Guatemalan Passport 2026: $50 or $85 (Apply in 8 Steps)

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Guatemalan passport in 2026 — how to apply for a new one, how to renew it, what it costs, the required documents, and how the process works both inside Guatemala and at consulates in the USA. The Guatemalan passport is issued by the IGM (Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración) at its passport emission centers. You need a valid DPI (national ID) and an online appointment to start.

Quick summary: A Guatemalan passport costs $50 USD (5 years) or $85 USD (10 years). You need a valid DPI and a free online appointment at igm.gob.gt. Processing takes 2-4 weeks from your in-person visit. Citizens abroad can apply or renew at any of Guatemala’s 22 US consulates (4-8 weeks; the consular fee is higher, $65 / $100). In-country IGM rates verified for 2026; confirm the current fee at igm.gob.gt before paying.

On this page: passport cost · 5-year vs 10-year · requirements · step-by-step process · emission centers · renewing from the USA · minors, lost passports & corrections.

Prices verified February 2026. Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.

5-Year vs 10-Year Passport Comparison

Recommendation: For adults, the 10-year passport is better value. Minors under 18 can only get the 5-year passport — the 10-year option is restricted to adults by the Migration Code (Decreto 44-2016).

Cost

Payment at authorized bank branches (Banrural, BAM, BI, G&T Continental).

Calculator

Requirements

• Application form (printed and signed)
• Valid DPI in good condition (original and copy of both sides on one page)
• Previous expired passport + photocopy of personal data page (if renewal)
• Original bank payment receipt
• Printed and signed appointment confirmation

For Minors

• Recent birth certificate (from RENAP)
• Both parents must be present — or a legal representative with notarized authorization
• Both parents’ DPIs (original and copy)

Step-by-Step Process

1. Schedule a free online appointment at igm.gob.gt (official portal only)
2. Make the payment at an authorized bank ($50 or $85 depending on duration)
3. Print and sign your appointment confirmation
4. Go to the Passport Emission Center on your appointment date
5. Submit your complete documentation
6. Biometric data collection (photo, fingerprints) — the photo is taken on site
7. Pick up your passport on the indicated date (2-4 weeks)

Passport Emission Centers

IGM Phone: 2411-2411

From the US (Diaspora Info)

Complete walkthrough: see our dedicated Renew Guatemalan Passport from USA 2026 guide covering all 22 consulates, required documents, fees, expedited options, lost passport replacement, and minor passports.

Guatemalans in the United States can process passports through consulates:

• Consulate processing is available in Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, and other cities
• Requirements are the same as in Guatemala: valid DPI, payment, and appointment
• Processing time at consulates: typically 4-8 weeks (longer than in-country)
• Appointments: Schedule through your local consulate’s website or by calling directly
• Cost: $65 (5-year) or $100 (10-year) USD at US consulates — about $15 higher than in Guatemala; pay by money order
• Mobile consulates: Some consulates offer periodic weekend passport events in cities with large Guatemalan communities
• Find your nearest consulate: minex.gob.gt/consulados
• If your DPI is expired, you’ll need to renew it first — RENAP mobile units also visit US consulates periodically

Renewing Your Guatemalan Passport from the USA

Guatemalan citizens living in the USA can renew their passport at any of the 22 Guatemalan consulates without traveling back to Guatemala. The process is straightforward but uses a different appointment system than the in-country IGM portal — and processing runs slightly longer because applications are sent back to IGM headquarters in Guatemala City for production.

Which Consulates Handle Renewal

All 22 consulates process passport renewal. The full list with addresses, hours, jurisdictions, and phone numbers is in our consulates directory, but the busiest are:

• Los Angeles (largest jurisdiction by Guatemalan population)
• New York
• Houston
• Chicago
• Miami
• Washington DC
• Atlanta
• Denver

If you’re not sure which consulate covers your state, see /consulates/ — each state is assigned to a single consulate by jurisdiction. You generally must use the one covering your state of residence.

Step-by-Step USA Renewal

1. Book your appointment online. Go to citas.minex.gob.gt (the MINEX consular system — different from igm.gob.gt used in Guatemala). Select your consulate and pick the next available slot. Appointments are free; ignore any third-party site charging for them.

2. Gather your documents. Bring:

• Current or expiring Guatemalan passport (even if expired)
• Valid DPI in good physical condition
• Printed appointment confirmation from citas.minex.gob.gt
• Payment in USD cash or money order (some consulates accept card; check before you arrive)

3. Photo on site. The consulate takes the biometric photo and fingerprints during the visit — do not bring photos. Avoid colored contact lenses, heavy makeup, hats, or jewelry that obscures your face.

4. Pay the fee at the consulate window:

These are about $15 higher than the in-Guatemala fee ($50 / $85) — US consulates add a consular service surcharge. Payment is by money order.

5. Processing takes 4-8 weeks. Your application is sent to IGM headquarters in Guatemala City for production, then returned to the consulate. Expect 4-8 weeks depending on consulate volume — Los Angeles and New York run longer; smaller consulates can be faster.

6. Pickup or mail-back. Most consulates require in-person pickup. Some offer prepaid mail-back via USPS at your cost. Confirm the pickup method when you book.

