Andorra (AD)
Andorra is a tiny parliamentary co-principality nestled in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, governed jointly by the French President and the Bishop of Urgell.
Learning the Language in Andorra
Courses, certifications, funding, and online resources to reach fluency.
Catalan is Andorra's official and national language — the only country in the world where Catalan is the sole official language. Despite Spanish being spoken by the majority of residents (mainly Spanish nationals), Catalan is the language of government, education, and official communication. In practice, Andorra is effectively trilingual: Catalan, Spanish, and French are all widely used. English is spoken in tourism and international business. Newcomers who invest in basic Catalan are warmly received by locals — it signals genuine commitment to integration. Spanish speakers have a significant advantage as Catalan and Spanish share ~80% vocabulary. The Andorran government provides free Catalan courses for all residents — the single most useful step any expat can take.
Cursus de Català del Govern d'Andorra (mandatory from 26 April 2026)
All Andorran residence and work permit holders (employed workers). Decree 404/2024 requires A1 Catalan for first permit renewal from 26 April 2026. Exception until 2029 for self-employed workers, passive residents (residència sense activitat lucrativa) and cross-border workers. During the transitional period (until 26 April 2026), completing a 30-hour government Catalan course certificate was sufficient for first renewal. Government offers 43 free in-person Catalan courses across all parishes.
Free for Andorran residents (government-funded)
From A0 to A1: approximately 30–60 hours of government-provided courses. Full academic year courses (September–June) also available at higher levels. In-person centres in Encamp, la Massana, Sant Julià de Lòria and Escaldes-Engordany.
A1 certificate required for first work/residence permit renewal (from 26 April 2026). A2 expected to become required for second renewal (implementation timeline being phased in). Certificate of course completion issued by the Govern d'Andorra.
Contact the Ministeri de Cultura, Joventut i Esports — Política Lingüística department (govern.ad). In-person courses across all seven parishes. Courses opened January 2026 with 43 new sessions.
Cursos de Català per a Adults — Govern d'Andorra
Government-funded adult Catalan language courses covering all levels from absolute beginner (A1) to advanced (B2). Available as evening courses for working adults, morning sessions, and summer intensives. The programme also includes cultural orientation components (Andorran history, institutions, and customs).
All Andorran residents with valid residency permit
Free
Apply at the Ministeri d'Educació (educacio.ad) from June–September for the following academic year. Intensive summer courses register in May–June. Waiting lists may apply for popular sessions.
Language Levels — What Each Means
Basic greetings, numbers, and simple phrases. Can introduce yourself and handle very simple transactions.
Required for: REQUIRED for first work/residence permit renewal from 26 April 2026 (Decree 404/2024). Exception: passive residents, self-employed and cross-border workers until 2029.
Can handle routine transactions, understand simple signs and notices, and have basic conversations about familiar topics.
Required for: Expected to be required for second permit renewal (phased implementation in progress — verify current requirement at govern.ad). Comfortable daily life in Andorra.
Can interact with Andorran institutions, understand most of daily conversation, and express opinions on familiar topics.
Required for: Some public sector jobs, dealing with government offices independently, longer-term residency comfort.
Fluent enough for professional use, university study, and complex administrative dealings.
Required for: Andorran public sector employment, regulated professional roles, and naturalization support.
Advanced fluency. Can handle complex legal, academic and institutional communication in Catalan.
Required for: Senior public sector roles, legal practice in Andorra, academic positions.
Mastery. Near-native Catalan proficiency in all four skills.
Required for: Translation, interpretation and academic publishing in Catalan.
Courses & Community Learning
Catalan Language Exchange (Intercanvi Lingüístic)
FreeInformal language exchange meetups in Andorra la Vella — pair with a Catalan/Andorran speaker to practise conversation. Organised occasionally through community noticeboards and local Facebook groups.
Spanish Conversation Groups
FreeSpanish-language conversation groups and social clubs are informal but common given Andorra's large Spanish-speaking population. Ask at your workplace or neighbourhood.
Private Tutoring (Tutor Particular)
€20–40/hourOne-to-one Catalan or Spanish tutoring from qualified tutors — advertised on InfoAnuncios.ad and through local schools.
Alliance Française (Cross-border)
€150–400/monthFrench language and culture courses available at Alliance Française branches in Toulouse (3 hours) or online for Andorran residents. DELF/DALF exam preparation available.
www.alliancefrancaise.fr ↗Official Certifications
| Certificate | Provider | Levels | When Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificat de Coneixements de Català (CCC) | Govern d'Andorra / Ministeri d'Educació | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 (aligned to CEFR) | B1 required for some Andorran public sector jobs and regulated professions. B2 increasingly expected for senior administrative roles. | €30–60 per exam sitting |
| DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) | Instituto Cervantes (exams held in Spain — nearest centres: Lleida, Barcelona) | A1 to C2 (CEFR) | Spanish language certification for employment in Spanish-linked businesses, university admission, or visa purposes in Spain. | €130–220 depending on level |
| DELF / DALF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) | Alliance Française / French Institute (exam centres in Toulouse or online) | A1 to C2 (CEFR) | French university admission; jobs requiring French language certification; French visa applications. | €100–200 depending on level |
| IELTS / Cambridge English | British Council or Cambridge-approved centres (nearest: Barcelona or Toulouse) | A1 to C2 (CEFR) | UK visa applications, international university admission, or jobs requiring English certification. | €150–250 |
Online Resources
Duolingo (Catalan course)
FreeGamified Catalan course — good for vocabulary and basic grammar. Available from Spanish or French as a base language. Free tier sufficient for A1–A2.
www.duolingo.com ↗Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA)
FreeCatalan public broadcaster — Catalan TV (TV3) and radio (Catalunya Ràdio). Excellent immersion resource. Subtitles available on most programmes via the website.
www.ccma.cat ↗Parla.cat
FreeFree online Catalan course from beginner to advanced — developed by the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística. The best structured free Catalan learning resource.
www.parla.cat ↗Linguee / WordReference (Catalan)
FreeDictionary and context tool for Catalan-Spanish/French/English translation. Excellent for understanding nuanced usage.
Italki (Catalan tutors)
PaidOnline tutoring platform with Catalan-speaking tutors from Andorra, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearics. One-to-one video sessions at flexible times.
www.italki.com ↗Anki (Flashcard decks for Catalan)
FreeSpaced repetition flashcard system — community-created Catalan vocabulary decks available. Free core app. Effective for vocabulary retention.
Funding Your Language Courses
Catalan language courses are fully funded by the Govern d'Andorra for all residents — no application for funding needed beyond registering for the programme. Some Andorran employers provide language learning allowances (€50–200/month) for Spanish, French, or English courses — ask HR. CASS does not provide direct language learning subsidies but employer-paid language training may be structured tax-efficiently.
Practical Tips
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Start with Catalan from day one — even a few phrases show integration intent and are warmly received by Andorrans.
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Spanish speakers: Catalan is learnable quickly due to ~80% shared vocabulary. Commit to a few months of structured study and you will be conversational.
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The trilingual environment means you will naturally pick up all three languages over time through daily exposure.
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Watch Catalan TV (TV3) and listen to Catalan radio (Catalunya Ràdio) for authentic immersion — accessible from Andorra.
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Government offices: Catalan is the language of official correspondence. Having at least passive understanding of written Catalan is important for reading official letters.
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For driving tests: the Andorran theory test is available in Catalan, Spanish, and French — choose your strongest language.
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Children adapt quickly — school immersion is the fastest path to full trilingual fluency for children under 12.
Language Learning
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