Driving licence in Andorra: using a Gestoria

Moving to Andorra quickly involves dealing with several administrative formalities. Among them is your driving licence. If you arrive with a foreign licence, you will need to check under what conditions it can be recognized in Andorra, which documents you need to prepare and, above all, when you should start the process. On paper, the procedure seems fairly straightforward. In reality, questions quickly arise: can your licence be exchanged directly? Do you need to take an exam? Which medical certificate is required? Who needs to submit the application? And what happens if you are also importing your car?

This is precisely where a Gestoria can be useful. It does not replace the Andorran authorities or officially authorized professionals responsible for certain procedures, but it can help you understand the process, prepare the required documents and coordinate several formalities related to your relocation.

What is the actual role of a Gestoria in Andorra?

A Gestoria is a firm specializing in administrative assistance. For someone who has recently moved to Andorra, it can provide support on a wide range of matters: residency, taxation, company formation, vehicle-related procedures or preparing an application concerning a driving licence.

Its main value is practical. When you are unfamiliar with the Andorran administrative system, it is not always obvious which department to contact, which documents need to be translated or which procedure should be completed first. A Gestoria experienced in handling expat applications can check that your documents are consistent and flag any missing paperwork before it blocks the process.

However, it is important to distinguish administrative assistance from the official procedure itself. When having a foreign driving licence recognized, a Gestoria can assist you in preparing or coordinating your application. However, it is not necessarily the official intermediary responsible for the recognition process. This distinction is important when choosing a service provider.

How long can you drive in Andorra with a foreign licence?

This is probably the first point to check after obtaining your residency. The regulations have changed. At the end of 2024, the Andorran Government announced that the period during which it is possible to drive in the country with a foreign licence would be reduced from one year to six months. This change was subsequently incorporated into the regulatory framework applicable to driving licences.

However, if you have just become a resident, it is better to deal with your driving licence during the first few weeks after moving rather than waiting until the deadline approaches. The fact that a foreign licence is still valid in its country of issue does not automatically mean that it can be used without limitation once you are established in Andorra. The validity of the document and the right to drive with that document on Andorran territory are two different issues.

Your situation may also depend on your status and the type of licence you hold. If in doubt, particularly in the case of a professional licence, a specific category or an unusual residency situation, it is preferable to have your case confirmed by the Driving Licence Registry or by the driving school handling the recognition process.

Can you directly exchange your foreign licence for an Andorran one?

This mainly depends on the country that issued your licence and the recognition rules applicable between that country and Andorra. When an agreement or reciprocity mechanism allows recognition, the process can be much simpler. However, when no applicable agreement exists, recognition with an examination may be required.

The Andorran Government specifically distinguishes between a direct recognition procedure and a procedure for recognizing a foreign licence with an examination. The latter applies in situations where there is no applicable agreement between Andorra and the country of origin of the licence or where reciprocity does not apply.

Agreements may change, and certain licence categories may be treated differently. Two people holding licences issued in the same country may not necessarily have exactly the same application if one holds only a standard passenger-car category while the other holds professional categories.

How does the licence recognition process work in practice?

The first step is to determine which type of recognition applies to your situation. This choice then determines the administrative process and whether you may need to take any tests.

You must then gather the documents required to begin the administrative process with the Servei de Tràmits of the Govern d'Andorra. In general, these may include an original and valid driving licence, an identity document (passport or Andorran residence card), proof of residence, recent passport photographs and, in some cases, a medical certificate confirming your fitness to drive.

The exact supporting documents depend on the application. It may be necessary to verify the authenticity or validity of certain documents and to meet the medical requirements applicable to the relevant category.

This is where administrative assistance can genuinely save time. The goal is not to add unnecessary intermediaries, but to arrive at the submission stage with a coherent application, usable documents and a clear understanding of the next steps.

How much does it cost to have a foreign driving licence recognized?

Amounts quoted in older articles should be treated with caution, as administrative fees change over time. The Govern d'Andorra's online portal currently lists a fee of €65.94 for foreign driving licence recognition procedures presented on its portal, whether for direct recognition or recognition involving an examination. The portal also states a maximum processing time of 48 hours for the corresponding administrative procedure.

It is important to understand what this timeframe means. It should not be interpreted as meaning that you can start your application on Monday and automatically leave with your final licence on Wednesday. The time required to obtain documents, complete any necessary checks, undergo medical formalities or arrange an examination can considerably extend the overall process.

The administrative fee is also not necessarily the total cost of the procedure. Additional costs may arise depending on your circumstances, including Gestoria assistance, translations or specific document-related formalities.

Before entrusting your application to a service provider, ask for a quote that clearly separates official fees from private professional fees. This is the simplest way to avoid comparing two prices that do not actually cover the same services.

Do you have to take an examination in Andorra?

No, not in every case. Whether an examination is required depends in particular on the country that issued the licence and the recognition mechanisms that apply. When recognition without an examination is possible, there is obviously no reason to register for tests that are not required.

Conversely, when your licence does not qualify for the direct recognition scheme, the Government provides for a specific procedure involving an examination. The official information also states that the prerequisites should be confirmed with the driving school handling the process.

If your licence is unusual, old, professional or includes several categories, have each category checked. Recognition of a licence does not necessarily mean that all the categories shown on the foreign document will be reproduced identically on the Andorran licence.

How do you choose a Gestoria for your driving licence?

The best criterion is not a promise of speed, but the firm's ability to explain your situation precisely. During the initial consultation, the professional should be able to tell you whether their role is limited to preparing documents or whether they also coordinate your application with a driving school. They should also be able to distinguish their own fees from administrative charges and warn you when information needs to be confirmed directly with the Government.

Experience with cases similar to yours can also make a difference. Someone arriving from France with a standard Category B licence will not necessarily face the same difficulties as a professional driver holding several categories or someone whose licence was issued in a country with no applicable recognition agreement.

International driving permit: is it necessary when living in Andorra?

The international driving permit is often confused with the recognition of a foreign driving licence. However, it serves a different purpose.

Once you hold an Andorran driving licence, you can use it to travel in many countries. The Andorran Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the Andorran licence is internationally recognized for tourist travel, while also pointing out that some countries may require an international driving permit.

In such cases, the application is not submitted through the Servei de Tràmits, as some older information suggests. The Government currently states that you should contact the Automòbil Club d’Andorra to obtain an international driving permit.

Before travelling, always check the rules of the destination country. This is particularly important if you are planning a long stay, renting a car or travelling outside Europe. The rules governing the acceptance of a foreign driving licence are determined by the country in which you are driving.