Andorra Launches Welcome Programme with Guide and Support for New Residents

**Andorra launches welcome programme with practical guide and support service for new residents**

The Andorran government has introduced a new welcome programme for newcomers, featuring a comprehensive practical guide and a dedicated accompaniment service to ease integration. The initiative, mandated by the Equality and Non-Discrimination Law, targets individuals who hold a residence permit or are in the process of obtaining one.

Secretary of State for Equality and Citizen Participation, Mariona Cadena, presented the programme on Thursday to representatives from resident associations, including those from Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Italy, as well as social organisations such as Càritas Andorra and Hope Palestina. Mireia Porras, head of the Equality Policies Area, also attended.

The core of the programme is a 50-page guide covering key areas such as education and training, access to healthcare and the CASS social security system, the job market, municipal census registration, cultural and sports activities, housing, the Catalan language, social services, integration, and residents' rights and duties. Cadena described it as an essential resource consolidating basic information for anyone arriving in the country.

The guide is currently available in Catalan on the government's website and in physical format at the Tràmits service, Immigration offices and the seven parishes. Versions in English, French and Spanish are in preparation. A social media awareness campaign is planned, and the Equality Policies Department will provide direct assistance by appointment.

The service offers advice, information and guidance to help newcomers adapt. Cadena emphasised that the programme aims to promote coexistence and social cohesion, while fostering autonomy and preventing vulnerability through coordination with resident networks.

The initiative does not currently cover temporary workers, though Cadena acknowledged they deserve similar support and indicated future measures could be considered.