Andorra residency: Influencer criticizes Catalan language requirements

Financial influencer Andrés González, known online as ‘La Pizarra de Andrés’, has sparked controversy regarding Andorra’s linguistic residency requirements. During a live stream, González stated he would be willing to invest an additional 400,000 euros in real estate to reach a specific wealth threshold if it meant avoiding the requirement to prove Catalan language proficiency for his residency renewal.

Andorra has progressively tightened its language laws to reinforce Catalan, the country’s sole official language. Current regulations link the renewal of certain residency permits to achieving basic levels of Catalan (A1 for the first renewal and A2 for the second). While a transitional period allowed for a 30-hour course, residents must now provide official diplomas. These requirements are set to expand to passive residency holders starting in 2029.

González, who resides in the Principality and has collaborated with Andorran financial entities, suggested that if reaching a million euros in assets exempted him from language studies, he would purchase additional property to meet that goal.