- Current research license issued by CONAP
- Collection license issued by CONAP
- Detailed list of specimens, samples, parts or derivatives to transport
- Itinerary: origin, destination, dates and means of transport
The research license transport permit is the official document issued by the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) to prove the legal origin of specimens, samples, parts or derivatives that a researcher transports as part of an authorized scientific project. It is essential for any biologist, ecologist, botanist, zoologist or thesis student moving biological material collected in Guatemala’s protected areas or biodiversity.
Quick summary: The procedure is free (Q0), the official processing time is 1 to 5 business days, the result is an authorization / transport permit, and the channel is online at CONAP. Legal basis: Protected Areas Law (Decreto 4-89) and its Regulations. The permit acts as legal backup at control posts, DIPRONA, PNC and customs.
What Is the Research Transport Permit?
CONAP is Guatemala’s national authority on biodiversity. Any movement of biological material collected for research (live or dead animals, parts, tissues, blood, feathers, plants, seeds, microorganisms, soil from protected areas, etc.) requires documentary proof that the collection was legal and that the transport is authorized.
The transport permit:
- Proves that samples come from an authorized scientific project
- Identifies species, quantities, origin, destination and purpose of the transport
- Serves as evidence at CONAP, DIPRONA (the National Civil Police’s nature protection division), airport and customs control posts
- Links the activity to a previously issued research license and collection license
Without this permit, samples can be seized and the researcher may face an administrative or criminal process.
Requirements
Basic documents
- Copy of the current research license issued by CONAP to you or to the responsible institution
- Copy of the scientific collection license issued by CONAP, specifying the area and authorized species
- Formal application addressed to the CONAP Wildlife Department with project data and the responsible person
- ID of the applicant (DPI or passport for foreign researchers)
Transport information
- Detailed list of specimens, samples, parts or derivatives (species, quantity, condition)
- Origin (collection site or protected area)
- Destination (lab, museum, university, another country)
- Estimated dates of transport
- Means of transport (land, air, sea)
- Person responsible for moving the material
Additional documents if applicable
- CITES permit if the species are listed in the CITES appendices
- Acceptance letter from the destination institution (museum, lab, university)
- Customs export permit if samples will leave Guatemala
Steps
- Confirm both licenses are current — your research license and your collection license. If one expired, renew first.
- Prepare a detailed inventory of the material to be transported. The more precise, the less delay during review.
- File the application at the CONAP Wildlife Department, at central or regional offices.
- Review by the assigned technician. They verify that the listed material matches what the collection license authorized.
- Approval and issuance of the permit, signed and sealed by the competent authority.
- Pick up the permit and carry the original throughout the transport. Keeping a digital copy as backup is good practice.
- Report the movement at project closure if the research license requires it.
Cost and Time
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Procedure cost | Free (Q0) |
| Official time | 1 to 5 business days |
| Realistic time | 7 to 10 days if regional coordination is needed |
| Result | Authorization / transport permit |
| Validity | For the specific authorized trip or transport |
The permit is specific to a given transport (origin, destination, dates, contents). It is not an open authorization. If you need to move samples multiple times, you need a permit per movement, unless the project is structured to issue multiple permits under a single collection license.
How to Apply
The procedure is handled at CONAP, in central offices in Guatemala City or in regional offices in Petén, Izabal, Sololá, Quetzaltenango and elsewhere. Projects in protected areas like the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Laguna del Tigre, Sierra de las Minas or El Mirador are usually filed at the corresponding regional office.
Official site: conap.gob.gt
Headquarters: 5a Avenida 6-06 Zona 1, IPM Building, Guatemala City.
Recommendation: If you are a foreign researcher, coordinate with your Guatemalan counterpart institution (university, NGO, museum). The procedure runs more smoothly when a domestic entity backs the project. The most common counterparts are USAC’s School of Biology, CECON, the URL museum, and CALAS.
Related CONAP Procedures
- Renewal of sport hunting license
- Replacement of hunting license and game piece control sheets
- Register a company (needed for scientific NGOs)
- CUI / NIT lookup at SAT
Tips
- Apply early. Although the official time is 1 to 5 days, international trips need additional coordination. Apply at least 7-10 days before traveling.
- Detailed inventory. Vague descriptions (e.g., “various samples”) delay approval. Use scientific name, exact quantities and sample condition.
- CITES is separate. The CONAP permit does not replace the CITES permit if the species is listed. Apply for both in parallel.
- Carry the original. At control posts the digital copy helps, but the original is what avoids delays.
- Document everything. Photograph the samples and the document for safety.
- CONAP phone: 2422-6700 (HQ) to check the status of your application.