A weekend of skiing in Pas de la Case, a Moroccan traveller landing in Barcelona before heading up to Andorra la Vella, a Canadian retiree weighing up the possibility of settling in the Principality: they all ask themselves the same question. The answer often comes as a surprise: Andorra does not require a tourist visa of its own, but it can only be entered by crossing France or Spain, and therefore the Schengen Area. Here are the rules that apply according to your nationality, the documents to present at the border and the permit required to stay beyond 90 days.
Key points
- Andorra does not require a tourist visa of its own and belongs neither to the European Union nor to the Schengen Area;
- access to the country is necessarily through France or Spain;
- travellers subject to the Schengen visa must hold a multiple-entry visa, with at least two entries;
- to live in Andorra beyond 90 days, an Andorran residence authorisation is required, not a visa.
Do you need a visa to enter Andorra?
In practice, no: Andorra does not require a tourist visa of its own to enter its territory. The constraint comes from geography: landlocked in the Pyrenees, the Principality can only be reached after passing through France or Spain, and it is the rules of the Schengen Area that determine, in practice, whether you need a visa.
Andorran visa: in practice, it is the Schengen visa that counts
Andorra is a sovereign State that belongs neither to the European Union nor to the Schengen Area. In practice, Andorra coordinates its visa list with the Schengen Area and does not issue tourist visas at its borders: for a short stay, it is the Schengen visa that counts. Andorran law does, however, provide for an Andorran visa requirement for nationals of certain third States, to be applied for from the Principality's diplomatic representations.
Entry necessarily through the Schengen Area
Andorra does not have an international airport within its territory. Travellers arrive by road, either from France via the Pas de la Case, or from Spain via La Seu d'Urgell, having most often landed in Toulouse or Barcelona. In practice, to reach the Principality you first enter the Schengen Area, then leave it at the Andorran border post, and re-enter it when you depart. It is this double crossing that determines the conditions of your journey.
No eVisa and no online procedure on the Andorran side
Contrary to a widespread belief, there is no eVisa for Andorra. The websites offering an "Andorra electronic visa" in exchange for payment are selling either a non-existent service or assistance in obtaining a Schengen visa from the French or Spanish consulate. If your nationality is subject to it, this is the Schengen visa you must apply for, directly from the consular services of the country through which you will enter.
Schengen visa for Andorra: what rules apply according to your nationality?
The conditions for entering Andorra depend on your nationality and on the Schengen rules that apply to it. Three situations arise: European citizens travel with a simple identity document, nationals of exempt countries with a passport, and those from countries subject to a visa must obtain a Schengen visa suited to the double border crossing.
| Nationality | Entry document | Schengen visa | Particularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU, EEA, Switzerland | Valid identity card or passport | No | No duration limit linked to the visa |
| Canada, United Kingdom, South Korea, United States, Japan, New Zealand | Valid passport | No | 90 days out of 180 in the Schengen Area |
| Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis | Valid passport | No | 90 days out of 180 in the Schengen Area |
| Morocco, Tunisia, Guinea, Congo, Russia, Saudi Arabia | Valid passport | Yes | Multiple-entry visa, at least two |
Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland: identity card or passport
A European national enters Andorra with a valid national identity card or passport. Please note: French identity cards issued between 2004 and 2013 benefit from a five-year extension beyond the date shown, a rule that foreign authorities do not always recognise. To avoid any difficulty at the checkpoint, the passport remains the safest document.
Countries exempt from the Schengen visa: a valid passport
Nationals of Canada, the United Kingdom, South Korea or New Zealand do not need a visa. One condition is nonetheless essential: the rule of 90 days within any 180-day period applies to their presence in the Schengen Area, and the days spent in France or Spain to reach Andorra count towards this total.
Countries subject to the visa: a multiple-entry Schengen visa
A Moroccan, Tunisian, Guinean, Congolese, Russian or Saudi traveller must hold a Schengen visa. This is the most frequent mistake: a single-entry visa is not sufficient. Leaving the Schengen Area to enter Andorra uses up that entry, and the return to France or Spain requires a second one.
Single-entry visa: insufficient for Andorra
Entering Andorra means leaving the Schengen Area, and returning to France or Spain requires a new entry. Apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa, at least two entries.
EES and ETIAS: what changes at the external borders
Since 12 October 2025, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) has recorded the biometric data of non-European travellers upon their arrival in the Schengen Area. The ETIAS travel authorisation, announced for the last quarter of 2026, will concern visa-exempt nationalities. Andorra does not take part in it, but a trip to the Principality necessarily passes through these checks, which are added to the formalities of the destination.
