Andorra's Schengen-Aligned Rules Spark Expat Expulsions and Family Splits
Peruvian and Argentine expat leaders in Andorra warn of removals, family separations, and rising uncertainty from EU Entry/Exit System adoption,.
Key Points
- Andorra requires non-EU workers to prove Schengen re-entry compliance since Oct 2025, leading to expulsions.
- Peruvian association reports 24 families separated, including regular-status children.
- Frequent border checks in La Seu d'Urgell trigger removals and re-entry bans.
- Argentine leader urges full government guidelines to prevent hardships for migrants.
Leaders of Peruvian and Argentine expatriate associations in Andorra have raised alarms over the effects of migration rules aligned with Schengen criteria and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), warning of numerous expulsions and family separations.
Although Andorra is not part of the Schengen Area, it has required non-EU workers since October 2025 to prove they hold regular status there and can re-enter, including adherence to the 90-day limit within any 180-day period. Lorenzo Castillo, president of the Associació de Peruans d’Andorra (also known as Peruanos en Andorra), told *El Periòdic* that enforcement under these rules—linked to EES—has already led to many removals. Authorities compel people to leave or issue expulsion orders preventing re-entry for years, he said. His group estimates at least 24 families have been impacted in recent months, not just job-seekers in irregular situations but also households where parents lacked status while children did not. Residents living in La Seu d'Urgell face frequent border checks that trigger these outcomes, Castillo added.
He challenged online depictions of Andorra as a straightforward work destination, noting high housing costs that newcomers struggle to meet. Non-EU workers take on vital but undesirable roles, filling gaps locals avoid, he stressed.
Marcelo Ponce, head of Argentinos en Andorra, adopted a calmer stance, focusing on uncertainty from the government's selective adoption of EU-linked rules. Officials enforce only portions now, raising fears of sudden demands for full compliance, he explained to *El Periòdic*. New arrivals often assume consistent standards across countries, creating pitfalls. Risks extend beyond entry to departures: those failing EU re-entry rules could become stuck in Andorra.
Ponce's association emphasises prevention, urging comprehensive government guidelines over partial measures to spare people hardship. They advise anyone considering a move to arrive fully documented.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- El Periòdic•
La comunitat peruana adverteix de les conseqüències de l’Entry/Exit per a les famílies: “S’ha expulsat molta gent”
- El Periòdic•
La comunitat peruana adverteix de les conseqüències de l’Entry/Exit per a les famílies: “S’ha expulsat molta gent”
- El Periòdic•
Peruanos en Andorra alerta de les conseqüències de l’Entry-Exit per a les famílies: “S’ha expulsat molta gent”