The DPI (Documento Personal de Identificacion) is Guatemala’s national ID card and is required for nearly every legal transaction in the country. If you live in the United States and your DPI is expired, lost, or about to expire, you do not need to travel back to Guatemala to renew it. All 22 Guatemalan consulates in the US process DPI applications, and mobile consulate operations bring the service to communities without permanent offices.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what documents to bring, the cost, how long it takes, what to do if your card is lost, and which consulate serves your area.
Quick summary: You must appear in person at a Guatemalan consulate or mobile consulate. Cost $55-$85. Processing 6-8 weeks. Required: current/expired DPI (or passport if lost), US ID, proof of address, money order. No expedited option from the US.
Why Renew Your DPI From the US?
You do NOT need to travel to Guatemala just to renew your DPI. Trying to do so wastes:
- A plane ticket ($300-800)
- A week of vacation time or lost wages
- Risk of your DPI application being delayed in Guatemala anyway (RENAP processing times are similar)
The consulate process in the US is the same process as RENAP in Guatemala — your fingerprints and photo go through the same system, the card is printed at the same facility in Guatemala, and it gets shipped to where you submitted the application. The only difference is that the US consulate acts as the intake point.
Which Consulate Should You Use?
Use the consulate closest to where you live. Here is the full list and general jurisdiction:
| Consulate | Serves | Distance-wise priority |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii | West Coast |
| San Francisco | Northern California, Oregon, Washington | Pacific Northwest |
| Houston | Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana | Gulf Coast / SW |
| Dallas (mobile only) | North Texas via Houston mobile operations | Via Houston |
| Denver | Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho | Rocky Mountains |
| Phoenix | Arizona (shared with LA), New Mexico | Southwest |
| Chicago | Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Dakotas | Midwest |
| New York | NY, CT, northern NJ, Puerto Rico | Northeast |
| Philadelphia | PA, DE, southern NJ | Mid-Atlantic |
| Providence, RI | MA, RI, eastern CT | New England |
| Washington, DC | DC, MD, VA, WV | Capital Region |
| Atlanta | GA, SC, NC, TN, AL | Southeast |
| Miami | FL, US Virgin Islands | Florida |
| Trenton, NJ (mobile only) | Central NJ via NY/Philadelphia mobile | Via NY |
| Lake Worth, FL (mobile only) | South Florida via Miami mobile | Via Miami |
| Raleigh, NC (mobile only) | NC via Atlanta mobile | Via Atlanta |
For the full 22-location directory see our consulates hub.
Required Documents
Bring all of the following to your appointment. Missing any single item usually means rescheduling.
Always required
- Your current DPI or expired DPI — even if expired, bring the old card
- Valid US photo ID — driver’s license, state ID, or valid US passport
- Proof of current US address — utility bill, lease, bank statement, or similar dated within the last 3 months
- Money order for the exact fee — no cash, no personal checks, no credit cards. Available at USPS, Walmart, CVS for $1-2 fee
- Appointment confirmation — printed from the MINEX citas portal
Conditional documents
- If your DPI is lost or stolen — US police report (obtain from local police, free) + your Guatemalan passport if available
- If your DPI is badly damaged — bring it anyway; the consulate will document the damage
- If you are a minor (under 18) — both parents must be present, OR present a notarized authorization from the absent parent, plus the minor’s Guatemalan birth certificate
- If you are a first-time DPI applicant (Guatemalans born abroad) — bring Guatemalan birth registration, both parents’ DPIs or passports, and evidence of Guatemalan citizenship
- If your legal name has changed — bring documentation (marriage certificate, court order) with apostille and sworn translation if in English
Fees (2026)
| Situation | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Standard DPI renewal | $55 |
| DPI renewal with name change | $65-$85 |
| Replacement of lost/stolen DPI | $65-$85 |
| First-time DPI (adult) | $55 |
| First-time DPI (minor) | $55 |
| Expedited processing | Not available from US consulates |
Money orders must be made payable to the specific consulate (e.g., “Consulado General de Guatemala en Los Angeles”). Ask at the consulate window for the exact payee name when you confirm your appointment.
