Andorra Agrees to Integrate with EU Entry/Exit System

Andorra has reached a negotiated agreement with the European Commission to integrate its border controls with the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES), the EU's new automated border management tool set for mandatory implementation across Schengen's external borders on April 10.

The deal, now finalized and awaiting formal approval, will take effect before that date. It aims to prevent long queues and systematic checks at Andorra's key entry points, such as the Envalira tunnel and La Farga de Moles, which could otherwise disrupt daily commuting, tourism, and cross-border work.

Although Andorra lies outside the Schengen Area and lacks direct external access—requiring passage through Spain or France—the agreement links entries into the Principality with Schengen rules. Non-EU citizens entering Schengen will gain access to Andorra, subject to local authorities' right to refuse entry. Time spent in Andorra will now count toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period allowed under the Schengen visa for short stays.

This core pact with the Commission will underpin separate administrative arrangements with Spain and France. These will expand police and judicial information sharing before issuing residence permits, screening for criminal records, ongoing legal issues elsewhere, or prior Schengen overstays. Andorra will also commit to repatriating non-EU residents whose permits are revoked, using coordinated expulsion procedures with countries of origin.

The changes maintain current conditions for Andorran nationals and Schengen citizens. To support labor inflows amid these tighter rules, authorities are promoting "hiring at origin." This shifts from the current model—where non-EU workers enter as visitors, seek jobs, and later regularize—to pre-arranged contracts processed digitally in the worker's home country, complete with housing plans and return options where needed. The approach seeks to reduce administrative vulnerabilities and irregular employment.

Random border checks will continue, preserving fluid mobility while strengthening overall migration oversight.