CUI: the 13-digit number printed on the DPI (Codigo Unico de Identificacion).
NIT: the tax number issued by SAT.
Since March 2025: SAT adopts the CUI as NIT (CUINIT); existing NITs stay valid and never-registered people still file the NIT request. Foreign residents with a RENAP DPI have a CUI; other foreigners get a NIT with their passport.
NIT, CUI, and DPI are the three most-confused numbers/documents in Guatemala — especially for foreigners moving here and diaspora returning. The confusion got worse in 2025 when SAT unified CUI with NIT, creating the famous “CUINIT.” This page clears it up once and for all: what each one is, when you need each, and how to obtain them.
Quick takeaway: The DPI is the physical document (card), the CUI is the 13-digit number printed on the DPI, and the NIT is the tax number from SAT. Since March 2025 SAT adopts the CUI as NIT for individuals (never registered? you still file the NIT request). Foreign residents registered at RENAP get a DPI with a CUI; other foreigners get a NIT with their passport.
Side-by-Side Comparison: DPI vs CUI vs NIT
| Feature | DPI | CUI | NIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Physical ID card | Personal ID number | Tax number |
| Issued by | RENAP | RENAP (printed on DPI) | SAT |
| For whom | Guatemalan adults and domiciled foreign adults registered at RENAP | Individuals assigned a CUI by RENAP | Anyone with economic activity |
| Format | Plastic card with photo | 13 digits (XXXX XXXXX XXXX) | First 9 CUI digits for Guatemalans and domiciled foreigners from 4 October 2023; earlier NITs unchanged (SAT, read 27 October 2026) |
| Cost | Q100 first time | Included in DPI | Free |
| Process time | 30 business days, longer for distance (RENAP) | None: assigned when RENAP registers the birth, before any DPI (RENAP); domiciled foreigners, on RENAP registration | ~20 min online request; some requests concluded at SAT by appointment |
| Validity | 10 years; indefinite for people older than seventy (70), per RENAP (read 27 October 2026) | Permanent | Permanent |
| Where used | Any procedure requiring ID | Any procedure asking for CUI | Tax procedures: invoices, IVA, ISR, FEL |
| Renewal | Every 10 years; indefinite-validity exception for people older than seventy (70), per RENAP (read 27 October 2026) | Never renews (lifetime) | Never renews |
| Online application | Online appointment, in-person pickup | Not applied for: assigned at birth registration | Digital request possible |
| Replacement if lost | Q100 at a RENAP office, Q119 online (RENAP) | Number doesn’t change | Number doesn’t change |
| Foreigners have one | DPI de extranjero (residents) | Residents registered at RENAP (extranjero domiciliado) | YES (from the CUI, or with passport) |
What is the DPI
The DPI (Documento Personal de Identificacion) is the physical ID card of Guatemalan citizens, issued by RENAP (Registro Nacional de las Personas) under Decree 90-2005. It’s the card you carry in your wallet and show to police, banks, notaries, hospitals, etc.
Characteristics:
- Plastic card with chip and magnetic stripe
- Photo, signature, and fingerprint of the holder
- Contains the CUI printed on the front
- Validity: 10 years (mandatory renewal), with indefinite validity for people older than seventy (70), per RENAP (read 27 October 2026)
- Cost: Q100 (RENAP’s tariff has one DPI line, Q100); online replacement Q119 by card
- Time: 30 business days, plus extra time for distance (RENAP DPI requirements page, read 24 September 2026)
See Guatemala DPI ID — complete guide for step-by-step.
RENAP also lists a DPI-fee exemption for applicants older than 60 under Acuerdo de Directorio 23-2021; it includes the birth certificate when the procedure is a first DPI, a replacement for loss, theft or data update, or a renewal on reaching that age, and it applies only to in-person procedures (read 27 October 2026).
What is the CUI
The CUI (Codigo Unico de Identificacion) is the 13-digit number assigned to every Guatemalan at birth (registered with RENAP) and printed on the DPI. It’s permanent and unique — never changes, even if you lose or renew the DPI.
Characteristics:
- 13 digits in format XXXX XXXXX XXXX
- Assigned at birth (recorded on birth certificate)
- Appears on the front of the DPI under the photo
- Functions: personal ID, contracts, banking, healthcare, education
- Since March 2025: SAT adopts it as NIT (existing NITs stay valid; never registered? file the NIT request)
Minors also have CUIs (assigned when birth is registered), even before they get a DPI.
What is the NIT
The NIT (Numero de Identificacion Tributaria) is the tax number issued by SAT (Superintendencia de Administracion Tributaria) under Decree 6-91 (Tax Code). It’s used for all tax transactions in Guatemala.
Characteristics:
- First 9 digits of the CUI for Guatemalans and domiciled foreigners from 4 October 2023; NITs issued before that date remain unchanged (SAT taxpayer FAQ, read 27 October 2026)
- Required for anyone making purchases or with economic activity
- Appears on invoices, receipts, SAT filings
- Cost: free
- Time: about 20 minutes to fill in the online request (SAT); foreigners and NITs with tax obligations conclude at a SAT office by appointment
See Guatemala NIT Tax ID for the detailed procedure.
