---
title: "What language is spoken in Andorra? Catalan and more (2026)"
url: https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/languages
description: "What language is spoken in Andorra? Catalan, the only official language, required (A1 then A2) for permit renewals; Spanish and French."
updated: 2026-10-11
language: en
publisher: Andorre Fiscal (https://andorrefiscal.fr)
---

# Languages in Andorra: Catalan, French, Spanish and integration

> Markdown version of the page https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/languages (Andorre Fiscal), up to date as of 11 October 2026. To cite this page, use its address: https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/languages

Catalan is Andorra’s only official language, and it is becoming a condition for staying: level A1 at the first renewal of a residence and work permit, A2 at the second. French and Spanish remain very present in everyday life. Here is what the law requires, and how to learn the language, including for free.

By [the Andorre Fiscal editorial team](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/about#redaction) · Verified on 11 October 2026 · [10 official sources](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/languages#sources)

- **A1** in Catalan at the first renewal (residence and work)
- **A2** at the second renewal
- **63.7%** of residents usually speak Catalan (2022)
- **55.4%** of residents are foreign nationals

## Key points

- Catalan is Andorra’s only official language (Constitution, Article 2); Llei 6/2024 on Andorra’s own and official language strengthens its use, particularly in education.
- Since 26 April 2026, holders of a residence and work permit have had to prove level A1 in Catalan for their first renewal, then level A2 for the second.
- The law provides for these requirements to be extended to the self-employed, cross-border workers and residence without work, including passive residency, within five years of its entry into force in 2024.
- The Govern offers Catalan courses in person and online, the latter free of charge, as well as five learning centres.
- In everyday life, Catalan is also the most widely spoken language: the usual language of 63.7% of residents over 14 in 2022, ahead of Spanish (48.6%); French (5.7%) remains a minority language, despite a French school system in all seven parishes.

## What is the official language of Andorra?

[Catalan](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/glossary#catalan) is the only official language of the State (Constitution, Article 2). Llei 6/2024 of 25 April 2024 on Andorra’s own and official language strengthens its use: for example, it makes Catalan the language of education in Andorran educational establishments, and the language of sports and leisure activities. The Govern also publishes a national action plan for the language for 2026–2028.

In everyday life, you will hear a lot of Spanish, French and Portuguese: more than half of residents are foreign nationals. But the common language, that of the State and its institutions, remains Catalan.

## Languages spoken in Andorra: who speaks what in everyday life?

Catalan is the most widely spoken language in everyday life, ahead of Spanish; French and Portuguese come far behind. According to the survey on language knowledge and use carried out in 2022 by the Govern and Andorra Recerca + Innovació, **63.7%** of residents over 14 name Catalan as the usual language of their dealings with others, and 48.6% Spanish.

**Languages of residents over 14 in 2022**

| Language | Mother tongue | Usual language |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Catalan | 44.1% | 63.7% |
| Spanish (Castilian) | 40.3% | 48.6% |
| Portuguese | 13.5% | 6.6% |
| French | 10% | 5.7% |
| English | 3% | 2.7% |

Source: Govern d’Andorra and Andorra Recerca + Innovació, “Coneixements i usos lingüístics de la població d’Andorra”, telephone survey of 747 residents from 20 May to 2 June 2022, margin of error of 3.65 points. Mother tongue: the language in which the person learnt to speak. Several answers possible: the totals exceed 100%.

Asked about the share of each language in their speech, residents attribute on average 50.7% of their exchanges to Catalan, 35.5% to Spanish, 5.1% to French and 4.9% to Portuguese. The levels declared follow the same order: on a scale of 0 to 10, average comprehension reaches 9.6 for Spanish, 9.0 for Catalan and 6.0 for French.

## Catalan required to renew your permit

Llei 6/2024 amended the qualified law on immigration to make the renewal of **residence and work** permits conditional on knowledge of Catalan. Its preamble gives the reason: the language is “an important element for the integration of the people who arrive in Andorra”, and it is “necessary to be able to work in the country” (free translation).

