Guatemala investor visa (temporary investor residence)

Article 17 of the residence regulation requires the applicant to show that they form part of one or more commercial entities and/or invest in acquiring movable or real property in Guatemala, for an amount of USD 100,000. The application is backed by a notarial sworn statement describing the economic activity you will carry out and how long you expect to stay.

Attach whichever evidence fits the investment: registry certificates, titles proving ownership of securities, invoices for property, plant and equipment, documents proving the origin of the funds, or other evidence not listed.

File the application form; the original valid passport and a complete legalised copy whose last entry stamp matches the certificate of migration movements (if there is no stamp, a certificate from the Migration Control Office); a birth certificate if your country has no diplomatic mission in Guatemala; an original certificate of no criminal or police record from your country, its embassy or consulate, or the country where you lived in the two years before entering; the certificate of migration movements; and the payment receipt.

Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised under the Law of the Judiciary, issued within six months unless they state another validity, and translated into Spanish by your embassy or consulate or a sworn translator recognised in Guatemala. The IGM punches documents for its archive, so bring protective sleeves and copies if you want originals returned intact.

Filing costs USD 25. The residence status then costs USD 200 for one year, USD 300 for two years or USD 500 for three to five years, paid in quetzales at the official rate. Temporary residence can be extended, but residents who want to stay more than five years must apply for permanent residence.

Register biometrics within 30 days of notification (USD 200 if late), update your data annually and present tax solvency each year. When you later move to permanent residence after five years as an investor, you can add dependants and the continuation of the investment is noted in your record.