Processing Timeline
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Appointment at consulate | 30-45 minutes (photo, fingerprints, paperwork) |
| Data submission to RENAP in Guatemala | 1-2 weeks |
| DPI card manufacturing | 2-3 weeks |
| Shipping back to US consulate | 1-2 weeks |
| Consulate contacts you for pickup | 1-2 days |
| Total | 6-8 weeks |
You will need to make a second trip to the consulate to pick up your DPI. The consulate will email you when it arrives. Some consulates also accept authorization for a relative or friend to pick it up on your behalf with a notarized letter.
The Mobile Consulate Option
If you do not live near a permanent consulate, check the mobile consulate schedule. Mobile consulates offer the same DPI services as main offices and typically visit each city 2-8 times per year. Major mobile consulate destinations:
- Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, McAllen (from Houston)
- Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Lake Worth (from Miami)
- Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis, Des Moines (from Chicago)
- Seattle, Portland, Boise (from San Francisco/Denver)
- Charlotte, Nashville, Birmingham (from Atlanta)
- Boston, Hartford, Long Island (from NY/Providence)
- Albuquerque, El Paso (from Phoenix)
Mobile consulates use a separate appointment system from the main office. Watch the closest main consulate’s Facebook page and MINEX website for announcements — mobile visits are typically announced 2-4 weeks before the visit date, and slots fill quickly.
Common Mistakes
- Showing up without a money order. Every consulate has turned away people for this reason. Plan ahead.
- Wrong consulate. If you live in San Antonio, you need Houston (not Dallas, which has no permanent consulate). If you live in Connecticut, you need New York. Check jurisdiction before booking.
- Expired US ID. You need your US ID to be valid, not just your Guatemalan documents.
- Forgetting proof of address. A utility bill or lease dated within 3 months is needed.
- Assuming online/mail submission is possible. It is not. You must appear in person at the consulate or a mobile consulate stop.
- Expired appointment. If you miss your appointment, you must rebook — there is no rescheduling queue.
What To Do If Your DPI Is Expired And You Need Urgent Travel to Guatemala
If your DPI expired and you need to travel to Guatemala soon, here are your options in order of speed:
- Use a valid Guatemalan passport — DPI is not required for entry into Guatemala if you hold a valid Guatemalan passport; you only need the passport
- Expedited passport at the consulate — $125, 2-3 weeks processing
- Renew DPI in Guatemala on arrival at a RENAP office — takes 1-4 weeks depending on location
- Emergency consular document — for extreme cases, the consulate can issue a temporary document for return travel to Guatemala. This is discretionary and usually only granted in genuine emergencies (family death, medical).
Can Undocumented Guatemalans Use the Consulate?
Yes. Guatemalan consulates serve all Guatemalan citizens regardless of their immigration status in the US. Your visit to the consulate is not reported to US immigration authorities. The consulate does not ask about your US immigration status. Many undocumented Guatemalans use the consulate for DPI, passport, consular ID, and other routine services. If you are concerned, the consular ID card is often enough US-side documentation for banking, utilities, and other everyday needs.
Related Guides
- Passport from USA Complete Guide — Parallel guide for passport renewal
- Apostille from USA — Getting US documents apostilled for Guatemala
- All 22 US Consulates — Full directory
- New York Consulate — Northeast hub
- Los Angeles Consulate — West Coast hub
- Houston Consulate — Texas/Gulf hub
- Miami Consulate — Florida hub
- Chicago Consulate — Midwest hub
- Remittances — Send money home to Guatemala
- Returning to Guatemala Guide — For Guatemalans repatriating from the US
Information verified April 2026. Always confirm current fees, appointment availability, and required documents directly with your consulate before travelling.
