Es pot dir que el país no és apte per a tothom. Té les seves pròpies peculiaritats i característiques que alguns apreciaran, altres no. Qualsevol persona que vulgui traslladar-se a Andorra ha de tenir una visió equilibrada dels pros i els contres de viure a Andorra.

We understand that moving to a new country is a tough decision. Particularly when you’re moving to a unique place like Andorra. Below, we’ll try to give you a glimpse of what it’s like to live in the principality; what you will like, what you might not, and more.

Els avantatges de viure a Andorra

Si sap on buscar, Andorra té molt a oferir. A més del paisatge pintoresc, hi ha moltes altres coses per descobrir mentre viu a Andorra. Tant si vol viure a la capital Andorra la Vella com en un petit poble situat als Pirineus, les necessitats bàsiques, l'entreteniment i els serveis essencials continuen sent fàcilment accessibles.

Aquests són alguns dels principals avantatges de viure en aquest petit país:

Seguretat i protecció

Andorra is a very safe place. Residents have a sense of ease throughout the country. Many are of the opinion that even if you mistakenly leave your wallet or cellphone somewhere, chances are it will either be handed in by a ‘good Samaritan’ or you’ll find it where you left it.

És, amb diferència, un dels països més segurs d'Europa. Els delictes violents i les agressions són pràcticament inexistents, fins i tot a les zones més urbanes i poblades. Com que els punts d'entrada al país són limitats, les activitats il·legals són bastant rares.

Les carreteres d'entrada i sortida del país tenen fronteres patrullades. Tampoc hi ha aeroport. Les persones se senten prou segures com per a deixar els seus cotxes encesos i oberts quan fan encàrrecs. En resum, el país és bastant segur. La seva taxa de desocupació bastant baixa també significa que els delictes menors contra la propietat són rars, la qual cosa explica que la jubilació a Andorra sigui tan idíl·lica.

Baix cost de vida

One thing that can be off-putting about many regions in Europe is the cost of living. That's not the case in Andorra. In fact, it compares to very affordable cities like Madrid or Barcelona. All in all, el cost de la vida a Andorra sol ser un 30% més baix que les grans ciutats globals comparables.

Fem una ullada a algunes de les despeses habituals a Andorra:

Pis modern i de gamma alta de 2 habitacions/2 banys amb aparcament: 1000 €/mes

Despeses lloguer: 100€/mes

300MBPS wifi: €39/month

Menú migdia estàndard: 15 €

Cafè: 1,25 €

Glass of beer: €1.50

Abonament al gimnàs amb piscina, sauna, classes incloses: 50 €/mes

Forfet per a residents: 250 € (no obstant això, hi ha diferents ofertes disponibles per sobre i per sota d'aquest import).

Oci a l'aire lliure

It’s hard to talk about living and retiring in Andorra without mentioning outdoor recreation. One look at the Andorran mountain ranges and its ski-friendly slopes and trails is enough to make any adventurer smile. Certainly, one of the major pros of living in here is access to outdoor recreational activities. Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, or skiing, there’s something for everyone.

Given the amazing mountain scenery, Andorra is a top-tier ski destination. Living in the principality means you get to have a lot of fun on the slopes. This is made even easier given that the year-round ski passes and bike parks cost less than €200 in some scenarios. Grandvalira, Vallnord – Pal Arinsal, and Ordino Arcalis operate cable cars and chairlifts for winter skiing and biking or sightseeing in the summer.

A més, les rutes de senderisme senyalitzades, les vies ferrades mantingudes i les rutes senyalitzades per a ciclistes són presents arreu del país. Tant pels aficionats de l'aire lliure com pels esportistes professionals, Andorra és el lloc perfecte per entrenar i divertir-se.

En general, si les activitats a l'aire lliure són importants en la seva vida, Andorra hauria de complir amb tots els requisits.

Una fiscalitat atractiva

Andorra is often considered to be a tax haven. While that’s not exactly true, reasonable taxation is a big advantage of living in Andorra. Compared to other countries, the el sistema fiscal a Andorra is simple. You might even consider the country a quaint duty-free shop nestled in the endless mountains.

Vegem algunes situacions fiscals a Andorra:

Personal income tax is between 0-10%

Les persones físiques poden guanyar 24.000 € amb un tipus impositiu del 0%. De 24.000 € a 40.000 €, el tipus impositiu és del 5%. Per sobre de 40.000 €, el tipus impositiu és del 10%.

Les parelles casades només tributen en un 10% per sobre de 40.000 €.

No hi ha impost sobre les vendes, però l'IVA és del 4,5%.

L'impost sobre societats és del 10%.

Sense impost sobre patrimoni, donacions o successions

L'impost sobre les plusvàlues de béns immobles és del 0 al 15%.

Malgrat es taxes fiscals relativament baixes, the quality of life in Andorra is quite comfortable. The government delivers great services and programs without imposing a high tax rate on citizens. The result is a happy, healthy population that feels they are not unfairly taxed, which makes for a very progressive citizenry.

