Andorra (AD)

Register with CASS (social security)

CASS (Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat Social) is the mandatory social security system for all employed workers and self-employed (autònom) residents. Registration gives you access to healthcare (via SAAS), sick pay, maternity/paternity benefits, and the state pension. Your employer registers you within the first day of employment.

Register your child's birth at the Registre Civil d'Andorra

Register your child's birth within 8 calendar days of birth at the Registre Civil (Civil Registry, located at the Tribunals Building in Andorra la Vella). The Andorran birth certificate (certificat de naixement) is required for CASS child benefit, school enrollment, and passport applications.

Register your dog with the parish Comú

Dog registration with your parish Comú is mandatory within 30 days of establishing Andorran residency or acquiring a dog. Bring: microchip record, rabies vaccination certificate, your residence permit, and passport photos of the dog are sometimes requested. Annual licence fee: €10–30.

Register with your parish Comú (padronal registration)

Register with the Comú (local government) of the parish where you live. This activates access to parish-level services: childcare priority, local events, municipal taxes, and parish subsidies. Also provides your local electoral roll registration if applicable.

Apply for your Andorran residency authorisation

The residence permit (autorització de residència) is the legal foundation for living in Andorra. There are several types — active (work-based), passive (investment), professional (self-employed), and family reunification. Apply at the Servei d'Immigració in Andorra la Vella before or promptly after arrival.

Register your vehicle with Andorran AD plates

All vehicles primarily used in Andorra must be registered with Andorran AD plates within 3 months of establishing residency. EU vehicles imported for permanent use require registration. You receive the distinctive AD white plates. Annual vehicle tax (taxa de circulació) applies.

File your annual IRPF return by 31 March

The annual IRPF declaration (declaració de l'IRPF) covers all income earned in the previous calendar year. Deadline: 31 March. For employees, a gestor typically handles this with your payslips and CASS contribution statement. Self-employed workers have additional quarterly obligations.

Enrol children in the Andorran school system

Andorra has three free public school systems: Escola Andorrana (Catalan), Escola Espanyola (Spanish), and École Française (French). All are free and government-recognised. Contact the Ministeri d'Educació to choose a system and enrol. Bring: birth certificate (apostilled), vaccination records, residence permits, and previous school reports.

Ensure your work authorisation is in place before starting work

In Andorra, the right to work is included in your residency authorisation type. Active residency (residència activa) is the work-linked permit. You cannot start work before your employer applies for and receives the work authorisation. Andorra operates a quota system for new foreign workers in some sectors.

Register as self-employed (autònom) with CASS and the Registre de Comerç

Self-employed workers (autònoms) must register with both the Registre de Comerç d'Andorra (business register) and CASS as an autònom contributor. CASS autònom contribution: 22% of declared income. IGI quarterly declarations (4.5% VAT equivalent) are mandatory once turnover exceeds €100,000/year (voluntarily earlier for business reasons).

Register with a SAAS primary care doctor (metge de capçalera)

Once CASS-registered, you are assigned to the SAAS primary care system. Register with a metge de capçalera (GP) at your nearest SAAS primary care centre. Your GP is your gateway to specialist referrals, prescriptions, sick notes, and HNSM hospital referrals.

Collect your physical residence card (targeta de residència)

Once approved, you receive a plastic residence card (targeta de residència) — your primary identity document in Andorra. Carry it at all times. Required for bank accounts, CASS registration, school enrollment, vehicle registration, and access to resident discounts.

Renew your residence permit before expiry

Andorran residence permits must be renewed periodically. Initial permits: typically 1–2 years. Subsequent renewals: 2–3 years. Start the renewal process at least 90 days before expiry. A gap in your authorisation breaks your continuous residency record — critical for the 20-year permanent residency count.

Prepare pet travel documentation (microchip, rabies vaccine, EU pet passport)

Pets entering Andorra via Spain or France must comply with the border country's import requirements. EU pets: EU Pet Passport with valid rabies vaccination and ISO microchip. Non-EU pets: official veterinary health certificate from a government vet in the country of origin (apostilled if required). Quarantine is NOT required in Andorra.

Register for IRPF (personal income tax) with Tributació d'Andorra

All Andorran tax residents (183+ days/year in Andorra, or centre of vital interests in Andorra) must file an annual IRPF return. Registration with Tributació is automatic for employees (your employer registers you) but self-employed and passive residents must register proactively. IRPF rates: 0% (0–€24,000), 5% (€24,001–€40,000), 10% (above €40,000).

File quarterly IGI (VAT equivalent) declarations

IGI (Impost General Indirecte) is Andorra's VAT equivalent at 4.5% (standard rate). Self-employed workers and businesses must file quarterly IGI declarations regardless of turnover (or register voluntary when below the €100,000 threshold but IGI-registered). Filing deadlines: 20th of April, July, October, and January.

