Update, 1 October 2026. Still not a consular service. The 17 September 2026 MINEX-RENAP agreement covers printing the DPI at two US consulates, not background records, and the gratuity bill (iniciativa 6696) was still in the Comisión de Gobernación on our last check, so about Q30 per record still applies.
Correction, 24 September 2026. The PNC and OJ records cost about Q30 each (MINGOB; La Hora, 17 January 2026). This page previously said a 2026 “Ley de Gratuidad” made them free; the gratuity bills (iniciativas 6696 and 6409) were still in congressional committee on 28 April 2026 and we found no law in force.
Correction, 23 September 2026. An earlier version of this page said these PNC and OJ records are what a US immigrant visa needs. For an immigrant visa at the US Embassy in Guatemala City, the State Department says the Ministerio Público’s “Antecedentes” “is the only police certificate/criminal history document from Guatemala that will be accepted”, and its Guatemala reciprocity page lists court records as “Unavailable”. The PNC and OJ records below remain the right documents for other uses; for the embassy’s own checklist, see immigrant visa interview in Guatemala City.
If you live in the United States and you need your Guatemalan police background record (antecedentes policiacos) or penal background record (antecedentes penales) for a USCIS filing, an employment background check, or another legal process, there is ONE critical thing to know up front: Guatemalan consulates in the US do NOT issue these documents. Only the PNC and the Organismo Judicial issue them, directly from Guatemala. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it from any US state in 2026.
Quick summary: Consulates do NOT issue background records. You request the police record at policiales.pnc.gob.gt (about Q30) and the penal record at cape.oj.gob.gt (also about Q30). For US use, you then apostille each one through the MINEX portal (Q 75 per document, Q 85 with timbres fiscales — Acuerdo Gubernativo 35-2024). You need a valid Guatemalan DPI. Everything is done from your home in the US. Not for a US immigrant visa: the US Embassy in Guatemala City accepts only the Ministerio Público’s Antecedentes (see the correction above), so don’t start this PNC/OJ paperwork for that interview.
What the Consulate Cannot Do for You
| Service | Issued by the consulate? |
|---|---|
| Police background record (PNC) | NO |
| Penal background record (OJ) | NO |
| MINEX apostille | NO (issued by MINEX in Guatemala) |
| DPI renewal | Yes |
| Passport | Yes |
| Power of attorney for a Guatemalan representative | Yes |
| Document authentication / signature verification | Yes |
The single most common diaspora mistake is to book a consulate appointment to “pick up” or “request” background records. They will tell you it is not a consular service. You must use the official portals.
The Three Paths From the US
Path 1 — Direct Online (the most common)
This works if you have:
- A valid Guatemalan DPI
- Internet access
- A way to pay (card or a representative paying in Guatemala)
Steps:
PNC Police Record
- Register at policiales.pnc.gob.gt/autoregistro
- Pay about Q30 at Banrural or Banco Industrial first; the portal asks for the receipt (boleta) and reference number (MINGOB)
- Download the digitally signed PDF
- Full guide: PNC Police Background Check
OJ Penal Record (CAPE)
- Go to cape.oj.gob.gt
- Options: Ingresar, Validar, Seguimiento (and a “Solicitud sin registro” option)
- About Q30 bank payment (La Hora, January 2026; no gratuity law in force); the portal asks for the receipt details
- Download the digitally signed PDF within 24-48 hours
- Full guide: OJ Penal Background Check
MINEX Apostille (if you need them for USCIS, US employment, etc.; not for a US immigrant visa, which takes the Ministerio Público certificate instead)
- Go to minex-gob-gt.my.site.com/apostilla/s/
- Cost Q 75 per apostille (Q 85 with timbres fiscales), set by Acuerdo Gubernativo 35-2024 — two apostilles total if you’re apostilling both PNC and penal records. Paid at Bantrab.
- Online card payment available since June 2025
- Delivery in 3-5 business days
- Full guide: Apostille Guatemala Background Records
Path 2 — Use a Representative in Guatemala
Best if your DPI is expired, you can’t pay online, or you prefer to delegate:
- Visit the nearest Guatemalan consulate in the US
- Sign a power of attorney (poder especial) authorizing a relative or attorney in Guatemala to handle background records and the apostille on your behalf
- The representative completes the portals or in-person work in Guatemala
- If you need physical originals, they ship internationally
Additional cost: the power of attorney has a consular fee (check with your consulate) plus the representative’s fees if not a family member.
