Portuguese in Andorra Attend Repatriation Sessions Amid Housing Crisis

Around 40 Portuguese residents have attended the first two information sessions on repatriation to Portugal, organized by the Portuguese General Consulate in Andorra amid the ongoing housing crisis.

The sessions began on Friday at the facilities of the Grup Folclòric Casa de Portugal, drawing nearly 30 participants, and continued on Saturday at the Centre Cultural de la Valireta in Encamp, with about 10 attendees. High living costs, particularly housing shortages, emerged as key concerns, prompting some to consider leaving the Principality.

A third and final session is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, in Pas de la Casa at 9:30pm, wrapping up the three-day initiative run jointly with Portugal's Directorate General for Portuguese Communities. Specialists addressed queries on administrative processes, tax obligations, Social Security, vehicle registration, academic qualifications, pensions—especially for those with contributions in multiple countries—and other logistics for relocation.

Among attendees was João Mourao, a construction worker in Andorra for five and a half years, who plans to return home by mid-to-late December. Earning 3,000 to 4,000 euros monthly, he cited rents of 2,000 to 2,500 euros that consume most of his income, leaving little for essentials like food. "At the end of the month, if nothing's left, it's better to leave," he said, forecasting more exits as older low-rent contracts expire. "People paying 500 or 600 euros will all leave. No one can afford 2,000 today."

Consul General Duarte Pinto da Rocha noted that housing pressures play a role but emphasized returns depend on individual situations, with similar challenges across Europe, including Portugal. Inquiries have been steady during his nearly two years in post, from young people eyeing studies, workers focused on business and taxes, to families and retirees navigating broader issues. The events mirror others in Paris, French cities, and Switzerland, with Spain next.

The sessions provide clarity ahead of Portugal's expanded "Voltar" programme, building on the "Regressar" scheme, covering topics like pension calculations (Andorra's retirement age of 65 versus Portugal's 67), tax incentives, qualification equivalences, and goods transfers. Interest spans families, professionals, entrepreneurs, and retirees facing fixed incomes and new rent rules.