**Catalan and renewal of the residence and work permit**

| Stage | Level required | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First renewal | A1 (beginner level) | Required since 26 April 2026; previously, attending a course was enough |
| Second renewal | A2 (elementary level) | Provided for by Llei 6/2024 |

Source: Llei 9/2012, qualified law on immigration, Articles 54 bis and 58, as amended by Llei 6/2024. Without the required level, renewal is refused.

> **Good to know: The transition period**
>
> Until 26 April 2026, applicants for a first renewal only had to prove that they had attended the Catalan course provided for by the quota regulation. Anyone who had been unable to attend it for a justified reason could obtain their first renewal, but then had to prove level A2 before the second.

The Govern’s press release on the general quota approved on 7 October 2026 confirms this progression: level A1 at the first renewal, A2 at the second. Our news item [Catalan: level A1 required at the first renewal](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/news/catalan-required-for-permit-renewal) details the reform, and our guide to [renewing your residency](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency) sets out all the conditions.

## Passive residents, the self-employed, cross-border workers: what is planned

For now, the requirement applies to residence and work permits. However, Llei 6/2024 instructs the Govern to adopt, **within five years** of its entry into force, the regulations that will also require levels A1 and A2 for the renewal of authorisations for:

- residence and work on own account, i.e. those of the [self-employed](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/self-employed-residency);
- cross-border work;
- residence without work, including [passive residency](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/passive-residency);
- residence for people who contribute to the digital economy and entrepreneurship.

If you plan to stay for the long term, it is therefore best to start learning Catalan as soon as you arrive, whatever your status.

## What the law requires in everyday life, and at work

Llei 6/2024 is not limited to renewals. It organises the use of Catalan throughout public life, with practical effects for a newcomer:

- **Right to be served in Catalan**: everyone may address public authorities, health and social services, professionals and any business or shop established in Andorra in Catalan (Article 3);
- **Public authorities**: public staff greet people and converse in Catalan, and only switch language if the other person does not understand it; documents sent to the authorities must in principle be written in Catalan, with a possible exemption in the event of reasonable difficulty (Article 8);
- **Shops and restaurants**: signs, advertising, menus and price lists are written in Catalan, and other languages may appear in second place (Articles 16 and 18);
- **Employment**: businesses must ensure that their staff in contact with the public can serve Catalan-speaking customers in Catalan, and the obligation extends to the self-employed (Article 21).

For an employee dealing with customers, Catalan is therefore also a [skill expected by the employer](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/jobs-and-salaries#catalan), beyond the renewal requirement alone. Finally, the law instructs the Govern and the comuns to inform anyone over 18 who settles in Andorra and to direct them to language training suited to their level (Article 6).

## How can you learn Catalan in Andorra?

The Govern presents several options on its “Aprèn català” (learn Catalan) page:

**Public provision for learning Catalan**

| Option | Content | Good to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Online courses | Levels A1, A2 and B1; 6 units of 3 weeks, with self-correcting exercises twice a week | Free; optional tutoring by video call once a week |
| In-person courses | Levels, formats, centres and timetables published by the Govern | Online enrolment |
| Catalan centres | Materials and personalised support | Five centres: Escaldes-Engordany, Encamp, La Massana, Canillo, Pas de la Casa |
| Modules for businesses | 20-hour oral course, with job-specific vocabulary | Intended for businesses |
| “Veus d’Andorra” and “A Punt Andorra” textbooks | Books and audio files for levels A1 to B2 | Downloadable |

Source: Govern d’Andorra, “Aprèn català” section, consulted on 10 October 2026.

The Catalan centres are aimed in particular at people whose schedules make attending classes difficult: shift work, seasonal employment, family commitments. They offer flexible hours and personalised learning, monitored by a language adviser.

### Official Catalan exams: levels and sessions

To certify your level, the Govern awards **six official Catalan language diplomas**, from level A1 to level C2, aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Each exam includes a written test and an oral test.

- the exams are called at least once a year by a notice published in the BOPA, which sets the dates, venues and enrolment conditions;
- sessions take place in **January–February** and in **June**;
- they are open to anyone **over 16**, whatever their nationality, whether resident or not;
- results are published on the cultura.ad and educacio.ad websites, and the diploma is then requested from the Govern’s procedures service.

