Move to Andorra

Moving to Andorra is more than booking a flight and finding a flat — the order you do things in matters. To make Andorra your main home you need a residency permit before you can legally complete the move to Andorra. That is genuinely step one. If you want to spend more than 90 days a year here, or 183+ days for tax residency, the residency route comes first.

Once you know the route, the rest of the move is mostly logistics. Most people underestimate the logistics. That is where we come in.

Plan your move with Peter Lucas

First, you decide on your residency route and start preparing the file - police certificates, solvency evidence, health cover, and an Andorran address (bought or rented). The residency guide covers all of that.

At the same time, you pick where you want to live. Andorra has seven parishes and they feel genuinely different - altitude, sun, commute, character. Our parish guide is the quickest way to shortlist. From there you are either buying or renting, and both paths need an address confirmed before you can finalise most of the practical setup.

Then comes the part most people worry about and shouldn't: getting your life switched on. That means opening an Andorran bank account (banks apply KYC checks, so the document pack matters), binding home insurance, activating electricity with FEDA, and getting internet and mobile live with Andorra Telecom. It sounds like a lot, but done in the right order - bank first, then insurance, then FEDA, then Telecom - most clients are fully set up within a week of keys day. We handle the appointments, forms and scheduling; you handle decisions and signatures.

If you are moving with children, factor in schools early - school calendars often drive the whole timeline. If the move is partly tax-driven, read our income tax page before you lock in dates; residency and tax residency are related but not identical. And if you are curious what daily life actually feels like - schools, healthcare, weather, pace - see living in Andorra.

Moving to Andorra: the practical side

Residency and setup are the legal and administrative side of moving to Andorra. The other half is logistics — what you bring, how it gets here, and what happens at the border.

Shipping your belongings to Andorra

Andorra is not in the EU customs union, so a household move from Spain, France or further afield needs a customs declaration even for personal effects. Movers familiar with the route handle the paperwork; you supply an inventory and proof the goods are used. We introduce trusted movers who know the Andorran border and local access — narrow streets, parking permits, lift availability — that an outside mover will not anticipate.

Bringing a vehicle

If you are moving to Andorra with a car, the vehicle is imported and registered locally once residency is in place. EU plates can stay on the road for a defined window while the import is processed. Driving licence exchange is a paperwork swap for most EU, UK and many other licences. We sequence this with your residency dates.

Pets, paperwork and timing

Pets need an EU pet passport or third-country health certificate, microchip and current rabies vaccination — in date on the day of crossing, not the day you set off. Typical sequence: residency file submitted → keys → bank and utilities live → movers arrive → vehicle import → pets.

The moving-to-Andorra paperwork timeline

• 8–12 weeks before — residency application submitted, property secured
• 4–6 weeks before — bank account opened, KYC complete
• 2–4 weeks before — insurance bound, FEDA and Andorra Telecom booked, movers confirmed
• Move week — keys, meters, internet install, vehicle, pets
• Within 30 days of arrival — parish registration, vehicle import, licence exchange

What Invico handles for your move

• Banking - appointment booking, KYC pack review, account opening, online banking activation. Background: banks in Andorra.
• Insurance - home and liability as standard, contents and valuables as add-ons. Bound before handover, certificate to the building administrator when asked.
• FEDA electricity - contract, meter activation, direct debit. Technician visit coordinated if the supply is inactive.
• Andorra Telecom - plan selection, number porting where possible, router install slot, SIM pickup or delivery.
• Handover day - keys, meter readings, waste and parking rules, final walkthrough checklist.
• Optional - parish registration guidance, vehicle and ITV basics, mailbox setup.

Typical timelines

Once documents and address are confirmed, most clients hit these marks:

• Bank account - 2 to 5 working days after documents are accepted
• Insurance - same day to 1 working day
• FEDA activation - same day to 2 working days
• Internet install - 1 to 5 working days
• Full setup - commonly within a week

Figures reflect current practice and will vary by address and provider scheduling. We confirm specifics for your file before you commit to dates.

Documents you will need

• Passport for each adult (and dependents)
• Signed rental contract or purchase deed - the Andorran address ties everything together
• Recent bank statements and source-of-funds evidence (KYC)
• Meter numbers and previous bills, if you are taking over an existing supply
• A local contact phone and email for install windows and confirmations

We prep the forms; you bring the evidence.

Frequently asked questions

How do I move to Andorra? In sequence: choose your residency route, secure an address, submit the residency file, open an Andorran bank account, then activate utilities and arrange the physical move. Most clients moving to Andorra complete practical setup inside a week of keys day.

What is the process for moving to Andorra? Three layers run side by side: legal (residency permit), property (buying or renting), practical (banking, utilities, insurance, internet, shipping, vehicle, pets). They sequence around the residency submission and the keys date. We coordinate the three so they finish together.

How long can I stay in Andorra without residency? As a visitor, generally up to 90 days. Beyond that - or if you want Andorra to be your main home - you need a residency permit. Routes are covered in the residency guide.

Do I need an Andorran bank account before I can set up utilities and internet? Yes, in most cases. Utilities and telecoms run on direct debit, so the bank comes first.

Can I open a bank account before I arrive? Some prep can happen remotely, but the bank will need a formal appointment and in-person document review. We start the prep as soon as dates are confirmed.

What do Andorran banks ask for? KYC checks: passport, proof of address, and source-of-funds evidence. The exact pack varies by bank and profile.

How long does FEDA electricity take to activate? Usually same day to two working days. Longer if the meter is inactive and needs a technician visit - which we schedule in advance.

How long does Andorra Telecom take to install? Typically one to five working days depending on slot availability and address readiness.

Can I port my mobile number from abroad? In most cases you will take a new Andorran number. We check current porting options and handle the paperwork.

Is home insurance mandatory? Most buildings require it for owners. For renters it is strongly recommended. We bind the policy before handover.

Can you align everything with a notary signing or lease start? Yes - that is the whole point. Everything sequences to your keys date.

Do you help with residency itself, or only the move-in setup? Both. We coordinate the residency application alongside the practical setup so the two do not contradict each other. Details on routes are on the residency guide.

Start your move to Andorra

Tell us your target date and where you plan to live, and we will come back with a sequenced plan covering residency, property and setup.