Autorizacion de Viaje para Menores en Guatemala (2026)

Under Article 61 of Guatemala’s Código de Migración (Migration Code), a Guatemalan minor who travels alone or with a third party must carry the written authorization of both parents (or of whoever holds patria potestad, custody or guardianship), and IGM’s published rules add that a child travelling with only one parent needs the authorization of the parent who is not travelling. Without it, the law authorizes IGM officers to refuse the child’s exit at any airport, land border crossing, or seaport.

This requirement exists to protect children from unauthorized removal from the country, which can be a concern in custody disputes and child trafficking prevention. It applies to Guatemalan minors, including dual citizens travelling on a foreign passport. Even when both parents travel with the child (the one case where no authorization is needed), IGM’s published checklist requires the child’s valid passport and a current RENAP birth certificate.

For the large Guatemalan diaspora in the United States, this document is critically important. Many children travel between the US and Guatemala to visit family, and the parent remaining abroad must provide written authorization for the child to leave Guatemala when the visit ends. The good news is that the law lets the parent abroad grant this authorization before a Guatemalan consul (Art. 61), and IGM accepts the original consular document. MINEX does not publish a fee for consular notarial acts (checked 23 September 2026), so ask the consulate for the amount before you go.

Quick summary: The parent who is not travelling must authorize a minor’s departure from Guatemala (both parents if the child travels alone or with a third party). Authorization can be done at a notary in Guatemala or a Guatemalan consulate abroad. Without it, IGM can refuse the child’s exit. Ask the notary or consulate how long it needs to issue the document.

Descarga: modelo de autorización de viaje en Word — borrador editable para llevar al notario o consulado.

Requirements checked against IGM’s published exit rules on 24 September 2026.

When Is Authorization Required?

Requirements

• DPI or passport of both parents (originals and copies)
• Valid passport of the minor
• Current (vigente) birth certificate from RENAP (certifying parentage)
• The authorization of the parent(s) who are not travelling, in one of the forms IGM accepts: mandato (original and copy), acta de declaración jurada (original), carta poder with legalized signature (original), a document issued by a Guatemalan consulate abroad (original), or a court order authorizing the exit (copy)
• If vía consulate: parent’s DPI or passport and proof of identity

Step-by-Step Process

1. Determine the travel scenario — is the child traveling with one parent, a relative, or alone?
2. If the authorizing parent is in Guatemala, visit a notary (notario) to draft and legalize the authorization document
3. If the authorizing parent is abroad, visit the nearest Guatemalan consulate to grant the authorization before the consul (MINEX publishes no fee for this; ask the consulate)
4. Include all required details in the authorization: minor’s full name, passport number, travel dates, destination, and identity of the accompanying adult
5. If granted at a consulate, the signed document is sent to Guatemala (original document preferred)
6. Present the authorization at the immigration checkpoint when departing Guatemala along with the minor’s passport and birth certificate

From the US (Diaspora Info)

This is one of the most critical trámites for Guatemalan families in the United States. Here is what you need to know:

• The consul can take the authorization (Código de Migración Art. 61). MINEX publishes no fee for consular notarial acts (checked 23 September 2026), so ask your consulate for the amount in writing before the appointment
• You can process this at any Guatemalan consulate in the US (Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, Washington DC, and others)
• Appointments may be required — check your local consulate’s website or call ahead
• The original authorization must reach Guatemala — send it vía certified mail or courier (FedEx, DHL) to the custodial parent or guardian in Guatemala
• Plan ahead — do not wait until the last minute. Ask the consulate how long it needs, and add shipping time for the original document to Guatemala
• Mobile consulates periodically visit cities with large Guatemalan communities and can also process these authorizations
• Find your consulate: minex.gob.gt/consulados

What If a Parent Cannot Be Found?

If one parent is absent, has abandoned the family, or refuses to grant authorization, the custodial parent must (if the parent has died, IGM instead asks for the RENAP death certificate):

1. File a petition with a Juzgado de Familia (Family Court) requesting judicial authorization for the minor’s travel
2. Provide evidence of the situation (death certificate, court orders, proof of attempts to contact the absent parent)
3. The judge issues a judicial order authorizing the minor’s departure
4. Ask the court or your lawyer how long the process will take; it may require a lawyer

For cases involving a parent who actively refuses to sign, the court process may take longer as the judge must hear both sides.

Tips & Common Mistakes

• Do NOT arrive at the airport without this document. IGM officers will turn you away, and there is no way to resolve it on the spot. No amount of arguing or explaining will override this legal requirement.
• Carry the original birth certificate. A photocopy is not sufficient. Get a recent certified copy from RENAP if yours is old or damaged.
• Include specific travel dates and destinations in the authorization. Vague authorizations (“for any trip at any time”) may be questioned by IGM officers. Be specific.
• If you are a single parent with sole custody, carry the court order proving sole custody in addition to the birth certificate. This eliminates the need for the other parent’s authorization.
• Dual-citizen children need the same documentation. Even if the child has a US passport, departing from Guatemala requires Guatemalan immigration compliance.

Official Links

• Formato Word de la autorización de viaje (descarga gratis)
• IGM — Requisitos para salir de Guatemala (menores de edad)
• MINEX — Consulados de Guatemala