Quick summary
- President and vice-president: Guatemalan by birth, a citizen in full exercise of their rights, over 40 (Art. 185; Art. 190 applies the same qualifications to the vice-president).
- Bans: seven in Art. 186, including anyone who was a minister in the 6 months before the election, military members without 5 years of discharge or retirement before the call, ministers of any religion, and electoral tribunal magistrates.
- Deputy (Congress): Guatemalan by birth and in full exercise of citizen rights (Art. 162). No separate age: citizenship starts at 18 (Art. 147).
- Who cannot be a deputy: six groups in Art. 164, including Executive and Judicial branch officials and active-duty military.
- 2027 general election (TSE preliminary calendar): call 22 January, vote 27 June, run-off 22 August.
General legal information, not legal advice.
This page covers who may run. Whether someone can run again is a separate question, answered on can a president, deputy or mayor be re-elected?. Requirements for mayor are not covered here.
The text used is the copy of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala published by the Organization of American States (OAS), which states it includes the amendments of Legislative Agreement 18-93 of 17 November 1993. It is an unofficial copy of the text. The English wording below paraphrases the Spanish text, which governs.
Requirements by office
| Office | Requirements | Article | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Guatemalan by birth, citizen in full exercise of rights, over 40 | 185 | 4 years, not extendable (Art. 184); never re-electable (Art. 187) |
| Vice-president | Same qualifications as the president; elected on the same ticket | 185 and 190 | Same term as the president (Art. 190) |
| Deputy | Guatemalan by birth, in full exercise of citizen rights | 162 | 4 years, may be re-elected (Art. 157) |
Three definitions from the Constitution complete the table:
- Guatemalan by birth (Art. 144): people born in the Republic, on Guatemalan ships and aircraft, and children of a Guatemalan father or mother born abroad, except children of diplomats and of people in legally equivalent posts. Article 146 deals separately with nationality obtained by naturalisation.
- Citizen (Art. 147): a Guatemalan over eighteen.
- Public office (Art. 113): appointments are to be based on merit: capacity, suitability and honesty.
Bans on running for president or vice-president (Art. 186)
These people may not run:
- a) The leader or heads of a coup, armed revolution or similar movement that altered the constitutional order, and anyone who takes over as head of government as a result.
- b) Whoever holds the presidency or vice-presidency when the election is held, or held it at any time during the presidential term in which the election takes place.
- c) Relatives within the fourth degree of blood and second degree by marriage of the president or vice-president, when the latter is exercising the presidency, and those of the people in item a).
- d) Anyone who was a minister of State at any time in the six months before the election.
- e) Members of the Army, unless discharged or retired at least five years before the date of the call to elections.
- f) Ministers of any religion or faith.
- g) Magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).
If no candidate wins an absolute majority, Article 184 calls a second round between the top two, held on a Sunday, between 45 and 60 days after the first.
Who cannot be a deputy (Art. 164)
| Item | Who | Exception or rule |
|---|---|---|
| a | Officials and employees of the Executive and Judicial branches and of the Tribunal y Contraloría de Cuentas, TSE magistrates and the director of the Citizens’ Registry | Teachers and professionals serving in social-assistance establishments are exempt |
| b | Contractors on public works or enterprises paid with state or municipal funds, their guarantors, and anyone with pending claims arising from those works | |
| c | Relatives of the president and vice-president within the fourth degree of blood or second by marriage | |
| d | People convicted in an accounts trial by final judgment who have not settled their liabilities | |
| e | Representatives of companies or individuals that operate public services | |
| f | Active-duty military |
The same article adds two rules:
- If an elected deputy falls under a ban at or after the election, the seat is declared vacant; under items a) and e), the person may choose between that position and the seat.
- The election of a deputy who is an official with jurisdiction in the electoral district that nominates them, or who held it three months before the call to elections, is void.
On how deputies are elected: each department is an electoral district, the municipality of Guatemala is the central district and the rest of Guatemala department forms the Guatemala district; a number equal to 25% of district deputies is elected from a national list (Art. 157).
Preliminary calendar for 2027
The AGN reported the TSE’s preliminary schedule on 30 June 2026:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 22 January 2027 | Call to general elections and Central American Parliament elections |
| 20 March 2027 | Voter-registration deadline |
| 29 March to 25 June 2027 | Campaign period |
| 27 June 2027 | General election |
| 22 August 2027 | Possible presidential run-off |
Registration, voting from the United States and checking the voter roll: TSE guide. The certificate showing you hold your political rights comes from the TSE.
Related
Sources
- Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, copy published by the OAS (amended by Legislative Agreement 18-93): https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Constitucion_Guatemala.pdf (read October 21, 2026). Articles 113, 144, 146, 147, 157, 162, 164, 184, 185, 186, 187 and 190.
- AGN, 30 June 2026 report on the TSE’s preliminary schedule: https://agn.gt/tse-anuncia-que-elecciones-generales-de-guatemala-seran-el-27-de-junio-del-2027/
This page reports the constitutional text. It does not comment on any candidacy or politician and is not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to be president of Guatemala?
Article 185 of the Constitution: Guatemalans by birth (guatemaltecos de origen) who are citizens in full exercise of their rights and over forty years old may run for president or vice-president. They must also fall outside the seven bans listed in Article 186.
How old do you have to be to be president of Guatemala?
Over forty (Art. 185). The same applies to the vice-president, because Article 190 requires the vice-president to meet the same qualifications as the president.
What are the requirements to be a member of Congress in Guatemala?
Being Guatemalan by birth and in full exercise of citizen rights (Art. 162). That article sets no separate age; citizenship starts at 18 (Art. 147). Article 164 lists who cannot be a deputy, including officials and employees of the Executive and Judicial branches, state contractors and active-duty military.
Can a naturalised citizen run for president of Guatemala?
Article 185 requires being Guatemalan by birth (de origen). Article 144 defines that as people born in Guatemala or on Guatemalan ships and aircraft, and children of a Guatemalan father or mother born abroad (excluding children of diplomats and equivalent posts). Naturalisation is covered separately in Article 146.
Can a former minister or army officer run for president?
A minister of State is barred if they held the post at any time in the six months before the election (Art. 186 d). Members of the Army are barred unless discharged or retired at least five years before the date of the call to elections (Art. 186 e).
When is Guatemala's 2027 general election?
According to the TSE’s preliminary schedule reported by the state news agency AGN on 30 June 2026: call to elections on 22 January 2027, voting on 27 June 2027, and a possible presidential run-off on 22 August 2027. The voter-registration deadline is 20 March 2027.
