- 🆔 Your DPI (current, both sides scanned)
- 📱 Active email + cell number for verification
- 📋 CUI (the 13 digits on your DPI)
- 💳 Credit/debit card if paying for services online
- 🌎 If in the US: address of nearest Guatemalan consulate for shipping
RENAP (Registro Nacional de las Personas) is Guatemala’s official civil registry — the agency that runs the DPI national ID, and registers all births, marriages, deaths, divorces, naturalizations, and changes of civil status. For any identity or vital records transaction, RENAP is the office.
In short: RENAP runs Guatemala’s national ID (DPI) and civil registry (birth, marriage, death, divorce). Official portal: renap.gob.gt. First DPI is FREE if obtained within 90 days of turning 18; renewal Q85 (10-year validity); lost/stolen replacement Q150 (needs PNC police report). Certificates cost Q15 each. DPI replaced the old cédula de vecindad in 2010 and has a biometric chip + QR. Diaspora: Guatemalan consulates abroad (NY, LA, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Francisco, Silver Spring) work as delegated RENAP offices — DPI renewals and certificates without traveling to Guatemala. Verified May 2026.
For diaspora: If you live in the US and need Guatemalan documents, the nearest Guatemalan consulate works as a delegated RENAP office. You can get/renew DPI, request certificates, and register US-born children or US-celebrated marriages without traveling to Guatemala.
RENAP services — full directory
DPI and identity
| Service | When you need it |
|---|---|
| First DPI (at age 18) | Free if obtained within 90 days of turning 18 |
| DPI Renewal (every 10 years) | Q85, same-day in some offices |
| Lost/stolen replacement | Q150, requires PNC police report |
| Data changes | Q15-50 depending on field (address, civil status, etc.) |
| DPI from abroad | Via Guatemalan consulate — see Consulates |
Civil registry certifications
| Certificate | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Q15 | Instant if digitized |
| Marriage Certificate | Q15 | Instant if digitized |
| Death Certificate | Q15 | Instant if digitized |
| Age Verification (Fe de Edad) | Q15 | Instant |
Registrations
| Service | For whom |
|---|---|
| Foreign Birth Registration | Children born abroad with Guatemalan parent |
| Civil Marriage | Marriage before civil authority |
| Common-Law Union | Legal recognition of union |
| Divorce Registration | After judicial sentence |
| Late Registration | People not registered at birth |
| Naturalization | Foreigners who obtained Guatemalan citizenship |
| Birth Certificate Correction | Fix errors on records |
Digital access
- RENAP en Línea — account registration, digital downloads, lookups
Diaspora — RENAP from the US
This is probably why you’re here. Quick reference:
| Need | Solution |
|---|---|
| Renew expired DPI | Nearest Guatemalan consulate (NY, LA, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Francisco, Silver Spring) |
| Birth certificate | Request via consulate or from renap.gob.gt if your record is digitized (apostilled PDF download) |
| Register child born in US | “Foreign Birth Registration” — apostilled US birth certificate + parents’ DPI |
| Register US-celebrated marriage | Apostilled US marriage certificate + sworn translation + spouses’ DPI |
| International address change | RENAP does NOT require updating address if you live abroad — your DPI stays valid |
| First DPI from the US | Consulate, in person. Not 100% online yet. |
For details on each Guatemalan consulate in the US, see our consulate directory — includes addresses, hours, and which services each one handles.
Before going to a RENAP office — checklist
If you’re doing in-person service in Guatemala:
- ✅ Current DPI (except if getting first one)
- ✅ Original document you’ll use (passport if foreigner, birth records if registering, etc.)
- ✅ Cash payment (some offices don’t accept cards)
- ✅ Arrive early — some offices issue numbers only until certain hours
- ✅ Appointment if office requires it (check renap.gob.gt)
- ✅ 2 photocopies of any critical document (don’t assume the office makes them)
RENAP offices — where to go in Guatemala
RENAP has offices in:
- Capital City — multiple (zone 1, zone 4, Miraflores, Pradera, Naranjo)
- Departmental capitals — all 22 departmental capitals
- Major municipalities — some of 340 municipalities have RENAP offices
- Shopping centers — some have RENAP with extended hours
To map the closest office, see our municipality directory — each page shows which services are locally available.
What NOT to do
- Don’t wait for the DPI to expire — renew 30-60 days early
- Don’t use informal “expediters” offering to speed things up — RENAP has no official express service outside some offices
- Don’t travel to Guatemala just for certifications if you live in the US — consulates handle them
- Don’t underestimate shipping time — a consulate process can take 4-8 weeks total
- Don’t sign anything before reading — incorrect records are hard to fix later
Support and contact
- RENAP PBX: +502 2415-1900
- Monday-Friday 8 AM - 5 PM (some offices extended)
- Email: info@renap.gob.gt
- Diaspora: contact nearest Guatemalan consulate
More resources
- All Tramites — full directory
- Guatemalan Consulates in the US — for diaspora
- How to Get a Passport — the other key document
- Visa & Residency for Foreigners — for foreigners living in GT