Moving from the UK to Guatemala means settling four things: how long you can stay as a visitor, which residency fits you, what happens to your UK State Pension, and how you will drive and move your money. This guide sums up what the official sources say on each and links to the detailed guide.
The 90-day rule
On a British passport you can visit Guatemala for up to 90 days without a visa (GOV.UK). GOV.UK asks you to get your passport stamped on entry and to complete the online immigration declaration form before you enter or exit.
- The 90 days are shared between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua: they start when you enter any of the four countries and do not restart when you cross borders. A trip to El Salvador, Honduras or Nicaragua does not reset the clock.
- Honduras: since 31 October 2026, British citizens can visit Honduras for up to 90 days without a visa (GOV.UK).
- Extension: a tourist stay can be extended once for an equal period, never beyond 180 days from entry (Acuerdo IGM-015-2025, Art. 14). The IGM fee for a tourist visa extension is US$25. See the CA-4 guide.
- If you overstay the 90 days, GOV.UK says you will have to pay a fine before leaving the country.
Residency for British citizens
To stay beyond the tourist stay you need a residency from the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (IGM). What Acuerdo IGM-016-2025 sets:
| Category | Financial requirement | Type of residency | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rentista | Minimum individual monthly income of US$1,250, plus US$300 per dependant | Permanent | Art. 33 |
| Pensioner (pensionado) | Minimum individual monthly income of US$1,250 | Permanent | Art. 33 |
| Investor | Investment of US$100,000 in business entities or movable or immovable property | Temporary | Art. 17 |
Temporary residency is granted for one to five years (Art. 7). After five years or more as a temporary resident you can apply for permanent residency (Art. 27). The fee for permanent residency status for rentistas or pensioners is US$400.
The UK State Pension
GOV.UK pays the State Pension worldwide, but you only get a yearly increase if you live in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or in a country with a social security agreement that allows those increases: Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey, Kosovo, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia, Turkey and the USA.
Guatemala is not on that list, so your State Pension gets no yearly increase while you live here. The UK has agreements with Canada and New Zealand, but there is no yearly increase in those countries either. If the pension is paid in local currency, GOV.UK applies a 0.39% conversion charge before payment. More detail: UK pension in Guatemala.
Money: pounds to quetzales
Wise, Revolut, Western Union and bank transfers have different fees and limits. See Transfer money from the UK to Guatemala.
Driving on a UK licence
Your UK licence covers the vehicles it authorises while your immigration authorisation is valid (Reglamento de Tránsito, art. 24); there is no 30-day limit. Guatemala is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so the 1949 International Driving Permit is the one that applies. Once you are a resident, art. 24 requires you to transfer your licence to a Guatemalan one of the same type or lower; the Departamento de Tránsito decides whether you take a test. See UK driving licence in Guatemala.
Guatemalans returning from the UK
If you are Guatemalan and live in the UK, consular procedures are handled by the Guatemalan Consulate in London.
Related guides
- Transfer money from the UK to Guatemala
- CA-4 border runs
- UK driving licence in Guatemala
- UK pension in Guatemala
- UK tax residency when moving to Guatemala
- Guatemalan Consulate in London
- UK citizen services in Guatemala
Sources
- GOV.UK, Guatemala entry requirements: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guatemala/entry-requirements
- GOV.UK, Honduras entry requirements: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/honduras/entry-requirements
- GOV.UK, State Pensions: annual increases if you live abroad: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pensions-annual-increases-if-you-live-abroad/countries-where-we-pay-an-annual-increase-in-the-state-pension
- GOV.UK, State Pension if you retire abroad: https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad
- Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración, Acuerdos IGM-015-2025 (visas) and IGM-016-2025 (foreigners)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do British citizens enter Guatemala?
On a British passport you can visit Guatemala for up to 90 days without a visa (GOV.UK). Those 90 days are shared between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua: they start when you enter any of the four and do not restart when you cross borders. Inside Guatemala, a tourist stay can be extended once for an equal period, never beyond 180 days from entry (Acuerdo IGM-015-2025, Art. 14); the IGM fee for a tourist visa extension is US$25.
Do British citizens need a visa for Honduras?
Not since 31 October 2026: GOV.UK says British citizens can now visit Honduras for up to 90 days without a visa, and that you can travel between Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador for up to 90 days without a visa.
Does my UK State Pension get yearly increases if I live in Guatemala?
No. GOV.UK pays the State Pension worldwide, but you only get a yearly increase if you live in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or in a country with a social security agreement that allows the increases: Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey, Kosovo, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia, Turkey and the USA. Guatemala is not on that list. If the pension is paid in local currency, GOV.UK applies a 0.39% conversion charge before payment.
Which residency can a British retiree or rentista apply for?
Acuerdo IGM-016-2025 (Art. 33) grants permanent residency as a rentista with a minimum individual monthly income of US$1,250, plus US$300 for each dependant, and as a pensioner with a minimum individual monthly income of US$1,250. The fee for permanent residency status for rentistas or pensioners is US$400. An investor gets temporary residency by proving an investment of US$100,000 (Art. 17). Temporary residency is granted for one to five years (Art. 7), and after five years or more as a temporary resident you can apply for permanent residency (Art. 27).
Can I drive in Guatemala on my UK licence?
Your valid UK licence covers the vehicles it authorises while your immigration authorisation is valid (Reglamento de Tránsito, art. 24); there is no 30-day rule. Guatemala is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so the 1949 International Driving Permit is the one that applies. Once you are a resident, art. 24 requires you to transfer your licence to a Guatemalan one of the same type or lower; the Departamento de Tránsito decides whether you take a test (see UK driving licence in Guatemala).
How do I send pounds to Guatemala?
The options (Wise, Revolut, Western Union, bank transfer), with their published fees and limits, are covered in Transfer money from the UK to Guatemala.
