Guatemala Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationMany nationalities do not need a visa for Guatemala. Through the CA-4 Border Control accord with Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador, citizens of those countries can visit Guatemala visa-free. About 117 nations' nationals may visit Guatemala without a visa under reciprocal agreements, allowing up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Most other passports need a tourist visa or business visa for tourism or business. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Guatemala visa at a glance
- Government fee
- Passed through at cost, no markup — confirm with the Embassy of Guatemala
- Official processing
- Typically a few days under normal circumstances
- Validity / stay
- Single or multiple entries · up to 90 days
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Guatemala?
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay. Your legal residence also matters — apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Guatemala visa types
- Tourist visa
- Tourism, leisure, family visits — Up to 90 days
- Business visa
- Meetings, business activities — Up to 90 days
- Transit visa
- Passing through Guatemala to a third country — Per the transit rules
- Visa-free entry
- Eligible nationalities under CA-4 and other agreements — Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Guatemala depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Guatemala visa-free for short stays — typically up to 90 days in any 180-day period under CA-4 and reciprocal agreements.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa or business visa for tourism or business.
Documents required for a Guatemala visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist visa · 6+ months validity beyond intended stay, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist visa · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial meansTourist visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportBusiness visa · 6+ months validity beyond intended stay, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formBusiness visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoBusiness visa · Recent passport photo.
- Business invitation letterBusiness visa · Business invitation letter.
- Proof of company registration or employmentBusiness visa · Proof of company registration or employment.
- Travel itinerary and accommodation detailsBusiness visa · Travel itinerary and accommodation details.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third countryTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
Guatemala visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- Passed through at cost, no markup — confirm with the Embassy of Guatemala
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Single or multiple entries · up to 90 days
- Official processing
- Typically a few days under normal circumstances
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Guatemala visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Guatemala visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you are exempt, you do not need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Guatemala for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Guatemala visa above.
Submit your application
in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
official processing is typically a few days under normal circumstances. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Do not book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Guatemala's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Guatemala is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or visa-exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Guatemala visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Guatemala visa questions, answered.
More for your Guatemala trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.