Guatemala work visa (migrant worker residence)

Self-employed applicants provide a notarial sworn statement describing their activities, where operations will be located, the start date and projected monthly income; their RTU record; and a document from the competent body authorising commercial activity in Guatemala.

A guarantor (garante) is a Guatemalan person or legal entity registered with the IGM who backs the foreigner. Registration costs USD 25 and each guarantor certificate USD 20. Individual guarantors prove income with three months of bank statements and an income or employment certificate; companies with tax returns for the previous year.

An employee presents, besides the general requirements, an original job offer addressed to them stating at least the position, hours, term, pay, start date and place of work, and an updated certificate from a Guatemalan guarantor. The IGM's residence page also lists a signed and legalised employment contract and, where applicable, a Ministry of Labour certificate; the employer adds its RTU, commercial licences, financial statements or income certificate, annual tax return and a letter explaining the duties and time required.

Workers hired by state bodies, including autonomous or decentralised ones, are exempt from the guarantor and only present the job offer signed by the head of human resources.

All temporary residence files include the application form, the valid passport and a complete copy legalised by a Guatemalan notary with the last entry stamp, a criminal or police record certificate from the country of origin or of residence in the two previous years, a certificate of migration movements and the payment receipt. Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised, no older than six months and translated into Spanish.

Filing costs USD 25; the status 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.

Register biometrics within 30 days of notification (USD 200 fine if late), present a valid Ministry of Labour work permit within three months and update it every year, update your data annually and present tax solvency each year. To extend, an employee files the valid work permit, an original employment certificate and an updated guarantor certificate before the residence expires.