Which documents must be presented at the Andorran border?
Beyond an identity card or passport, three situations require additional documents when travelling to Andorra: a minor travelling without their parents, a pet, and purchases brought back on the return journey.
Minors: parental authorisation if travelling alone
A child accompanied by their parents travels with their own identity document. If they travel without them, they must present, in addition to their identity card or passport, written authorisation signed by one of the parents and a copy of that parent's identity document. For a minor residing in France, this authorisation takes the form of the exit authorisation (Cerfa form no. 15646), since Andorra lies outside national territory.
Pets: microchip, rabies vaccination and passport
Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified by microchip or legible tattoo, vaccinated against rabies, and accompanied by a pet passport or a health certificate. In practice, these are the same requirements as within the European Union, which makes trips back and forth with France and Spain easier.
Customs: checks mainly when leaving Andorra
Customs checks focus mainly on what travellers bring back. Tobacco, alcohol, fuel and perfumes are subject to allowances set by France and Spain, which are stricter than those between two European countries. Check the applicable limits before departure: any excess is taxed, or even seized at the border post.
Staying in Andorra for more than 90 days: from visa to residence authorisation
No visa, Schengen or otherwise, allows you to live in Andorra. Beyond a tourist stay, the baton is passed to a residence authorisation issued by the Servei d'Immigració (the Government's immigration service), under conditions specific to Andorran law, detailed in our guide to obtaining residence in Andorra.
From tourist stay to residence
Tourist stay: 90 days maximum
For the stay in Andorra itself, Andorran law limits the tourist regime to 90 days maximum, counted over the 365 days following the date of entry. The 90-days-in-180-days rule applies only to presence within the Schengen Area, in France or Spain. Please note: according to the Government's frequently asked questions on the Schengen Area, exceeding the authorised duration within the Schengen Area subsequently prevents obtaining any immigration authorisation in Andorra.
Active, passive or international residence: the real residence permit
Andorran law distinguishes between several statuses. Active residence concerns persons who carry out salaried or self-employed activity in the Principality, according to the arrangements set out in our guide to active residence in Andorra. Passive residence is aimed at those who live off their income or assets without working in Andorra, in exchange for an investment and a minimum annual presence: our analysis of the conditions for passive residence details the amounts involved. Residence for activity with international projection targets professionals whose clientele is located mainly abroad.
Foreign documents: legalisation or apostille required
A residence file includes documents issued in your country of origin: criminal record extract, civil status certificates, proof of income. As Andorra is a party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, these documents are apostilled when the issuing country is also a party; failing that, they go through consular legalisation. This is the stage where most files fall behind: at Engage, we prepare and verify these documents ahead of filing, in liaison with the authorities of the country of departure.
Non-European resident: the 2000 convention on movement
The Andorran resident card is not a Schengen residence permit, but it opens up a regime of its own. The convention signed on 4 December 2000 between France, Spain and Andorra grants holders of an Andorran residence authorisation the same entry and movement regime in France and Spain as holders of a French or Spanish residence permit. In practical terms, an Andorran resident of Moroccan or Russian nationality may transit through Toulouse or Barcelona without a visa. For travel to another Schengen Area State, check the situation on a case-by-case basis.
Frequently asked questions about the visa for Andorra
Does a French citizen need a passport to go to Andorra?
No. A valid national identity card is sufficient to enter Andorra. However, a passport remains the safest document if your identity card was issued between 2004 and 2013 and benefits from the five-year extension.
Is a single-entry Schengen visa sufficient to travel to Andorra?
No. Entering Andorra means leaving the Schengen area, and returning to France or Spain requires a new entry. Travellers subject to visa requirements must therefore hold a multiple-entry Schengen visa, with at least two entries.
Is there a retirement or investor visa for Andorra?
No. Andorra offers no long-stay visa, including for retirees or investors. These profiles fall under passive residence, a residence permit subject to an investment, a minimum presence and health insurance. The specific aspects of settling after one's working life are covered in our guide to living in Andorra in retirement.
How long can a tourist stay in Andorra?
90 days maximum without authorisation, counted over the 365 days following entry into Andorra. Beyond that, a residence permit must be obtained from the Servei d'Immigració.
Is a foreign driving licence recognised in Andorra?
Yes, for a temporary stay. A person who becomes a resident must, however, exchange it for an Andorran licence within the period set by the regulations, which makes it a step to plan from the moment of settling in.