These rules appear on the Govern’s official exams page, which refers to Decrees 213/2025 and 199/2026 on Catalan diplomas. For the first renewal of a residence and work permit, it is level A1 that is required.

## Can you live in Andorra speaking only French?

French helps, but it is not enough to stay if you are an employee: Catalan is required when renewing a residence and work permit. In everyday life, French is understood, but much less than Catalan and Spanish: on a scale of 0 to 10, residents over 14 rate their understanding of French at 6.0 on average, compared with 9.0 for Catalan and 9.6 for Spanish, according to the 2022 survey.

Andorra’s population is very diverse. At 31 July 2026, 44.6% of the country’s residents were Andorran nationals, 23.6% Spanish, 9.2% Portuguese, 4.7% French and 17.9% other nationalities, including 3,350 Argentinians, 1,779 Colombians and 1,035 Peruvians, groups that are growing fast.

- **Spanish residents23.6% of the population**: 21,225
- **Portuguese residents9.2%**: 8,309
- **French residents4.7%, up 6.3% over one year**: 4,263

French and Spanish are therefore very present, at school as in everyday life: two of the three school systems teach in these languages. For administrative procedures, some Govern documents are available in several languages; for example, the requirements for renewing a work permit are published in Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese, French and English. But the official language remains Catalan, and it is Catalan that is required on renewal.

## Integrating: census registration, rights and local life

- **Registration with the comú**: holders of a residence and work permit must register with the comú of their parish within 3 months;
- **Children**: whatever the school system, they learn Catalan and about Andorran culture;
- **Political rights**: only Andorrans can vote and stand in general elections (Constitution, Article 51);
- **Work**: the law requires that a foreign employee’s working and pay conditions be no less favourable than those of nationals and residents.

See also [registering with your parish’s comú](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/parishes#comuns) and, for children, [the French school in Andorra](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/schools). The right to vote is explained in our presentation of [Andorran institutions](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/andorra-at-a-glance#institutions).

## Andorran nationality: residence and integration

Nationality is the culmination of a long process of integration. Llei 8/2026 in principle requires **20 years of residence**, as main and permanent residence, continuous or not, including the last 5 years of effective residence, as well as proof of integration. The period is reduced to 10 years for those who have completed 10 years of schooling in Andorra, and to 5 years of uninterrupted residence in the case of marriage to an Andorran.

> **Caution: No dual nationality**
>
> You must prove the loss of your original nationality within 5 years of the favourable decision, a period that can be extended by 2 years if the procedures are under way. According to the press, the Catalan requirements for nationality have been strengthened; the detailed arrangements are a matter for regulation.

The details are in our guide to [Andorran nationality](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/andorran-citizenship).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do you need to speak Catalan to live in Andorra?

In everyday life, you can get by in French or Spanish, which are very present in the country. But Catalan is the only official language, and holders of a residence and work permit must prove level A1 at the first renewal, then level A2 at the second.

### Do passive residents have to prove their level of Catalan?

Not yet. For now, Llei 6/2024 covers residence and work permits. It instructs the Govern to extend the requirement, within five years of its entry into force, to residence without work, including passive residency, as well as to the self-employed and cross-border workers.

[Read: Catalan A1 required to renew your work permit](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/news/catalan-required-for-permit-renewal)

### Are Catalan courses free?

The Govern’s online courses, at levels A1, A2 and B1, are free. The Govern also offers in-person courses, with online enrolment, and five Catalan centres that provide materials and personalised support.

### Can you renew your residence permit without a Catalan diploma?

The Immigration Service refuses the renewal. The immigration law provides that the first two renewals are refused if the required levels of Catalan are not proven.

[Read: Renewal › Catalan on renewal](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency#catalan)

### Will my children learn Catalan at the French school?

Yes. In the French and Spanish systems, the Formació Andorrana teaches the Catalan language as well as the history, geography, culture and institutions of Andorra.