SAT allows up to 30 days to complete the NIT request form. After 30 days without transmitting the form, the applicant starts again with a new security code (read 27 October 2026).
The Common Confusion: “CUINIT”
CUI and NIT have different issuing institutions:
- CUI = RENAP, on your DPI
- NIT = SAT, in the tax system
If you wanted to get an invoice at a store, they asked for NIT (not CUI). You had to memorize two different numbers.
Since March 2025 (Resolution SAT-DSI-393-2025):
- SAT adopts the CUI as NIT for individuals; the resolution does not register anyone, so never-registered people still file the NIT request
- Your DPI CUI number works as NIT for fiscal purposes once you are registered
- This unification is popularly called “CUINIT”
- Historical NITs (8-9 digits) still work, linked to the CUI
See CUI-NIT lookup from USA to verify your link online (free).
When You Need Each
You need the physical DPI:
- Identifying yourself to police, authorities
- Opening a bank account
- Signing notarial contracts (real estate, mortgage)
- Voting in elections
- Applying for Guatemala passport
- Getting a driver’s license
- Traveling within Central America (CA-4)
- Registering children’s births
- Marriage or divorce
You need the CUI (number):
- Filling out official forms
- Looking up your CUI-NIT link at SAT
- RENAP procedures (renewals, replacements)
- Electronic applications asking for “CUI or NIT”
- Any procedure with a Guatemalan (it’s your identity number)
You need the NIT specifically:
- Issuing electronic invoices (FEL)
- Filing IVA or ISR taxes
- Requesting invoices at restaurants, stores, gas stations
- Importing products (customs requires NIT)
- Registering a company
- Government contracts, bids
- Formal employment (payroll, withheld ISR)
- Foreign purchases with a GT credit card
Worked Cases
Case 1: Adult Guatemalan, salaried worker
- Has DPI: Yes (physical card in wallet)
- Has CUI: Yes (printed on DPI)
- Has NIT: Only if registered with SAT; the 2025 resolution registers no one (a NIT generated from 4 October 2023 is the first 9 CUI digits; older NITs are unchanged)
- Document used: DPI for almost everything; CUI/NIT number for invoices
Case 2: 8-year-old Guatemalan girl
- Has DPI: Not the adult DPI (that is for 18+). Since October 1, 2026 she can get the DPIME, RENAP’s minor DPI (silver card for ages 8-17, first issue free)
- Has CUI: Yes (assigned at birth registration)
- Has NIT: Not automatically. Parents can apply if needed (inheritance, property)
- Document used: Birth certificate with CUI printed on it
Case 3: Foreigner with permanent residency
- Has DPI: Yes (DPI de extranjero issued by Migracion + RENAP)
- Has CUI: Yes, once registered at RENAP as an extranjero domiciliado
- Has NIT: Yes (a NIT requested after the RENAP registration is formed from the CUI; before that, with passport at SAT)
- Document used: DPI de extranjero or passport
Case 4: Guatemalan diaspora in USA
- Has DPI: Yes (issued by consulate)
- Has CUI: Yes (printed on consular DPI)
- Has NIT: Only if registered with SAT; check at the SAT lookup, and if there is no record, file the NIT request (a NIT generated from 4 October 2023 is the first 9 CUI digits; older NITs are unchanged)
- Procedures from USA: Looks up CUI-NIT link free at portal.sat.gob.gt without traveling
Case 5: Rural adult without birth certificate
- Problem: No birth registration, no CUI or DPI
- Solution: Must do a fe de edad (notarial or judicial process) to create the civil record
- Then: RENAP assigns the CUI when it registers the birth; then apply for the DPI at RENAP
What Happens if You Lose Each One
If you lose your physical DPI:
- Your CUI stays the same (it’s lifetime)
- Apply for DPI replacement at RENAP (Q100 at a RENAP office or Q119 online)
- Meanwhile, use passport as alternative ID
If you “lose” your NIT:
- The number cannot be lost (it’s in the SAT system)
- Recover it at CUI-NIT lookup with your CUI
- Or call SAT 1550 with your DPI
If you have “two NITs”:
- It’s a historical case (pre-2025 duplicate records)
- Visit SAT with DPI and both NITs; they consolidate the records
- They keep the primary, deactivate the duplicate
Action Table: What to Get and When
| Life stage | What to get | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | Birth certificate + CUI | RENAP |
| Ages 0-17 (optional per Guatemala.com’s summary of the 2023 regulation) | DPIME minor DPI, first issue free (since Oct 1, 2026) | RENAP |
| Turning 18 | DPI (Q100) | RENAP |
| Starting work | NIT (free, with DPI) | SAT |
| Lost DPI | Replacement DPI (Q100 in person, Q119 online) | RENAP |
| Changed address | DPI update | RENAP |
| Age 28 (DPI expires) | DPI renewal | RENAP |
| Registering company | Business NIT (free) | SAT |
For Diaspora from USA
If you’re a Guatemalan living in the United States:
- DPI: apply at a Guatemalan consulate (Los Angeles, NY, Houston, etc.). No need to travel to Guatemala.
