The DPI (Documento Personal de Identificacion) is Guatemala’s official national ID card, issued by RENAP (Registro Nacional de las Personas). You need a valid DPI for virtually every official procedure — from getting your NIT tax ID to opening a bank account.
Quick summary: The DPI costs Q100 (~$13 USD), is processed at any RENAP office nationwide, and takes about 30 business days. Since January 2025, the new DPI includes a color photograph and improved holograms. People over 60 pay nothing.
Prices verified April 2026. Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.
Cost
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| DPI (any type, in-person) | Q100 |
| DPI replacement (online) | Q119 |
| Birth certificate (first DPI) | ~Q15 |
| People over 60 | Free |
Payment at Banrural, G&T Continental, or Bantrab bank windows.
Requirements by Type
First DPI (Age 18)
- Recent birth certificate (issued within the last 6 months by RENAP)
- Payment receipt: Q100
- Phone number, home address, and email
Renewal (Expiration)
- Payment receipt: Q100
- Previous DPI (if available)
Replacement (Loss, Theft, Damage)
- Payment receipt: Q100 (in-person) or Q119 (online)
- Police report (in case of theft)
Step-by-Step Process
- Get a birth certificate from RENAP (first DPI only)
- Make the payment of Q100 at an authorized bank
- Visit any RENAP office nationwide
- Submit your documents and payment receipt
- Biometric data collection (photo, fingerprints, signature)
- Receive a tracking receipt with your estimated pickup date
- Pick up your DPI at the same office on the indicated date
Online Replacement
- Go to eportal.renap.gob.gt or download the RENAP SE app
- Request replacement online
- Pay Q119 by credit/debit card
- Pick up at the RENAP office you selected
Processing Time
- 30 business days (varies by distance and demand)
- In Guatemala City: usually 2-3 weeks
Check your application status at: renap.gob.gt/estado-tramite-dpi
Main RENAP Offices
| Office | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Central Office | Calzada Roosevelt 13-46, zone 7 | Mon-Fri 7:00-16:00, Sat 8:00-12:00 |
| Rus Mall | CC Rus Mall, 2nd level, zone 7 | Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, Sat 8:00-12:00 |
| Zone 9 | 11 Calle 5-59, Plaza FPK | Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, Sat 8:00-12:00 |
| Metro Norte | Km 5.5, CC Metro Norte, local 306, zone 17 | Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, Sat 8:00-12:00 |
Offices available in all 22 departments.
RENAP Phone: 1520
From the US (Diaspora Info)
Complete walkthrough: see our dedicated Renew DPI from USA 2026 guide with documents, costs, processing times, the 22 consulate locations, and mobile consulate schedules.
Guatemalans living in the United States have several options:
- Mobile RENAP units periodically visit Guatemalan consulates in US cities (Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Chicago, Washington DC, and more) — check minex.gob.gt/consulados for upcoming dates
- No power of attorney — you must appear in person for biometric data (photo, fingerprints)
- If you plan to travel to Guatemala, you can process it at any RENAP office during your visit
- Processing at US consulates takes longer — typically 2-3 months vs. 30 days in-country
- Bring your old DPI (even if expired) to speed up the process
- Your DPI number (CUI) now also serves as your NIT tax ID since March 2025
Details
If your DPI is stolen:
- File a police report (denuncia) at the nearest PNC station or Ministerio Publico. This is free and protects you from identity fraud.
- Request a replacement at any RENAP office (Q100) or online (Q119). You do not need the police report for RENAP, but it is strongly recommended.
- Check your credit report at a bureau like TransUnion Guatemala to ensure no one has used your DPI number fraudulently.
If your DPI is damaged:
- A DPI that is cracked, faded, scratched on the chip, or has illegible text must be replaced — it cannot be “repaired.”
- The replacement process is the same as for a lost DPI: Q100 in person or Q119 online.
- If the chip is damaged but the card is visually intact, some institutions may still reject it because the chip cannot be read. Replace it proactively.
- RENAP classifies damaged DPIs as replacements, not renewals — the procedure code is different internally but the process for you is identical.
Details
The DPI is issued at age 18, but planning ahead avoids delays:
- Before turning 18: Ensure your birth certificate is correct and up to date. If there are errors (wrong name spelling, incorrect date), start the rectification process well in advance — it can take months.
- On or after your 18th birthday: Visit any RENAP office with a birth certificate issued within the last 6 months and the Q100 payment receipt.
- Some RENAP offices allow you to initiate the process up to 30 days before turning 18, but the DPI will not be issued until after your birthday.
- University enrollment, bank accounts, and job applications all require a DPI. If you are turning 18 near these deadlines, start early.
- First-time DPI processing tends to take the full 30 business days because RENAP must create your biometric profile from scratch.
Details
You cannot simply request a “name change” on your DPI. The process is:
- Correct the source record first. Your DPI data comes from your birth certificate. If the name is wrong due to a registration error, you need a rectificacion de partida (birth record correction) through a notary or judge, with mandatory PGN review. This takes 1-6 months.
- After the birth record is corrected, apply for a new DPI at any RENAP office (Q100). RENAP will issue the DPI with the corrected name.
- Update all dependent documents: NIT at SAT (now automatic since CUI=NIT), passport, driver’s license, bank accounts, and any professional credentials.
- Legal name changes for other reasons (marriage, personal preference) follow a similar path but may require a judicial process. Consult a lawyer.
Common scenario: Women who took their husband’s surname (“de [husband’s last name]”) and later divorced. After the divorce is inscribed at RENAP and the DPI is updated to “divorciada,” the name reverts to the original birth name automatically.
Details
RENAP may reject or delay your DPI application for several reasons:
- Expired birth certificate. The birth certificate must be issued within the last 6 months. Even if the certificate is from RENAP, it has a shelf life for procedural use.
- Mismatched data. If the information on your birth certificate does not match what you provide at RENAP (name spelling, birth date), the application will be flagged. Correct the birth certificate first.
- Outstanding duplicate records. If RENAP’s system shows a possible duplicate registration under your name, the application is frozen until the duplicate is investigated and resolved. This can add weeks.
- Biometric capture failure. In rare cases, fingerprints cannot be captured (injuries, skin conditions, elderly skin wear). RENAP has alternative protocols but this may require a supervisor’s authorization.
- Previous DPI not cancelled. If you reported a DPI as stolen but then found it and are trying to use both, the system will flag the conflict.
Key Facts
- Validity: 10 years for adults; indefinite for people over 70
- You can process at any RENAP office — not just your home municipality
- Photo is taken at the RENAP office (don’t bring photos)
- Since March 2025, the DPI number (CUI) also works as your NIT
- You need a DPI to apply for your driver’s license, passport, and vehicle registration
Tips
- RENAP periodically holds “DPI Nights” with extended hours and “RENAP Saturdays” (check the calendar at renap.gob.gt)
- Check your application status online before going to pick up
- Saturday hours are reduced (8:00-12:00)
- If your DPI is damaged or illegible, you need a replacement (not a renewal)
Related RENAP Procedures
- Birth Certificate — required for first-time DPI
- Birth Record Correction — fix errors before applying for DPI
- Late Birth Registration — if never registered, must register before getting DPI
- Age Certification (Fe de Edad) — judicial process when no birth record exists
- Naturalized Citizen Registration — RENAP registration step before DPI for naturalized citizens