Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While traveling in Andorra, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own and criminal penalties vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in other countries, but are illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using/disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Andorra, your U.S. citizenship will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not wherever you go.

Persons violating the laws of Andorra, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Andorra are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Andorra, driving under the influence could land you in jail immediately.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested within its borders, that may not always be the case. To ensure that the United States government is aware of your circumstances, request that the Andorran police or prison officials notify the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona as soon as you are arrested or detained.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

WOMEN TRAVELERS: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips on the Women Travelers page on Travel.State.gov.

LGBT RIGHTS: The LGBT community in Andorra is not as visible or as politically organized as in neighboring countries. While Andorran law prohibits discrimination against LGBT persons, same-sex marriages are not recognized including those performed in other countries where it is recognized. Since 2014, Andorra allows for civil unions for same-sex couples.

For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Andorra, you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: Andorran law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, and the provision of other state services. These nondiscrimination laws help to protect travelers with disabilities. In practice, persons with disabilities have easy access to public buildings. Andorra ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in March 2014, and the government continues to adapt infrastructure to the needs of disabled persons to ensure accessibility to public transportation, museums, commerce, restaurants, and other buildings throughout the country.

Taxis that can accommodate wheelchairs are available, but must generally be called in advance. In some areas, sidewalks can be narrow and very steep. Tourists should take this into account when planning their visit.