Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• Around 30,000 British nationals visit Andorra every year (Source: Tour Operators). Most visits are trouble-free. The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Andorra in 2009/10 were: replacing lost and stolen passports and dealing with deaths and hospitalisations.
  
  
• The numbers for emergency services in Andorra are:
  
  
  • 112 (General Emergencies/Mountain Rescue)
  • 110 (Police)
  • 118 (Fire Brigade/Ambulance)
  • 116 (Medical Emergency Services).
    
    
• Click here for a list of emergency expressions in Catalan (official language of Andorra).
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in Andorra as Andorra is not a Member of the European Union and therefore EU reciprocal medical arrangements do not apply. 
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance (valid for non-EU countries) before travelling to help cover any unexpected costs such as medical bills or stolen belongings. Take enough medication and money to cover any unforeseen extended stays or emergencies.  See General - Insurance for more information.
  
  
• Visitors to ski resorts should take advice on weather and avalanche conditions before they travel and throughout their visit (see: http://www.ski.andorra.com and http://www.avalanches.org.  Be aware that drinking alcohol in low temperatures and high altitude will have greater impact on you and can be dangerous or even fatal. See the stay safe on the slopes section and the General - Winter Sports section of this Travel Advice for more advice.
  
  
• Click here for details of what our Consulates can and can’t do to help and click here for the contact details of the British Consulate in Barcelona (from where consular support in Andorra is coordinated).
  
  
• Print our pocket sized advice leaflet and wallet card before your visit to Andorra. The documents contain travel tips, numbers and expressions you may need in an emergency and information on what our Consulate can and can’t do to help.
  

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see our terrorism abroad page.

Street crime is rare. However, you should take the usual precautions of taking care of passports and money by not keeping them all in one place and keeping a photocopy or scanned copy of your passport somewhere safe.

Click here for advice on what to do if your passport or money are stolen or if anything else goes wrong during your visit.

For more general information and advice see our victims of crime abroad page.

Be alert to the possible use of ‘date rape’ and other drugs including ‘GHB’ and liquid ecstasy. Buy your own drinks and keep sight of them at all times to make sure they are not spiked; female travellers should be particularly watchful. Alcohol and drugs can make you less vigilant, less in control and less aware of your environment - especially at altitude. If you drink, know your limit - remember that drinks served in bars are often stronger than those in the UK. Avoid splitting up from your friends, and don't go off with people you don't know. See our Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Road travel
You drive on the right-hand side of the road in Andorra (opposite to the UK). It is a legal requirement for motorists travelling to or transiting Andorra to carry two red warning triangles which are to be placed, in the event of an accident or breakdown, in front of and behind the vehicle. In addition, drivers must have a spare pair of glasses (if needed for driving), a spare wheel, and a full set of spare light bulbs plus the tools to change them. If you have to leave your vehicle due to an accident or breakdown, or whilst awaiting the arrival of the emergency services, you must wear a reflective jacket. Failure to do so could result in a heavy fine.

Also, always carry a certificate of insurance with you in case you are stopped. If you have hired a car and bought insurance, you should be given documentation. If you are using your UK insurance, carry your insurance certificate with you at all times. Keep in mind that this is generally only valid  for a stay shorter than three months. If you are staying longer, contact your insurer.

Andorra has stricter drink driving laws than many other countries including the UK and the authorities impose strict penalties, such as heavy fines, loss of license or imprisonment for driving under the influence of alcohol. Our advice is simply not to drink and drive.

Seat belts are required for front seat passengers. No children under the age of ten should be in the front sea and small children must be in an approved child safety seat. Your hire car agency can provide a seat for you just let them know you need one when you reserve the car.

Talking on mobile phones when driving is forbidden but you are allowed to use a completely hands-free unit.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Country Profile: Andorra

Andorra has strict rules on public drunkenness and the possession and use of illegal drugs and applies zero tolerance.  It is forbidden to consume alcohol on the street in Andorra.  If caught, this could carry a penalty of 300 euros.

Andorra is not a member of the European Union and purchases of duty free tobacco, liquor and luxury goods are subject to taxes and duties on re-entering European Union countries. France and Spain apply strict rules on the amount of tobacco exported from Andorra for personal use (300 cigarettes/400gms pipe tobacco/75 cigars). Amounts in excess of this can be impounded as can the transporting vehicle.

For travel advice for different groups of people e.g. disabled travellers, backpackers, sports fans etc see our your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals do not need a visa to visit Andorra.

Entry Requirements - Staying for longer than three months
As a non-EU country, British citizens who wish to stay in Andorra for longer than three months must apply for a work or residence permit through local immigration services.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Andorra. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
We recommend single parents or other adults travelling alone with children travel with a copy of the custody documents and written authorisation of the other parent.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), does not provide health cover in Andorra. Therefore it is essential that you have comprehensive travel and medical insurance cover that is valid for travel to non-EU countries to help cover any expected costs such as medical bills or stolen belongings. You should check that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake i.e. Skiing or rafting. See our Travel Insurance page for more information..

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

For further information on health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page for more information. See our travel health page for advice on how to stay healthy overseas.

General - Insurance
See our Travel Insurance page for general information and advice.

General - Winter sports
If you are planning a skiing holiday to Andorra, it is advisable to contact the Andorran Foreign Ministry for advice on safety and weather conditions before travelling. They can be contacted at:

Carrer Prat de la Creu, 62-64 de Andorra la Vella.

Tel:  +376 875 700

Or visit the official website: http://www.mae.ad/ 
  
You should be aware that off-piste skiing is highly dangerous. All safety instructions should be followed meticulously given the dangers of avalanches in some areas. Further information can be found at the following websites:

http://www.avalanches.org
http://www.ski.andorra.com
http://www.goski.com/

If an accident occurs whilst mountaineering, canyoning, potholing or climbing, or if you become lost in the mountains or other areas requiring mountain rescue, you can reach the Emergency Services at the following telephone numbers:

112 - General Emergencies / Mountain Rescue
118 - Ambulance/Fire Brigade
110 - Police
116 - Medical Emergency Service

General - Contact Details
There is an Honorary British Consulate in Andorra, under the supervision of the British Consulate - General, Barcelona.

Address British Honorary Consulate Andorra
Carrer Prat de la Creu, 87
1st floor number 3
AD500 Andorra la Vella

Telephone: (376) 86 20 80
Facsimile: (376) 86 20 90


Address British Consulate-General
Edifico Torre de Barcelona
Avenida Diagonal 477 - 13
08036 Barcelona

Telephone: (34) 933 666 200
Facsimile:  (34) 933 666 221

Email: Barcelona.Consulate@fco.gov.uk
Website: http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en

Office hours: GMT Mon Fri 08:00 - 12:00
Local Time: Mon   Fri 09:00 - 13:00