Andorra Sociologist Urges Halving Citizenship Wait from 20 to 10 Years

Joan Micó, coordinator of the sociology group at Andorra Recerca i Innovació (AR+I), has called for reducing the residency requirement for Andorran nationality from 20 years to 10, arguing it would make the political system more responsive to the full resident population rather than just its wealthier segments.

Speaking to the Andorran News Agency (ANA), Micó said the change would primarily alter the agenda in the Consell General, shifting focus from issues appealing to affluent voters—who currently dominate the electorate—to concerns facing all residents. With only 45% of the population eligible to vote, he described the status quo as a constraint on democratic functioning, as politicians tailor policies to secure backing from high-income groups.

Micó advocated maximising the share of Andorran citizens to foster social cohesion, noting an ongoing trend toward diversity already visible in the varied surnames of candidates across parties. While recognising natural hesitancy in a country with a large non-citizen majority, he maintained that embracing diversity is essential.

He referenced 1980s reforms that raised barriers to citizenship amid faster population growth, aimed at preserving national identity. Today, however, those measures risk backfiring: without adjustment, Andorrans could dwindle to 5-10% of the total in coming years, posing major issues.

Supporting data from the 2023 national elections showed 29,958 registered voters, of whom 20,057 participated, against a year-end population of 85,101, according to the Statistics Department. Micó linked the shrinking citizen proportion to immigration inflows, low fertility rates, and an ageing demographic, emphasising the need for long-term residents to bolster the Andorran base.

The prohibition on dual nationality remains a major obstacle, he added. Flipping the perspective, Micó noted that Andorrans abroad after 20 years might reasonably pursue citizenship in places like Japan or the United States without renouncing their own, highlighting the passport's enduring symbolic value.