Andorra is growing and there are plenty of job offers, especially in the tourism field.

We’ve already discussed how to find a job in Andorra as a foreigner. Today, we’ll guide you through the common labour policies and let you know what it’s like to work in the country.

Whether you’re looking for a seasonal job in a ski resort or have your sights set on a more traditional career this will be your guide. We’ll cover the information you need to start working in Andorra and the legal policies about labour.

Legal Requirements for Working in Andorra

If you’re going to start working in Andorra you’ll need to comply with a couple of legal requirements to be employed as a foreigner.

Most of them overlap with those for acquiring active residency, but we’ll provide some additional important information you should keep in mind.

The first, and perhaps most important, requirement you’ll have to fulfill is getting a work permit. As of April 2018, only 900 work and residency permits are available for foreigners.

You’ll have to apply in the official government immigration department and provide the following paperwork:

  • Original and photocopy of your valid passport
  • Apostilled certificate of criminal records (police report) of your country of origin, within three months since being apostilled.
  • Document showing proof of accommodation
  • Marriage certificate
  • Curriculum vitae

Remember that the official language of Andorra is Catalan, and all paperwork and legal applications must be made in Catalan.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll also need to open a bank account.

What is it Like to Work in Andorra?

You’ll experience the many positives that comes with living in Andorra (even if you’re only here for seasonal work), including reasonable cost of living, a great healthcare system, a very safe community, lots of scenery and so on.

Of course, it also comes with the challenge of finding a rental property which has been difficult in recent years.

When coming from another country it’s important to learn the different obligations and responsibilities for employees. Finding a job is a competitive pursuit and you want to have every advantage possible to stand out.

The labour policies of Andorra are strict and laid out in the Labour Relations Code. In theory, you won’t find any irregularities when working in the country. Here are the key aspects of a work relationship:

Work Hours and Schedules

  • There are 40 hours in the standard workweek in Andorra. A person can work more than this but only to a limited extent and only if they are paid overtime wages. No employee can work more than 12 hours in a particular day.
  • Employees must be given at least 12 hours off per day and at least one full day off in the week.
  • If your working day is 6 hours or more, you’re entitled to a 30-minute break.
  • Between 8 to 15 days of notice must be given before any change in schedule or working hour. (Executives and managers can be required to adapt more flexibly to their company’s requirements.)
  • Overtime is limited to two hours per day, 15 hours per week, 50 hours per month, and a maximum of 426 hours per year. The payment of overtime wages, for a particular week, goes as follows: 25% extra for the first four hours, 50% for the following four, and 75% beyond the ninth hour of overtime.

Holidays in Andorra

  • If you work during a national or municipal (comu) holiday, you’re entitled to an additional day off or your wages must be paid double. On the four mandatory rest days established in Andorran legislation (January 1, March 14, September 8 and December 25) the payment must either be tripled or workers must be given two extra rest days.
  • Everyone gets at least 30 days of leave per calendar year. (This can be prorated for part-time workers, depending on the number of worked hours.)

Compensation for Employees in Andorra

  • The minimum wage of Andorra is €1,017.47 per month. Most jobs pay above this threshold and consist of a fixed rate and a variable amount based on tips, commissions, and incentives.
  • If you’re going to work in the night shift (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.) you must be paid at least 20% over the minimum wage.
  • Contributions to the social security fund are mandatory. Employers pay a 15.5% premium on wages and employees pay 6.5% for a total of 22%.

The Andorran Job Market

In a country of 75,000 inhabitants versus over 8 million visitors per year, you can expect a large variety of jobs in the tourism sector. That’s especially true for ski resorts and seasonal occupations.

However, with growing international investments in every market and the influx of immigrants, there’s bound to be an increase in job offerings in all lines of work. So, it’s a great time to consider moving to Andorra.

Working in an Andorran Ski Resort

When you hear about working in a ski resort the first thing that comes to mind is being a ski instructor. But you’ll see that there are dozens of related activities required to keep a ski resort operating.

Every winter season, job openings in ski resorts start to appear, and there’s a myriad of positions available, from administrative posts, park maintenance, customer support, children daycare teachers, chefs, and ski instructors.

Starting in September you can start applying at the large ski resorts who are preparing to open. They want to do so as soon as the snow falls, which commonly happens in November. So, you can expect your application to be answered by mid-October.

Although the application process and requirements are standard for every job in Andorra, you should come extra prepared since these spots are very competitive.

Knowledge of English is a must, and with every extra language you know from Spanish, French, Catalan, or Portuguese, your chances of being hired increase.

Working in a ski resort is an attractive gig. The pay is good — both in direct wages and tips — the work environment is laid-back and having a recommendation from a large ski resort will open doors in the Andorran service industry.

How to Find a Job in a Ski Resort

Working during the Andorran ski season will require you to get to the country before winter, so you can start applying as soon as the vacant positions show up.

The large ski resorts, Pal Arinsal and Grandvalira, both have extensive job offerings that start to become available in September. For both, you can apply online from outside the country right from their websites:

The first advantage of working in these resorts is that they’ll guarantee a job contract through April. Also, if you don’t have your resident status, they can help you get temporary residency for the winter season.

Summary of What You Need to Know About Working in Andorra

In this guide, we covered the main regulations and requirements for working in Andorra. We also told you about ski-resort jobs in the winter season.

Obviously, the legislation that applies to work in Andorra shares a lot in common with many European countries. We have a 40-hour work week and many progressive benefits that help strive to create a fair work relationship by supporting employees.

Andorran salaries rival those in Spain and France. With our reduced cost of living and excellent healthcare benefits, you may find that Andorra is a much better option.

Hopefully, with this information, you can find a stable job in this beautiful country and start living and enjoying the Andorran experience.