Get mandatory vehicle insurance (RC obligatòria)

All Andorran-operated vehicles must carry minimum third-party liability insurance (assegurança de responsabilitat civil obligatòria). You must have this BEFORE registering your vehicle. The international green card (carte verte) is required when crossing to France or Spain.

Install winter tyres or carry snow chains (mandatory 1 Nov–15 Apr)

Andorran law requires winter-rated tyres (or snow chains as a minimum) on all vehicles from 1 November to 15 April. This covers the full ski season. Mountain roads can become impassable quickly — being caught without winter tyres on a mountain road risks a fine of €200–500 and an accident.

Claim CASS maternity benefit (100% salary, 16 weeks)

CASS pays 100% of your regulatory salary for 16 weeks of maternity leave (18 weeks for twins). Apply to CASS within 30 days of birth. Bring: birth certificate, CASS card, employer certificate, and bank details. Paternity benefit: 4 weeks at 100% salary. Both must be claimed actively — it is not automatic.

Arrange sworn translations of key documents into Catalan/Spanish

Documents not in Catalan, Spanish, or French require certified sworn translations (traduccions jurades) for use with Andorran institutions. This includes: foreign-language qualifications, birth certificates, marriage certificates, police records, and official correspondence from non-Spanish/French/Catalan-language countries.

Subscribe to BOPA for regulatory updates

BOPA (bopa.ad) is Andorra's official gazette — it publishes all new laws, decrees, government circulars, and regulatory changes. Subscribing to BOPA email alerts ensures you don't miss changes to tax rates, CASS contributions, residency requirements, or your professional sector's regulations.

Open an Andorran bank account

You need an Andorran bank account to receive your salary, pay rent, and manage local expenses. Andorran banks (Crèdit Andorrà, MoraBanc, Andbank) require in-person application. Expect a compliance interview and thorough KYC due diligence.

Set up Wise or Revolut for international transfers

Andorran banks charge significant fees for international transfers. Wise and Revolut are widely used by Andorra-based expats for cost-effective cross-border payments to Spain, France, and other countries. These apps supplement your Andorran bank account.

Get an Andorra Telecom SIM card

Andorra Telecom is the only domestic mobile operator. Getting an Andorran SIM is recommended for residents — local calls are cheaper than roaming with a foreign SIM. 4G/5G coverage is available throughout most of Andorra. French and Spanish operators also roam in Andorra.

Set up Andorra Telecom fibre broadband

Andorra Telecom is the sole fixed-line and broadband provider — a state-owned monopoly. Fibre broadband (up to 1 Gbps) is available in most urban areas. Speeds and reliability are generally excellent. Set up as soon as you have a confirmed address.

Save Andorran emergency numbers and know the 112 system

Key numbers: 112 (general emergency), 110 (police — Policia d'Andorra), 118 (fire brigade — Cos d'Extinció d'Incendis), 116 (medical emergency / ambulance), 180 (SOS Andorra emotional crisis). Andorra's small size means response times are generally fast. However, mountain emergencies require GRAE (mountain rescue) coordination — always call 112 for mountain incidents.

Understand duty-free import limits when returning from Spain or France

Andorra's duty-free shopping is legitimate but cross-border import limits apply when returning to Spain or France. Limits: 200 cigarettes, 1L spirits + 2L wine (Spain); similar for France. Exceeding these limits is customs fraud — significant fines apply at Spanish and French customs. Road customs checkpoints are active on the N-145 (Spain border) and RN22 (France border).

Explore your parish and connect with the Comú

Each of Andorra's 7 parishes (Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, Encamp, Canillo, Ordino, La Massana, Sant Julià de Lòria) has its own character, events calendar, and community services. Visit your Comú office, pick up the local events guide, and explore the parish. The Comú is your first point of contact for local problems.

Learn Andorra's recycling and waste separation system

Andorra uses a colour-coded street container system: blue (paper/cardboard), yellow (plastic/cans/cartons), green iglú (glass), grey/dark blue (general waste), brown (organic waste where available). The deixalleria (civic amenity site) handles electronics, batteries, large items, and hazardous waste. Improper disposal: fines of €100–3,000.

Get your resident ski pass discount at Grandvalira and Vallnord

Andorran residents with a valid residence card get ~20% discount on Grandvalira and Vallnord ski passes. Season passes with resident discount: €560–720 at Grandvalira (vs €700–900 full price). Present your targeta de residència at the ticket office. This is one of the most significant financial perks of Andorran residency.

Join a local sports club or mountain activity community

Joining an Andorran sports club (ski club, cycling club, football, basketball, hiking association) is the most effective way to integrate into Andorran social life and meet locals. MoraBanc Andorra basketball club, mountain biking communities, and ski clubs welcome expats. Membership: €10–50/month.