[Read: Schools and education › Catalan and Andorra on every pupil’s curriculum](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/schools#formacio-andorrana)

### Where can you take an official Catalan exam?

With the Ministry of Culture, which, at least once a year, calls the exams for the six official diplomas, from level A1 to level C2, by a notice published in the BOPA. The exams take place in January–February and in June; they are open to anyone over 16, whatever their nationality, whether resident or not. Enrolment follows the conditions of the notice in force.

### Is French spoken in Andorra?

Yes, but it is a minority language. According to the official 2022 survey on language use, 10% of residents over 14 learnt to speak in French and 5.7% use it as their usual language, far behind Catalan (63.7%) and Spanish (48.6%). A French state school system, free of charge, is present in all seven parishes.

[Read: Schools and education › How does the French school system work in Andorra?](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/schools#systeme-francais)

### What is the most widely spoken language in Andorra?

Catalan, according to the official 2022 survey: 63.7% of residents over 14 name it as the usual language of their dealings with others, compared with 48.6% for Spanish. In terms of speaking time, residents attribute on average 50.7% of their spoken exchanges to Catalan and 35.5% to Spanish. Catalan is also the only official language.

## Sources

1. [Govern d’Andorra and Andorra Recerca + Innovació: language knowledge and use among the population of Andorra, 1995–2022](https://ari.ad/images/pdf/llengua.pdf) — 2022 survey (747 residents over 14, margin of error of 3.65 points): mother tongue, usual language, levels of knowledge, share of each language.
2. [Govern d’Andorra: official Catalan exams](https://www.govern.ad/ca/tematiques/cultura-i-esports/llengua/examens-oficials) — Six diplomas from A1 to C2, sessions in January–February and in June, eligibility conditions; Decrees 213/2025 and 199/2026.
3. [Constitution of the Principality of Andorra, French edition by the Consell General](https://www.apda.ad/assets/pdf/constitucio_fr.pdf) — Catalan, the official language (Article 2); right to vote reserved for Andorrans (Article 51).
4. [Llei 6/2024 on Andorra’s own and official language](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2024006) — Levels A1 and A2 on renewal; extension planned within five years; Catalan in education.
5. [Llei 9/2012, qualified law on immigration, consolidated version](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2012009) — Articles 54 bis and 58: renewal refused without the required level; registration with the comú.
6. [Govern d’Andorra: learning Catalan](https://www.govern.ad/ca/tematiques/cultura-i-esports/llengua/apren-catala) — In-person courses, modules for businesses, textbooks and resources.
7. [Govern d’Andorra: virtual Catalan courses](https://www.govern.ad/ca/tematiques/cultura-i-esports/llengua/apren-catala/cursos-virtuals) — Free, self-study courses, levels A1, A2 and B1.
8. [Govern d’Andorra: Catalan centres](https://www.govern.ad/ca/tematiques/cultura-i-esports/llengua/apren-catala/centres-de-catala) — Five centres and personalised support.
9. [Departament d’Estadística, A001: population estimates, July 2026](https://sig.govern.ad/SIGDDE.Public/Files/Documents/Notes_premsa_noticies/A001_A003_20260813_A.pdf) — Population by nationality at 31 July 2026.
10. [Llei 8/2026 on nationality, consolidated version](https://www.portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2026008) — Twenty years of residence, integration, cases with a shorter period, renunciation of the original nationality.

Consolidated texts on the Portal jurídic d’Andorra have no official value: only the version published in the BOPA is authentic. [How we verify](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/methodology).

**General information, not advice.** This guide sets out the rules in force on 11 October 2026, based on official texts. It is no substitute for a professional review of your situation (lawyer, tax adviser, gestoria). Spotted an error or a change? [Write to us](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/contact).

## Further reading

- [Catalan A1 required to renew your work permit](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/news/catalan-required-for-permit-renewal): Since 26 April 2026, employees must prove their level of Catalan to renew.
- [Renewal](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/renewal-permanent-residency): Durations, presence, permanent residency
- [Andorran nationality](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/residency/andorran-citizenship): Conditions and length of residence
- [Schools and education](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/schools): Andorran, French and Spanish systems
- [Working: jobs and salaries](https://andorrefiscal.fr/en/living-in-andorra/jobs-and-salaries): Vacancies, salaries, gross to net