Just across the border, where the road climbs from the French Ariège into Andorra, lies Pas de la Casa. The town belongs to the parish of Encamp, sits at 2,080 metres and had just under 3,000 inhabitants in 2012. In winter it is part of the Grandvalira ski area; all year round it is a shopping destination, with low taxes drawing visitors from France and Spain.

Traditionally, tobacco, alcohol and perfume topped the shopping lists. In 2022, when petrol in France cost around €2 a litre, it was mainly fuel, according to the Andorran newspaper La Valira. But the supermarkets also stock a wide range of Spanish extra virgin olive oil, from 0.5-litre bottles to 5-litre containers. We looked at what is behind this and whether the trip is worth it.

Why olive oil can be cheaper in Andorra

Andorra is not an EU member and levies its own indirect tax instead of VAT, the Impost General Indirecte (IGI). The standard rate is 4.5 per cent, with a reduced rate of 1 per cent for food.

CountryTax on olive oil
Andorra1% IGI (reduced rate for food)
Spain4% VAT since January 2025 (July–September 2024: 0%, October–December 2024: 2%)
France5.5% VAT (reduced rate for food)
Switzerland2.6% VAT (reduced rate)

The tax advantage over France is therefore around 4.5 percentage points. On top of that, Andorran shops are closely linked to the Spanish market and carry many Spanish brands that are rarely found on French shelves. Important: not everything in Andorra is automatically cheaper. Prices depend heavily on brand and promotions, so comparing pays off.

What does extra virgin olive oil cost in Andorra?

The online shop of the Pyrénées department store, one of Andorra's large retailers, gives an idea of prices. We retrieved the following prices on 16 September 2026; they may change at any time and do not necessarily apply to every shop in Pas de la Casa.

ProductSizePricePrice per litre
Coosur Virgen Extra5 l€30.90€6.18
Coosur Virgen Extra1 l€6.89€6.89
Coosur Arbequina / Hojiblanca / Picual / Cornicabra1 l€6.79€6.79
La Española Virgen Extra1 l€6.99€6.99
La Española Virgen Extra (tin)3 l€22.50€7.50
Borges Virgen Extra5 l€45.90€9.18
Carbonell Gran Selección Virgen Extra0.75 l€7.99€10.65

For comparison: in UFC-Que Choisir's 2025 test, the 20 extra virgin olive oils bought in French supermarkets cost between €7.89 and €13.45 per litre. The figures come from different dates and are only a rough guide. How those oils performed is covered in Private-label olive oil in Spain and France tested.

How much olive oil may you take into France?

Although Andorra is in a customs union with the EU for industrial goods, allowances apply to food. According to French customs, the following applies when returning from Andorra:

  • Total value of all purchases: at most €900 per person aged 15 or over, €450 for children.
  • Food: within that, at most €300 per person aged 15 or over, €150 for children.
  • Olive oil: there is no separate quantity limit; it counts towards the food value limit.
  • Other foods also have quantity limits, for example 1 kilo of butter, 4 kilos of cheese or 1 kilo of coffee.
  • No pooling: several travellers may not add up their allowances for a single purchase.

In theory, several 5-litre containers fit within the allowance, as long as the value of all food does not exceed €300.

And for travellers to Switzerland?

If you return from Andorra directly to Switzerland, Swiss rules apply: edible oils and fats are duty-free up to a total of 5 litres per person per day; beyond that each litre costs 2 francs. If the value of all goods exceeds 150 francs, VAT is due. A single 5-litre container therefore stays duty-free.

Is a 5-litre container worth it?

The large pack is usually cheaper per litre: Coosur cost €6.18 per litre in the 5-litre container and €6.89 in the 1-litre bottle. But olive oil ages as soon as it comes into contact with air. An opened container left in the kitchen for months loses freshness and aroma.

  • Decant: after opening, fill the oil into several small, dark bottles that close well.
  • Store cool and dark: not next to the stove and not in a car in the sun. More in How to store olive oil.
  • Check the harvest year: if you stock up, choose oil from the current harvest.
  • Read the label: in Andorra labels are often in Spanish or Catalan. “Virgen extra” or “verge extra” means extra virgin; “virgen” or “verge” alone is the lower grade.

Frequently asked questions

Is olive oil cheaper in Andorra than in France?

Often, yes. Andorra taxes food at 1 per cent, France at 5.5 per cent, and many inexpensive Spanish brands are available in Andorra. In Pyrénées' online shop, extra virgin olive oil started at around €6.20 per litre in a 5-litre container in September 2026. Individual promotions in France or Spain can still be cheaper.

How much olive oil can I take from Andorra to France?

There is no separate quantity limit for olive oil. All food together may be worth at most €300 per person aged 15 or over, within the overall allowance of €900.

Where is Pas de la Casa?

In the east of Andorra, right on the French border, in the parish of Encamp at 2,080 metres. The town is part of the Grandvalira ski area.

How much olive oil can I bring from Andorra into Switzerland?

Up to a total of 5 litres of edible oil per person per day duty-free. Each additional litre costs 2 francs, and above a goods value of 150 francs VAT is due.

Sources