The US Embassy in Guatemala City provides citizen services to American citizens living in or traveling to Guatemala. Whether you’re a long-term resident needing a passport renewal, a tourist who lost their passport, a parent of a US-born child needing a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or an American facing a Guatemalan legal issue, the embassy’s American Citizen Services (ACS) section is the primary resource. This page covers what services are available, how to access them, current fees, and contact information.

Embassy location and contact

US Embassy Guatemala 1 Avenida Norte 2-26, Zone 14 Guatemala City, Guatemala

Main phone: +502-2326-4000 Emergency phone (24/7): +502-2354-0000 Website: gt.usembassy.gov

Business hours: Monday-Friday, generally 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (closed for major US and Guatemalan holidays)

The embassy is the only US diplomatic facility in Guatemala — there are no consular agencies in Antigua, Lake Atitlán, or other locations. All services are at the Guatemala City location.

Services for US Citizens (ACS)

Passport services

Passport renewal:

  • US citizens with a current/expired passport less than 15 years old
  • Form DS-82
  • Fee: $130 standard or $190 for expedited (if available)
  • Processing time: 4-6 weeks standard

New/replacement passport:

  • For first-time applicants in Guatemala or replacing very old passports
  • Form DS-11 (in person)
  • Fee: $165 (passport only) or $130 + $30 (passport + execution fee)
  • Processing time: 4-6 weeks

Emergency passport replacement (lost/stolen):

  • For Americans needing immediate travel
  • Police report from Guatemalan jurisdiction (where lost)
  • Same-day or 1-2 day issuance for emergency travel
  • Limited validity emergency document (1 year typical) — convert to full passport upon return to USA

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

For US citizen parents whose child is born in Guatemala:

  • Establishes the child’s US citizenship
  • Functions as a US birth certificate equivalent
  • Required for child’s first US passport application
  • Processing time: 6-12 weeks
  • Fee: $100

Required documentation:

  • Parents’ US passport (original)
  • Parents’ proof of physical presence in the US (transcripts, employment, military, IRS records)
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable, apostilled)
  • Child’s Guatemalan birth certificate (apostilled or translated)
  • Photos of child
  • Evidence of parental relationship

For children born to non-US-citizen Guatemalan parents, no CRBA is needed; the child has Guatemalan citizenship via local birth registration. See birth registration for diaspora kids for the Guatemalan side.

Notary services

The embassy provides US notary services:

  • Acknowledgments and oaths
  • Notarized affidavits for US documents
  • Power of attorney executions (for US use)
  • Apostille of US-side documents (preliminary; some still require state-level apostille)

Fee: $50 per notarized signature.

For Guatemalan-purpose powers of attorney, the Guatemalan consulate is the right place — the US embassy doesn’t issue Guatemalan-format documents.

Social Security services

The embassy provides limited Social Security Administration (SSA) services for US citizens in Guatemala:

  • Confirming receipt of SSA benefits
  • Coordinating with SSA office of international operations
  • Resolving benefit disputes

For most retirees, SSA’s online portal at ssa.gov handles most needs without embassy involvement. Use the embassy for unresolved issues.

Voting registration and absentee ballots

US citizens can register to vote and receive absentee ballots from Guatemala:

  • Register via your home state’s election office
  • The embassy can assist with mailing election ballots
  • Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) coordinates this

Emergency assistance

The embassy responds to genuine emergencies:

  • Lost passport: Same-day emergency replacement
  • Death of an American in Guatemala: Coordinate with family in USA, repatriation logistics
  • Medical emergency: Coordinate with family, insurance
  • Detention/arrest: Connect with legal counsel, monitor welfare
  • Disappearance/missing American: Coordinate with Guatemalan authorities

Emergency phone (24/7): +502-2354-0000.

Scheduling appointments

Most non-emergency services require an appointment:

  1. Visit gt.usembassy.gov
  2. Click “American Citizen Services” or “ACS Appointment”
  3. Select the type of service you need
  4. Choose available date/time
  5. Confirm appointment

Walk-ins are generally not accepted except for emergencies.

Appointment availability

  • Routine services (passport renewal): typically 2-6 weeks out
  • CRBAs: 4-12 weeks out depending on demand
  • Notary services: typically 1-3 weeks out
  • Emergencies: same-day or next-day

Plan ahead. The embassy is busy during peak periods (summer, end-of-year).

Visiting the embassy

What to bring

  • Appointment confirmation (printed)
  • All documents requested for your specific service
  • US passport (current, expired, or replacement)
  • Photo ID secondary (driver’s license, etc.)
  • Payment in correct form (the embassy accepts US dollars, sometimes credit cards — confirm in advance)

Security at the embassy

The US Embassy has airport-style security:

  • No bags larger than approximately a typical backpack
  • No electronics with cameras (sometimes; check current policy)
  • No food or water
  • Metal detector and physical inspection
  • ID required at entry

Plan to spend 15-30 minutes in security clearance before your scheduled appointment.

Parking

Limited parking near the embassy. Consider:

  • Public transportation (Transmetro to Zone 14)
  • Uber to drop-off near embassy
  • Hotel parking if you’ve booked hotel in Zone 14

For Americans living in Guatemala

Routine services to plan ahead

  • Passport renewal: Apply 6-9 months before expiration
  • CRBA for new babies: Apply within 6 months of birth (easier than as adult)
  • Notarized US documents: Embassy is the main resource

Annual check-ins

  • Re-register for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) at step.state.gov — keeps the embassy aware of your presence in case of emergencies
  • Update your contact info as needed
  • Stay aware of US embassy security advisories

Tax services

The embassy does NOT provide US tax filing services. For tax help:

  • Use online tax services (TurboTax, H&R Block) for filing US returns from abroad
  • Hire a CPA familiar with American expat taxes
  • IRS itself: irs.gov has resources for Americans abroad

For Guatemalan-side tax matters (NIT, SAT compliance), see Get NIT from USA (the principles apply for in-Guatemala compliance too).

When NOT to use the embassy

The embassy doesn’t provide:

  • US legal services (you’ll need an attorney for civil matters)
  • Loans or financial assistance to Americans in Guatemala
  • Translation of Guatemalan documents (use private translators)
  • Tax filing
  • Banking
  • Travel arrangements

For private legal matters in the USA from Guatemala, you’ll need a US attorney with bar admission. The embassy can sometimes provide a list but doesn’t represent you.

What’s next

For Americans in Guatemala:

For Guatemalans needing services from US consulates in the USA, see our diaspora hub.

For specific embassy questions, the embassy’s website (gt.usembassy.gov) has the most current information. Email stu@livinginguatemala.com for general American-living-in-Guatemala questions not specific to embassy services.