Chilean Woman Faces Forgery Charges in Andorra Green Card Bid

A 38-year-old Chilean woman faces prosecution for alleged document forgery in her application for Andorra's green card, despite meeting all legal requirements for the work and residence permit.

Known here by the pseudonym Rita, she arrived in the Principality last July on a temporary summer permit and began working as a chambermaid at a luxury hotel. After two weeks, her employer offered to sponsor her annual permit. She says she easily satisfied the standard four-year experience requirement, with nearly four years at one Chilean firm and additional time at another.

The issue arose over her second Chilean job. Amid the pandemic and social unrest there, she worked several months without formal contributions to social security. When preparing her application, hotel human resources staff reportedly advised listing only the contributed period to match official records. She agreed, confident her primary job already exceeded the threshold. "It made no sense to lie when the other role already covered everything," she said.

She submitted her documents in August. In September, officials sought verification from her former employers, who responded by email confirming her employment. The manager from the non-contributed role even explained the exceptional circumstances in writing.

On 17 November, however, police summoned her. Expecting a routine check, she instead faced accusations of forgery. "I was in shock—I have never committed any crime," she recounted. She describes the officer's manner as cold and disrespectful, leaving her unable to fully explain. Since then, she has been unable to work; her temporary permit expired on 2 November. Conflicting messages from her employer about staying in the country forced her to leave company housing. She now relies on friends for shelter and family for support, with just over €100 left.

Police referred the case to prosecutors, who passed it to a judge. Her lawyer has submitted fresh certification from her Chilean employer affirming the documents' authenticity and attributing the contribution gap to national disruptions. Without a favourable ruling, she risks a criminal record barring future green cards—what she calls an outsized penalty for an administrative mix-up.

Rita emphasises she sought only stability in Andorra after hardship in Chile. "I just wanted to do things right and live peacefully here," she said. Non-EU applicants for annual permits need a firm job offer—first advertised locally without suitable candidates—plus four years' relevant experience, clean criminal records, medical clearance, proof of housing, sufficient salary, and compliance with government quotas. She insists all her details were in order. The judge's decision remains pending.