- CUI: you already have it (printed on consular DPI)
- NIT: check your status at portal.sat.gob.gt/consulta-cui-nit without leaving home; if you never registered with SAT, file the online NIT request (it works from abroad) or register through an agent (mandatario) with a registered power of attorney
- If you need more complex tax procedures (issuing invoices, filing IVA), you can grant special power of attorney to a family member in Guatemala
See returning to Guatemala checklist.
Final Decision: Quick Glossary
- DPI = the plastic card you carry in your wallet
- CUI = the 13 digits printed on that card
- NIT = the tax number SAT gave you (newly generated NITs use the first 9 CUI digits since 4 October 2023 for Guatemalans and domiciled foreigners; older NITs remain unchanged)
How to remember: DPI is the document, CUI is on the document, NIT is for taxes. For foreigners without a DPI: passport + separate NIT.
Related Internal Links
- Guatemala DPI ID — Full Guide
- Guatemala NIT Tax ID — Full Guide
- CUI/NIT Lookup from USA
- Passport vs DPI vs Driver’s License
- Guatemala Passport
- Guatemalan Consulates in USA
- Returning to Guatemala Checklist
Official Links
- CUI-NIT Lookup — SAT
- Electronic NIT Application
- RENAP — DPI Information
- SAT hotline: 1550
- SAT - taxpayer FAQ - read 27 October 2026.
- RENAP - CUI and DPI - read 27 October 2026.
- RENAP - DPI application requirements and older-adult exceptions - read 27 October 2026.
- Government/RENAP - DPI expiry release - read 27 October 2026.
Analysis verified to May 14, 2026. The CUI-NIT unification is in force under Resolution SAT-DSI-393-2025. Foreigners without a DPI obtain the NIT with their passport. Corrected 24 Sep 2026: CUI-NIT is not automatic for never-registered people, and foreign residents registered at RENAP have a CUI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between NIT, CUI, and DPI?
DPI is the physical Guatemalan ID card. CUI is the 13-digit number printed on that DPI (Codigo Unico de Identificacion, RENAP). NIT is your tax identification number issued by SAT for fiscal purposes. Since March 2025, SAT adopts the CUI as the NIT of individuals (the so-called CUINIT); an existing NIT stays valid, and someone who never registered with SAT still files a NIT request.
Is CUI the same as NIT in Guatemala?
Technically they are two different numbers: CUI is issued by RENAP and appears on your DPI; NIT is issued by SAT. But since Resolution SAT-DSI-393-2025 (in force 17 March 2025), SAT adopts the CUI as NIT for individuals, keeps existing NITs valid alongside it, and harmonizes its systems progressively. It does not register anyone: if you never had a NIT, you still file the request. For foreigners without a DPI, NIT and CUI remain independent.
Do I have to apply for DPI and NIT separately?
If you are an adult Guatemalan citizen, you apply for DPI at RENAP (Q100; RENAP gives a delivery period of 30 business days, longer for distance); the DPI carries the CUI that RENAP assigned when your birth was registered. If you never registered with SAT, you file the NIT request online (free); since 4 October 2023 new NITs for individuals are formed from the CUI (SAT). They are two separate procedures with different institutions but linked by the CUI-NIT unification. A foreign resident registered at RENAP as an extranjero domiciliado also gets a DPI with a CUI; a foreigner without a DPI gets a NIT with their passport.
Where do I find my CUI number?
Your CUI is printed on the front of your DPI, below your photo. It’s 13 digits in the format XXXX XXXXX XXXX. It’s the same number engraved under the barcode on the back of the DPI. If you don’t have a physical DPI yet (waiting), you can look up your CUI at RENAP with your birth certificate.
When do I need the NIT vs when do I need the CUI?
You need CUI/DPI for: opening a bank account, signing contracts, voting, traveling within CA-4 (Central America), identifying yourself to authorities. You need NIT specifically for: issuing electronic invoices (FEL), filing IVA/ISR taxes, importing products, registering a company, making purchases that require a NIT. A NIT generated from 4 October 2023 is the first 9 digits of the CUI; older NITs are unchanged (SAT, read 27 October 2026).
I'm a foreigner residing in Guatemala. Do I have a CUI?
It depends. A foreign resident, once the residency is granted, registers at RENAP as an extranjero domiciliado and receives a DPI, with its CUI; a NIT requested after that is formed from the CUI. A tourist or non-resident has no DPI or CUI: they register with SAT using their valid passport, and that request is concluded in person. Corrected 24 Sep 2026: earlier versions said no foreigner has a CUI.
What if I lose my DPI?
If you lose the physical DPI, your CUI stays the same (it’s permanent and doesn’t change with replacements). You need to apply for a replacement at RENAP: Q100 at any RENAP office or Q119 online by card, per RENAP’s replacement notice (read 22 September 2026). In the meantime, you can look up your NIT at SAT with alternative identification (passport, birth certificate). Your NIT/CUI are not lost; only the physical document.
How many digits of my CUI form a new NIT?
SAT says NITs generated from 4 October 2023 use the first 9 CUI digits for Guatemalans and domiciled foreigners; earlier NITs remain unchanged (read 27 October 2026).
