Andorran civil records are held in the Principality, and administration runs through the comuns, the seven parish councils that handle a great deal of what a national registry would do elsewhere. For a family abroad, that means knowing which parish your records sit in.
Quick facts
Andorra is a co-principality, with the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France as joint heads of state, and its administrative traditions are correspondingly distinctive. The parish system is part of that and is worth understanding before you start asking for records.
Fees breakdown
| Service | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Civil certificates | Charged in Andorra | Through the relevant comú |
| U.S. certificate | $15–$50 | State vital records office |
| Apostille | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State |
| Catalan translation | Per page | Ask whether Spanish suffices |
| Courier | Carrier’s charge | Both directions |
For a child born in the United States to Andorran parents, the American certificate is apostilled and translated, with the parents’ documents establishing the link. Ask the authorities in Andorra what follows for the child’s own status, which is not automatic.
How to proceed
- Establish which parish holds the family records.
- Ask that comú or the national registry what it requires.
- Order the U.S. certificate and have it apostilled.
- Arrange the translation as instructed.
- Ask specifically about the child’s nationality position.
- Keep copies before anything travels.
Required documents
- Parents’ Andorran passports or identity documents.
- Child’s U.S. birth certificate, apostilled and translated.
- Parents’ marriage certificate where applicable.
- Proof of status in the United States.
- Details of the relevant parish.
- Completed forms in Catalan.
Where to file
With the relevant comú or registry in Andorra; the Permanent Mission in New York can advise on what it is able to do.
Additional notes
Know your parish
The comuns handle much of what a central registry does elsewhere. Identifying the right one saves weeks.
Nationality is not automatic
Ask about the child’s position specifically rather than assuming it follows the parents’. See the citizenship page.
Catalan
The language of the administration. Ask whether Spanish is accepted before paying for Catalan translation.
Keep copies
Standard practice, and cheap insurance.