New immigration quota in Andorra 2026 (Decree 159/2026)
The Government of Andorra has green-lit the highly anticipated Decree 159/2026, a key regulation establishing the new rules for residence and work permits in the Principality.
Aiming to achieve sustainable growth and balance the talent demands of companies with the well-being of Andorran society, this regulation brings significant changes. If you own a company and need to hire, or if you are thinking of coming to work in Andorra, at Triple A we explain the most important points clearly and without legal jargon.
1. Permit limits: How many are there and until when?
For this new period, the Government has set a maximum limit of 800 total authorizations, divided as follows:
- 624 residence and work permits.
- 176 border work permits.
Deadline: The Immigration Service window to submit these applications will remain open until October 31, 2026 (or until the quota is exhausted).
2. Strict requirements for companies
If you are an employer looking to bring in foreign talent, you must meet two fundamental conditions:
- Workforce limits: You may only request authorizations that represent a maximum of 10% of your average salaried workforce (registered with the CASS between May 1 and October 31, 2025).
- Priority to the local market: Before looking abroad, it is mandatory to publish the job offer with the Servei d’Ocupació and justify that the position could not be filled by residents already in the country.
3. Upwardly adjusted salaries
The minimum salaries required to grant permits have been raised, adjusting to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) variations. To get Immigration approval, the employee must be paid at least the base salary set in the new official tables for a standard 40-hour work week.
4. Experience and studies: What profile is required?
Requirements change significantly depending on the worker’s passport:
- EU/EEA Citizens: Must provide an official degree related to the position or demonstrate 365 days of paid experience in that occupation.
- Non-EU Citizens: Requires “high specialization” (a higher education degree of at least 2 to 3 years) or 6 years of professional experience in the same activity. (Note: This 6-year requirement is reduced if the worker proves they have worked previous seasons in Andorra).
5. Renewals and the Catalan requirement
The new decree gets serious about integration and stability:
- The 5-year rule (Non-EU): The regulation specifies that non-EU citizens must maintain the exact same conditions under which the original permit was granted for their first five years in the country.
- Catalan is mandatory: To renew the permit, an official Catalan certificate is strictly required. A Level A1 is needed for the first renewal, and Level A2 for the second.
The “Fine Print”: Exceptions and special cases
So nothing catches you off guard, we’ve broken down the lesser-known details of the decree:
- Excluded professions: This decree closes the door to subgroups 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44.
- Caps on housing and food: The company can only deduct a maximum of €171.26 per month for accommodation and €46.40 per month for food from the payroll.
- The “Panic Button”: The Government can expand the quota by 30% if demand is high, or close it suddenly if unemployment rises.
Need help processing residence and work permits?
Navigating Immigration bureaucracy can be a headache. At Triple A, we are experts in labor advisory and immigration in Andorra.
