Passive residency in Andorra by buying a home: the investor's guide

It is the favourite route for wealthy individuals and investors settling in the Principality: passive residency by investment (officially, residency without gainful activity). It does not require working in Andorra, and the star investment to obtain it is, precisely, a home.

The requirements, clearly

• An investment of €600,000 in Andorran assets. A property counts in full: buying your home in Andorra can be, at the same time, your ticket to residency. (The figure drops to €400,000 if invested through the state Housing Fund.)
• A deposit with the AFA (Andorran Financial Authority) of €47,500, plus €9,500 for each dependant. It is a non-interest-bearing deposit that is refunded when residency ends, and it counts towards the €600,000.
• A minimum stay of 90 days a year in Andorra — far below the 183 of full tax residency, hence its flexibility.
• A home owned or rented, private health insurance with cover in Andorra, a criminal-record certificate, a medical certificate issued in the country, and proof of sufficient financial means.

The typical case: the home as the main investment

You buy a home of €552,500 or more, deposit €47,500 with the AFA, and you have already covered the required €600,000. You live in your property, pay no rent and the asset appreciates — according to our price observatory, median prices per m² in Andorra have held a solid trend, with parishes such as Ordino or Andorra la Vella above €7,500/m².

Steps in the process

1. Choose and reserve the home. If you are a non-resident, we first handle the foreign investment authorisation.
2. Gather the documentation: criminal record, marital status, health insurance, proof of means.
3. File the application with Immigration and undergo the medical examination in Andorra.
4. Set up the AFA deposit as the application progresses.
5. Approval and residency card. The permit is renewed in stages (first renewal at 2 years, then longer periods).

Passive residency or tax residency?

Be careful not to confuse them: passive residency gives you the right to live in Andorra with just 90 days of presence, but if you want to be taxed here as a tax resident you will need to meet the tax criteria (183 days or centre of economic interests). Many investors start with the passive route and take the tax step later — we explain the differences in our tax guide.

Start with the key piece

The whole application revolves around the home. At Casas Andorra we select properties that fit the investment threshold —see our current portfolio or tell us your budget to access off-market listings— and coordinate the rest of the residency file with specialised agents. Write to us and we will map out the full plan.

Note: requirements and amounts current at the date of publication; immigration regulations are updated frequently. Always check your case with a professional.