If you are wondering whether private investigators are licensed in Andorra, whether it is legal to record a conversation, or how your personal data will be protected during an investigation, here is what the law actually says.
Private investigation is a regulated profession in Andorra under Llei 8/2022, the Private Security Law of March 31, 2022. Its current implementing regulation is Decret 236/2024 of June 5, 2024, which replaced the earlier Decret 173/2023. To be licensed as a private detective in Andorra, a candidate must certify Catalan language proficiency at level B2 through an official diploma, and foreign investigators cannot operate in the country without a license. Reports from licensed investigators can be ratified before the Batllia, Andorra’s court system, as expert testimony.
Recording a conversation without the other person’s consent is a criminal offense under Andorra’s Penal Code when done to violate someone’s privacy, punishable by imprisonment. There is a recognized exception where a duly motivated judicial authorization applies, but there is no broad exception simply for being a participant in the conversation, so this is handled cautiously on a case by case basis.
Andorra’s data protection law, the LQPD (Law 29/2021), took effect in May 2022 and is enforced by the Andorran Data Protection Agency (APDA), which can issue warnings and fines ranging from 500 to 15,000 euros for minor violations. This is the legal framework local investigators work within when gathering and handling evidence connected to Andorra.