Path 3 — Renew DPI First, Then Records
If your DPI is expired and you prefer to do it yourself:
- Renew your DPI at your nearest Guatemalan consulate — see Renew DPI from USA
- Wait for the new DPI (6-8 weeks typically)
- Once you have a current DPI, follow Path 1
Total Cost From the US
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| PNC Police Record | About Q30 (MINGOB; La Hora, Jan 2026) |
| OJ Penal Record | About Q30 (La Hora, Jan 2026) |
| MINEX apostille — police | Q 75 (Q 85 with timbres fiscales) |
| MINEX apostille — penal | Q 75 (Q 85 with timbres fiscales) |
| Certified English translation (if USCIS or employer requires it) | $30-150 per document |
| Apostilled subtotal | About Q 60 for the two records plus Q 150 (about Q 170 with stamps) for both apostilles |
When You’ll Need These in the US
The most common diaspora cases that ask for apostilled Guatemalan background records:
- US immigrant visa at the US Embassy in Guatemala City — a different document. The embassy does not ask for these two records: the State Department says the Ministerio Público’s “Antecedentes” “is the only police certificate/criminal history document from Guatemala that will be accepted”, and it lists Guatemalan court records as “Unavailable”. See immigrant visa interview in Guatemala City.
- Other US immigration filings — ask your attorney which Guatemalan record the agency wants before you order and apostille anything
- Federal jobs or roles requiring security clearance
- International adoption proceedings
The Canadian government’s immigration guide for Guatemalan applicants requires both documents apostilled.
Common US Diaspora Mistakes
- Booking a consulate appointment to “get antecedentes” — not a consular service. You’ll waste the slot and the trip.
- Showing up at the consulate without the records already in hand — if your consulate visit is for related authentications, get the records first.
- Apostilling an old certificate — the apostille does NOT extend validity. If the underlying record is 5 months old, the apostilled version expires the same day. Apostille fresh records.
- Using non-official gestors that charge $100+ — most of the process is direct on government portals. If you’re paying more than Q 200 total for both apostilled records, you’re likely being overcharged.
- Not checking whether the receiver needs certified translation — USCIS, US immigration attorneys, and most US employers require certified English translation. Confirm before apostilling, since some translators bundle the apostille step too.
Official Resources
- Canadian government Guatemala guide — the clearest English-language reference
- US Embassy Guatemala — Background Checks
- PNC portal
- OJ CAPE portal
- MINEX apostille portal
Affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services we'd suggest to our own family.
Related Guides
- PNC Police Background Check — full guide
- OJ Penal Background Check — full guide
- Apostille Guatemala Background Records
- Penal vs Police Records: Which One?
- How long do Guatemala background records take?
- Renew Guatemalan DPI from USA
- Apostille Documents From the US
- Guatemalan Consulates Directory
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Guatemalan consulate issue my background records in the US?
No. Guatemalan consulates in the US do NOT issue police or penal background records. Only the PNC and the Organismo Judicial issue them, directly from Guatemala. Consulates can help with limited apostille services and document authentication, but they do not issue original background certificates. You must use the online portals or authorize a representative in Guatemala.
Do I need to fly back to Guatemala to get my background records?
No. The whole process is 100% online. PNC at policiales.pnc.gob.gt, OJ penal at cape.oj.gob.gt, and the MINEX apostille portal — all of them work from any US state. You need a valid Guatemalan DPI. If your DPI is expired, you must renew it at a US consulate first OR authorize a representative in Guatemala.
How much does the full apostilled package cost from the US?
Each record costs about Q30 (MINGOB; La Hora, 17 January 2026) — Q 60 for both; the bills to make them free (iniciativas 6696 and 6409) were still in congressional committee in April 2026. Add the two MINEX apostilles at Q 75 each (Q 85 with timbres fiscales) — Q 150 (about Q 170 with stamps, ~$22 USD) for both. The apostille fee is set by Acuerdo Gubernativo 35-2024 and paid at Bantrab. This does not include international shipping if you need physical copies, or certified English translation if USCIS or your employer requires it.
How do I pay the Guatemalan fees from the US without a Guatemalan bank account?
The PNC and OJ records each need a bank payment of about Q30 (Banrural or Banco Industrial per MINGOB; no gratuity law in force), so a relative or representative in Guatemala may need to pay it and send you the receipt details. The MINEX portal accepts online card payment since June 2, 2025. Where online card payment isn’t available, a representative in Guatemala can pay the apostille fee for you, or you can use an online gestor service (extra fee). Wise transfers to a relative’s account are commonly used.
My Guatemalan DPI is expired. Can I still get background records from the US?
No. PNC and CAPE both require a valid DPI. If yours is expired you have two paths: 1) renew it at your nearest US consulate before requesting the records, or 2) sign a special power of attorney at the consulate so a representative in Guatemala can request everything in your name. DPI renewal from a US consulate takes 6-8 weeks.
💸 Sending money back to Guatemala?
Today the banks we track sell dollars at 1.4-2.6% over the Banguat rate. Wise and Remitly send at the real mid-market rate with a flat fee — and because they're funded from your US bank account or card, they're exempt from the new 2026 federal remittance tax (which does hit cash-based transfers).
