Andorra

Ahhhh Andorra.  The supposed land of milk and honey, and right at the top of the list too.   This one's a bit personal, as it's next on my itinerary and was my AHA! moment after months of searching for that magical country where EU and US citizens could live in love and harmony.  I could be considered either a pro or a complete amateur at navigating the visa and work requirements for Andorra, so any comments on this one would be appreciated!

Winter is coming. 

About  

Andorra is a magical country where dreams come true and taxes don't exist (well, I'm counting on the former working itself out and the latter is verified by The Internet.)  Nestled between Spain and France in the Pyrenees, this micro-country of 85,000 booms with 10.2 million visitors once the first snow falls and tourists come flocking for the ski season.  Due to (literally) no unemployment, foreigners must be hired to fill the numerous hospitality, instructor, and resort jobs from December till April.  

And the best part is, even though she's on the Euro, this baby isn't in the European Union OR the Schengen Zone.  Jackpot!  

Location 

High up in the mountain tops between France and Spain, holding it down in Basque country.  

Languages 

Catalan is the official language, but Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English are widely spoken.  During the ski season language speakers tend to congregate in the same villages.  Once you find the resorts where English/French/Spanish whatever speakers flock, you'll find hospitality jobs using your language.  Of course, knowing multiple languages is a huge plus! 

Best For 

- International couples from the US, EU, South America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. 

- Couples with service industry, resort, or ski instructor experience 

- Multilingual couples (or Spanish, French, English, or Catalan speakers)

- Nomadic couples looking to work somewhere temporarily (5-6 months) 

- Lovers of snow sports and all things winter, including dog mushing

Just realized a life-calling I never knew I had

Visa Information 

Like most European countries, it's supposedly still easier for EU nationals to secure a temporary/seasonal work permit.  You will need to find an employer first who will then process the application for you.  Make SURE you have your police record from your home country with you - this can take up to three months to get in advance and requires official fingerprint records to be sent in with the request.   This is seemingly the only PITA involved.  

The Moneys 

Seasonal workers will most likely be paid minimum wage or just above it, which is roughly 1000 Euro per month.   Tips of up to 10% are expected on top of food bills, and tips are expected for other services including bellhops, washroom attendants, etc.   Rent is high and it's recommended you arrive in November to secure a place before work starts (most resorts don't open until the first week of December).  Cigarettes, wine/liquor, and gas ('petrol') are all tax-free and therefore, cheap.  The land of milk and honey indeed... 

Jobs Available

As stated, the vast majority of jobs will be temporary, seasonal work during the winter months.  Restaurants, bars, resorts, spas, retailers, and ski companies will all be hiring starting in November.  Remember, they know it's temporary too, so working conditions may not be ideal, but they should get you through the winter.  

Jobs might be posted online before the season, but your best bet is to show up in mid-late November and hit the ground running. 

It's possible to find a job teaching English year-round, and probably French or Spanish too, or to secure a tour guide position in the summer, but these opportunities don't come around that often and would require a bit of luck, networking, and perseverance to secure. 

In Conclusion

If you beat me there, save me a job behind the bar.