The Guatemalan diaspora in the United States is one of the largest immigrant populations in the country, sending an estimated $20 billion in remittances back to Guatemala in 2024 alone. With 22 consulates spanning every major US metropolitan area, Guatemalans living in the USA have direct access to the consular services they need for passports, identity documents, voting, civil registry, legal paperwork, and more.
This hub covers every major service Guatemalans in the USA need to maintain their legal and financial ties with Guatemala — written specifically from the perspective of someone navigating consular services from a US city, not from the perspective of someone walking into a Guatemala City office.
Core consular services
Renew your Guatemalan passport from the USA
Step-by-step process for passport renewal at any of the 22 US consulates, including which consulates accept walk-ins, online appointment systems, current fees, processing time (typically 6-8 weeks), and what to do if your passport has already expired vs. about to expire.
Renew your DPI from the USA
The Guatemalan national ID card (DPI) issued by RENAP can be renewed at most US consulates. Required documents, biometrics, current fees, and what happens if your DPI is lost vs. expired.
Power of attorney (poder consular)
The single most-used consular service for Guatemalans in the USA — granting legal authority to a family member or attorney in Guatemala to act on your behalf for property transactions, vehicle registration, banking, and other matters.
Birth registration for US-born children
US-born children of Guatemalan citizens are eligible for Guatemalan citizenship. This page covers how to register the birth with the Guatemalan civil registry (RENAP) through the consulate, the documents required, and how to obtain the child’s first Guatemalan passport and DPI.
Get your NIT (Guatemalan tax ID) from the USA
For Guatemalans in the USA who maintain financial ties to Guatemala — bank accounts, property, business interests, or rental income — the NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria) is required for SAT (tax authority) compliance. How to obtain or recover your NIT from the USA.
Vote in Guatemalan elections from the USA
Guatemala allows diaspora voting in presidential elections. Registration with the Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) requires advance enrollment (“empadronamiento”). Deadlines, polling locations in the USA, and how to register.
Dual US-Guatemalan nationality
Guatemala recognizes dual nationality. US naturalized citizens of Guatemalan origin retain their Guatemalan citizenship rights. How to confirm and document your dual nationality status, what it means for inheritance and property rights in Guatemala, and tax implications.
Send money to Guatemala (remittances)
The fastest, cheapest, and safest ways to send money from the USA to Guatemala. Comparison of Wise, Remitly, Western Union, MoneyGram, and bank wires by speed, fees, and exchange rates.
Send packages to Guatemala
Couriers (Maycom, DHL, FedEx, USPS), customs (SAT) limits, prohibited items, costs, delivery times, and how to track packages.
TPS for Guatemalans
Temporary Protected Status — current designation status, how to register or renew, work authorization, and travel implications. (This is a US immigration topic; we provide informational overview only — consult an immigration attorney for case-specific advice.)
US consulates directory
Guatemala maintains 22 consulates in the United States, covering every major metro area where Guatemalans live in significant numbers. Each consulate handles all standard consular services for the geographic area it serves.
| Major consulate | Service area |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Southern California, Nevada |
| New York | New York metro, New Jersey, Connecticut |
| Houston | Texas, Louisiana |
| Miami | South Florida |
| Washington DC | DC, Maryland, Virginia |
| Atlanta | Georgia, North/South Carolina |
| Chicago | Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin |
| Boston | Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, NH |
| San Francisco | Northern California |
| Phoenix | Arizona |
| Plus 12 additional regional consulates | Various |
The full directory with current contact info, hours, addresses, and online appointment systems is in our consulates directory.
Why this matters
Maintaining your Guatemalan legal status from the USA is not optional if you have:
- Property in Guatemala — IUSI obligations, sale transactions, inheritance handling
- Bank accounts in Guatemala — SAT tax reporting, NIT requirements
- Family in Guatemala — sending money home, helping with paperwork remotely
- Plans to return — keeping passport and DPI current avoids expensive emergency replacements
- Children born in the USA — registering their Guatemalan citizenship preserves their inheritance and property rights
Letting documents lapse, missing voting registration deadlines, or failing to register US-born children can create complications that take years to unwind.
Working with us
This site is independent editorial content built by a Guatemalan native with deep familiarity with both the consular system and the US-Guatemala diaspora experience. We are not affiliated with any consulate, government agency, or service-provider company.
If you have a specific question about a consular service or process not covered in our pages, email stu@livinginguatemala.com.
