Who qualifies for Andorran citizenship by descent
Andorran at birth: (a) an Andorran parent born in Andorra; (b) an Andorran parent who is the child of an Andorran born in Andorra; or (c) an Andorran parent who is the child of an Andorran who lived in Andorra for 10+ years. By acquisition (Article 9): a child of an Andorran parent also born abroad who doesn't meet (b) or (c), after establishing residence in Andorra; grandchildren of Andorrans after 15 years' residence. All acquisition routes require proof of losing other nationalities.
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What changed on 4 June 2026
Until June 2026, Article 2 of the Nationality Law made a child born abroad Andorran only if an Andorran parent had been born in Andorra. Law 8/2026, approved on 7 May 2026, added two cases: the child is also Andorran if the Andorran parent is the son or daughter of an Andorran born in Andorra, or of an Andorran who lived in Andorra for at least ten years. That brings in many second-generation families abroad whose parent was born in France or Spain to Andorran parents.
Sources: Qualified Nationality Law, as amended by Law 8/2026 (consolidated text) · Demòcrates — the 2026 nationality law approved
If Article 2 doesn't cover you: residence and renunciation
A child of an Andorran parent who was also born abroad — and doesn't meet the new grandparent conditions — can still acquire nationality under Article 9, but only after establishing main and permanent residence in Andorra. Grandchildren of Andorrans with no qualifying parent need 15 years' residence. In every acquisition case, the Government's favourable decision is conditional: you must prove within five years that you've lost your other nationalities.
No dual nationality — and the 2026 integration rules
Andorra's single-nationality rule is strict: Andorrans who acquire another nationality lose Andorran nationality. The 2026 reform kept that rule and tightened naturalisation in other ways — applicants under 70 need B1 Catalan and knowledge of Andorran history and geography, and convictions for intentional crimes with sentences of a year or more now bar nationality. The 20-year residence period for ordinary naturalisation no longer has to be continuous, but the last five years must be.
Step by step
1. Check where your Andorran parent was born, and if abroad, whether their Andorran parent was born in Andorra or lived there for at least ten years. 2. If so, register your birth with the Andorran civil registry through the Government, with birth certificates for each generation (translated into Catalan). 3. If not, consider Article 9: establish residence in Andorra, apply to the Government, and after a favourable decision prove within five years that you've lost your other nationalities.
Worked examples
Pau was born in Toulouse in 2000. His mother is Andorran and was born in Andorra. Pau is Andorran under Article 2(a) — but Andorra doesn't accept dual nationality, so he should ask the Government how his French nationality affects his Andorran status.
Clara was born in Barcelona in 2005 to an Andorran father who was also born in Barcelona; her grandmother was born in Andorra. Since 4 June 2026, Clara is Andorran under the new Article 2(b).
Jordi's Andorran father and grandparents were all born abroad and the grandparents never lived in Andorra. Jordi can only acquire Andorran nationality under Article 9 after moving to Andorra and giving up his other nationality.
Andorran citizenship by descent requirements
- An Andorran parent born in Andorra, or whose own Andorran parent was born there or lived there 10+ years
- Otherwise: main and permanent residence in Andorra before acquiring (Article 9)
- Grandchildren of Andorrans without a qualifying parent: 15 years' residence
- Proof of losing other nationalities within five years of a favourable decision
Documents for an Andorran claim
- 1Your birth certificate
- 2Your Andorran parent's and grandparent's birth certificates and proof of Andorran nationality
- 3For grandparent residence: Andorran immigration register certificates showing 10 years' residence
- 4For acquisition: Andorran residence certificate, criminal record certificates and proof of losing other nationalities
Andorran processing times
Birth-based nationality is established through the Andorran civil registry. Acquisition files are decided by the Government, then you have five years to prove you've lost other nationalities.
Where Andorran claims go wrong
- Assuming any child of an Andorran is Andorran — not if both parent and grandparent links fail Article 2
- Keeping another passport — Andorra doesn't allow dual nationality, and using another nationality can cost you Andorran nationality
- Relying on pre-June 2026 guidance — Law 8/2026 widened Article 2
Official Andorran government sources
Andorran citizenship FAQ
Q1My father is Andorran but was born in Barcelona. Am I Andorran?
Since 4 June 2026, yes — if his Andorran parent (your grandparent) was born in Andorra or lived there for at least ten years. If not, you'd need to move to Andorra and give up other nationalities to acquire it.
Q2Can I keep my other citizenship?
No. Andorra doesn't allow dual nationality.
Q3Do I need to speak Catalan?
For naturalisation, applicants under 70 need B1 Catalan since the 2026 reform. Nationality at birth under Article 2 has no language test.
Q4Is Andorra in the EU?
No. An Andorran passport doesn't give EU free-movement rights.
Q5What if my grandparent lived in Andorra but wasn't born there?
Since 4 June 2026 that can still work: the Andorran parent's own Andorran parent must have lived in Andorra for at least ten years.
Andorran nationality law
Qualified Nationality Law of 5 October 1995 (Llei qualificada de la nacionalitat), consolidated 2007 and amended by Law 8/2026 of 7 May 2026, in force 4 June 2026. Article 2 sets nationality at birth abroad; Article 9 acquisition by children and grandchildren of Andorrans; Article 7 the residence and loss-of-other-nationality conditions.
Dual citizenship in Andorra
Andorra does not allow dual nationality. People acquiring it must prove they've lost other nationalities, and Andorrans who acquire or use another nationality lose Andorran nationality.
Andorran application costs
Government fees are set in the Government's procedures (e-tràmits); translations into Catalan and apostilles are extra.