Create your govern.ad online account (ANDA digital identity)

Govern.ad is the Andorran government's digital services portal. Creating your account enables online tracking of residency applications, IRPF filings via tributacio.ad, and access to the growing range of digital government services under the 2026 ANDA rollout.

Install Andorra's essential apps (CASS, Bus Andorra, SAAS)

Key apps for daily life in Andorra: CASS App (social security management), SAAS My Health Andorra (doctor appointments), Bus Andorra (free bus network tracking), Andorra Telecom App (SIM management), and InfoAnuncios.ad (classifieds). All free.

Register for llar d'infants (nursery) waiting list immediately

Andorra has a severe shortage of childcare places (llar d'infants, 0–3 years) — waiting lists of 6–18 months are common. Register with both the Ministeri d'Educació and your parish Comú's escola bressol as soon as you arrive (or even before if possible). CASS subsidies reduce costs to €200–500/month for eligible families.

Review your Andorran employment contract (Codi de Treball)

Andorran employment contracts are governed by the Codi de Treball d'Andorra. Key terms to verify: probation period (up to 6 months), notice period (15–45 days by service length), holiday entitlement (30 calendar days minimum), overtime rates, and non-compete clauses. The labour law is substantially different from EU standards.

Activate your CASS online account and track contributions

Your CASS online account shows your full contribution history, health coverage details, and projected pension. Activating it early lets you catch errors in contributions (your employer not paying CASS correctly is a common issue) and download official CASS certificates when needed.

Get a dental and vision check — understand CASS coverage limits

CASS dental coverage is limited to basic emergency extractions and a few covered procedures. Vision (optician) coverage is partial. Most dental and vision costs are out-of-pocket. Get a check-up shortly after arrival to know your baseline needs and budget accordingly.

Sign a formal rental contract (contracte d'arrendament)

Sign a written rental contract before moving in. Andorran law requires: written contract, inventory (inventari) of the property condition, and deposit (dipòsit) typically of 1–2 months' rent. Verbal agreements are legally enforceable but very difficult to prove — always get it in writing.

Set up FEDA electricity and water utilities

Register electricity with FEDA (Forces Elèctriques d'Andorra) in your name if not included in rent. Water is managed by each parish Comú — register with your Comú for water billing. Both are required for FEDA and CASS as proof of address.

Get home contents insurance (assegurança de llar)

Contents insurance covers theft, fire, water damage, and liability for your belongings and your liability as a tenant. Given Andorra's mountain location (snow, ice) and the value of ski equipment and electronics many residents own, contents insurance is strongly recommended.

Understand Andorra's Schengen re-entry implications

Andorra is NOT part of the Schengen Area. Every time you leave Andorra and enter France or Spain, it counts as entering the Schengen Area. If you travel outside Andorra frequently without an Andorran residency permit, you may exhaust your 90-day Schengen allowance. Non-EU residents especially: your Schengen visa or visa-free allowance applies to every Andorra→Spain/France crossing.

Enrol in the free government Catalan language course

The Andorran government provides free Catalan courses for all residents — from A1 beginner to B2 advanced. Catalan is the official language of Andorra; basic proficiency is expected for daily life, government offices, and long-term integration. B1 is required for citizenship naturalisation.

Achieve Catalan B1 certification (required for citizenship and public sector)

Catalan B1 proficiency (Certificat de Coneixements de Català — CCC B1) is required for: some Andorran public sector jobs, certain regulated professions, and the long-term citizenship naturalisation process. Plan for B1 certification as a medium-term language goal.

Apostille your home country documents for Andorra

Many Andorran administrative processes require apostilled foreign documents — criminal records, birth certificates, marriage certificates, qualifications. The Hague Apostille process authenticates these documents for use in Andorra. Arrange apostilles from your home country before arriving if possible.

Register with your home country's embassy or consulate

Register with your home country's nearest embassy or consulate (Spain has a consulate in Andorra; most other countries are served by their embassies in Madrid or Paris). Registration enables consular assistance in emergencies, voting rights for nationals, and passport renewal services.

Exchange your foreign driving licence for an Andorran licence

EU/EEA licences can be used in Andorra indefinitely while visiting but must be exchanged within 18 months of establishing permanent residency. Non-EU licences (UK, USA, Canada, etc.) can be used for up to 18 months then must be exchanged. Exchange at the Departament de Mobilitat i Interior.

Apply for CASS child benefit (prestació per fill a càrrec)

CASS provides a monthly child benefit (prestació per fill a càrrec) for CASS-registered families with dependent children resident in Andorra. Benefit amount: €100–200/month per child depending on income. Eligible until child turns 16 (21 if in full-time education).