Andorran labour law.
3. You gather and legalise (apostille) your documents, including the criminal-record certificates.
4. The employer submits the complete application in person at the Immigration Service office in the Andorra la Vella area.
5. You attend the mandatory medical examination in Andorra.
6. The Immigration Service reviews the file, checks the quota, and may request further documents.
7. On approval, the residence-and-work authorisation is issued.
8. Your employer registers you with CASS before you start work, and you collect your card.

Processing time

Once a complete file is submitted, a decision usually takes several weeks to around two months, depending on the volume of applications and how quickly any additional documents are supplied. The bigger variable is timing within the quota year: applying early in a quota period, before slots are used up, matters as much as the paperwork.

Fees

Expect several separate costs rather than a single fee: the immigration processing fee, the medical examination, CASS registration, and the legalisation and translation of foreign documents. Seasonal authorisations carry a modest fee of roughly €46. Exact amounts are set by government rates and change from time to time, so confirm the current tariff with the Immigration Service before you pay. Bear in mind that your contract must also meet Andorran pay rules — the national minimum wage is around €8.60 per hour (roughly €1,376 a month for a 40-hour week), and some specialised permits require a salary set well above it.

Validity and renewal

A first residence-and-work authorisation is typically issued for one year. It then follows a renewal ladder — renewed for longer periods over the following years — and after several years of continuous authorised residence, you can move toward a longer, more stable permit and eventually permanent residence. Seasonal permits are the exception: they are tied to a single season and cannot be renewed. Always renew before your current authorisation expires to avoid a gap in your legal right to work.

After you arrive

Register with CASS (Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat Social) before you begin work — this is a legal condition of the permit and the basis of your health cover. Carry your authorisation at all times and notify the Immigration Service of any change in employer, address, or civil status. On this type of permit, you generally cannot change your economic sector or activity without a new application. Keep copies of your authorisation, contract and CASS registration, as you may need them to open a bank account, sign a lease or enrol family members.

Common reasons for refusal

The most common problems are the sector quota being exhausted before your file is decided; incomplete or improperly legalised documents; a criminal record entry; missing proof of accommodation; or starting work before authorisation is granted. Because the quota is a hard ceiling, even a perfect application can be turned away if no slots remain — timing is critical.

Tips to get approved

Apply as early in the quota period as possible, keep every foreign document apostilled and translated, and make sure your employer is fully compliant with tax and CASS obligations. A clear, complete file that is submitted before quota slots run out has by far the best chance.

Your rights as a foreign worker

Once authorised, you are entitled to a written contract and to Andorran labour-law protections on pay, working hours and conditions, and you gain health cover through CASS. You can turn to the Labour Inspectorate for advice on any employment matter, use the Employment Service if you lose your job or want to change employer within the rules, and access adult Catalan-language courses. You may also register with your country’s consulate serving Andorra.

For professional drivers in Andorra

Be realistic: Andorra is one of the weakest markets in Europe for professional drivers. It is a landlocked mountain principality of about 468 square kilometres with no seaport, no railway, and no significant international road freight industry. Driving work is mostly local — distribution, fuel and supply runs, ski-resort logistics, and coach or minibus transport for tourism — and the tight quota gives priority to Spanish, French and Portuguese candidates, many of whom commute as frontier workers. With no rail link and no port, freight moves in and out of Andorra by road through Spain and France, and most of that long-haul work is run by carriers based across the border rather than by Andorran companies. If you are building an international HGV career, Andorra is not the place to base it; a neighbouring country will offer far more.

• Browse driver vacancies in Andorra.
• Register a driver profile.
• For employers — recruitment and compliance support

Work visas for the Andorran region

The process is national, but the parishes (parròquies) differ in size and in the kind of work on offer. Here is where the jobs are and what to expect for drivers. Most employment is concentrated in the capital and the neighbouring parishes, while the higher valleys depend heavily on the winter and summer tourist seasons.

Andorra la Vella

The capital and commercial centre, with the widest choice of employers, retail, and the Immigration Service office where applications are filed. The best starting point for any job search is through driver roles, though these remain limited to local distribution and services. Driver jobs in Andorra la Vella.

Escaldes-Engordany

Adjoining the capital, a busy parish for hospitality, spa tourism and retail, with occasional supply and delivery work. Driver jobs in Escaldes-Engordany.

Encamp

A parish linked to the Grandvalira ski area, with seasonal tourism and resort logistics driving most temporary demand. Driver jobs in Encamp.

Canillo

A high-mountain parish built around winter sports and tourism, where most work is seasonal and resort-based. Driver jobs in Canillo.

La Massana

Home to the Vallnord ski area, with hospitality, retail and seasonal roles, and limited local transport work. Driver jobs in La Massana.

Ordino

A smaller, quieter parish known for tourism and culture, with a modest local jobs market. Driver jobs in Ordino.

Sant Julià de Lòria

The southernmost parish, on the main road to Spain — the closest thing Andorra has to a transport gateway, with some distribution and cross-border logistics activity. Driver jobs in Sant Julià de Lòria.

Related guides

• EU work visa — overview
• Andorra residence permit
• Health insurance in Andorra
• Andorran citizenship

Official government sources

• Servei d’Immigració — immigration procedures, forms and quota information.
• Govern d’Andorra — immigration law, quotas and residence-and-work rules.
• Departament de Treball — labour rights, contracts and working conditions.
• CASS — social security registration and health cover.

Information only — not legal or immigration advice. Immigration policies, quotas and fees can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official Andorran authorities before you apply or pay anyone.