Sanitat progressiva

Healthcare is often a hot-button issue in nearly every country in the world. Not so much in Andorra. In fact, the principality boasts a world-class healthcare system with nearly four physicians for every 1000 residents. Those who call Andorra home can enjoy top-level services locally or by visiting neighboring systems in France and Spain.

Similar to respected countries like Switzerland and Norway, Andorra boasts a very progressive healthcare system. In fact, according to a 2017 Lancet publication, Andorra ranked higher in quality and access than these health-conscious nations. The Lancet also notes that Andorra is one of the top 5 healthiest countries in the world.

Què fa que la sanitat a Andorra sigui tan bona? Coneguda com a CASS (Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat Social), el sistema cobreix la major part de les despeses sanitàries de cadascú. A més, si et trobes a la veïna França, Espanya o Portugal i has de fer front a despeses mèdiques inesperades, aquestes solen estar cobertes. Només has d'informar la CASS dels teus moviments.

Coverage typically includes:

Cobertura del 100% dels costos del part

Cobertura del 90% per a totes les visites hospitalàries

75% per a cites mèdiques i dentals

Una comunitat pròspera

Aside from the basic necessities, having a community that’s welcoming and lively makes transitioning to a new home a lot easier. Andorra is a vibrant place to both live and work. A large number of expats and immigrants from the neighbouring European countries makes the principality a rather multi-cultural place to be. The capital, Andorra la Vella, is a testament to Andorra’s broad diversity.

Les Festes Majors solen fer festes de diversos dies a gairebé tots els pobles del país. Per a un país petit, sempre sembla que hi ha algun tipus d'esdeveniment comunitari o reunió per assistir.

Un cop supereu la barrera lingüística, descobrireu una comunitat realment oberta que us acollirà amb els braços oberts.

The Cons of Living in Andorra

Obviously, living in Andorra has both pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look at the things about Andorra that probably won’t excite you. Remember, it is important to weigh both up before exploring and arranging residency. We know what a big decision moving to a new country can be.

La barrera lingüística a Andorra

One of the biggest cons many expats face when relocating is the language barrier. Catalan — Andorra's official language — is the native tongue of a mere 10 million individuals worldwide, so chances are you won't be familiar with it. That said, the government does offer free classes to help newcomers learn the language.

While Catalan is the official language, many residents in Andorra also speak French and Spanish. With the rise of expats, English is also becoming more common in the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors. Two international schools teach the majority of the curriculum in English, while many private tuition centres also offer English classes.

Still, the language barrier can be an issue for new residents who need to understand government services and access information for things like banking and so on.

Accés limitat al transport

Andorra no és precisament un centre de viatges internacional. Tot i que la majoria de països europeus estan molt ben comunicats entre ells mitjançant vols i trens barats, l'accés al transport a Andorra és encara força limitat. El país no té aeroport propi ni connexió amb el sistema ferroviari europeu.

Si decidiu establir-vos aquí, trobareu que els principals nuclis de transport més propers són Barcelona (2,5 hores) i Tolosa (3 hores).

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the nearest train station is located at L’Hospitalet-pres-l’Andorre, which is 3km from the border of France. Here you’ll have access to a direct night train to Paris Austerlitz. Once you get into Toulouse, you’ll find many other connections for travel.

A Simpler Way of Life

Some people want a fast-paced way of life where the world is at their fingertips — others crave simplicity and leisure. Andorra really serves the latter. Having to live a simple lifestyle is not necessarily a con, but if you’re used to the city life where you can order anything and everything on your phone, it might be an inconvenience. Additionally, many online retailers do not ship to Andorra at all, which may be another drawback for many.

While these things aren’t necessarily major deal breakers, they can be quite annoying. This is especially true for individuals moving from the United Kingdom and the United States. While there are ways to get around the hassles of getting packages, they often involve sending shipments to a collection point in La Seu d’Urgell. To serve this gap in the market, businesses that accept international packages on your behalf and deliver them to your doorstep (for a fee, of course) are becoming more prevalent.

Preparat per donar el primer pas?

While there are plenty of positives and some negatives to living in Andorra, we feel the pros far outweigh the cons. After all, a population of more than 77,000 residents lives here with good reason. People come from all walks of life. There are Andorran-born locals and others who have only lived here for one or two generations. There are also plenty of expats and world travelers. Historically, people have emigrated to Andorra from France, Spain, and Portugal. Nowadays, people are migrating from Britain, America, Eastern Europe, and beyond.

Many folks come seeking lower tax rates, others want a lifestyle change that supports outdoor recreation. Some are choosing to retire in Andorra despite the language barrier, others just want a simpler way of life. Andorra is home to all types of people. Becoming one of them is easier than you might imagine!

If you’re not sure how to weigh up the pros and cons of living in Andorra, contact us today. We can help guide you along the path to making the decision and calling this beautiful nation home.

Contacti'ns!