What’s Different vs Renewing in Guatemala

The big takeaways: the consular fee runs about $15 higher ($65 / $100 vs $50 / $85), same documents, different appointment system (citas.minex.gob.gt, not igm.gob.gt), payment in USD at the consulate, and longer processing because applications go back to IGM Guatemala City.

Common Gotchas

• Photo rejection. Consulates use the same biometric standard as IGM — white background, no glasses, no head covering, neutral expression. Most rejections happen because the applicant moved during capture or wore a colored contact lens.
• Expired DPI. If your DPI is also expired, you cannot renew the passport on its own. RENAP mobile units periodically visit consulates for DPI renewal — check our DPI guide and your consulate’s calendar before you book.
• Wrong jurisdiction. Booking at the wrong consulate (one that does not cover your state of residence) is a common mistake. Check /consulates/ to confirm the correct one before you book.
• Missing biometrics from old passport. Some pre-2015 passports lack chip biometrics. The consulate may ask for additional ID (state driver’s license, US-issued document) — bring backup ID just in case.
• Cash-only at some consulates. Smaller consulates may not accept card. Bring USD cash or a money order made out to “Consulado de Guatemala” as backup.

For a full walkthrough including expedited options, lost passport replacement at a consulate, and minor passports from the USA, see our Renew Guatemalan Passport from USA 2026 guide.

Edge Cases & Special Situations

Common Rejection Reasons

Your passport application may be delayed or rejected for these reasons:

• Damaged DPI — wrinkled, faded, or physically damaged DPIs are rejected. Get a new DPI first at RENAP.
• Expired DPI — your DPI must be valid on the appointment date.
• Unpaid fines — outstanding debts with IGM (overstay fines, etc.) must be resolved first.
• Incomplete documentation — missing bank receipt, unsigned forms, or missing appointment confirmation.
• Photo issues — while the photo is taken on-site, avoid excessive makeup, colored contact lenses, or accessories that obscure your face.
• Legal holds — court orders restricting passport issuance (custody disputes, criminal proceedings).

Common Errors and Solutions

These are real issues applicants run into at IGM emission centers and Guatemalan consulates abroad. Most are documentation problems caught at intake — fixing them in advance saves a wasted appointment.

• “Cita no disponible” on igm.gob.gt — appointment slots fill up weeks ahead, especially at the Zone 4 and Zone 9 emission centers in the capital. Solution: check the portal in the early morning when cancellations free up slots, or try the Quetzaltenango, Peten, Chiquimula, or Zacapa emission centers (often have shorter waits). Mobile/extended-hours events announced on IGM’s social media are also good for harder-to-find slots.

• DPI rejected as damaged or worn — wrinkled, faded, cracked, or partially illegible DPIs are turned away at intake. There is no override. Solution: renew your DPI at RENAP first (1-3 weeks), then book your passport appointment for after that date.

• Expired DPI on appointment day — even if you booked when it was valid, IGM checks DPI status on the date of the visit. Solution: confirm your DPI is valid for at least 30 days past your appointment date before going to IGM.

• Bank receipt does not match application — the bank fee receipt (Banrural, BAM, BI, G&T) must show the exact $50 or $85 amount and your name as it appears on your DPI. Solution: bring both the bank receipt original and a photocopy. If the cashier wrote a nickname or different spelling, request a corrected receipt before leaving the bank.

• Photo capture rejected at the emission center — biometric photo is taken on site, but it can be rejected for colored contact lenses, heavy makeup, head coverings, hats, large jewelry, glare on glasses, or movement during capture. Solution: remove contacts and glasses before sitting, neutral expression, hair off the face.

• Minor passport blocked because only one parent shows up — both parents must be present with their own DPIs, OR the absent parent must have a notarized authorization (in Guatemala) or consular authorization (abroad). Solution: see our Minor Travel Permit guide — the same documentation applies to passport issuance for minors.

• Recent birth certificate older than 6 months (for minors) — IGM requires a RENAP-issued birth certificate dated within the last 6 months. Solution: pull a fresh certificate from any RENAP office (~Q15-Q25) the week before your appointment.

• Outstanding IGM fines blocking issuance — overstay fines from previous trips or unpaid migration penalties must be cleared before a new passport will be issued. Solution: ask IGM at intake for a “estado de cuenta migratorio” to see what is owed, pay at the IGM cashier, return with the receipt.

• Pre-2015 passport missing biometric chip (USA consulate renewal) — older non-biometric passports trigger additional ID requests at US consulates. Solution: bring a US-issued state ID (driver’s license, REAL ID) or a US passport as backup secondary identification.

• Cash-only at smaller US consulates — not every consulate accepts card; some accept only USD cash or money order made out to “Consulado de Guatemala.” Solution: call the specific consulate before your appointment to confirm payment methods.

• Document submitted at wrong consulate (USA) — each US consulate covers specific states, and applying outside your jurisdiction is grounds for refusal. Solution: confirm your assigned consulate at /consulates/ before booking citas.minex.gob.gt.

Tips

• Appointments are free and only available through the official igm.gob.gt portal — do not pay tramitadores (middlemen)
• IGM periodically holds extended-hours events with additional locations
• Check appointment availability at all locations, not just Guatemala City
• The photo is taken at the emission center — don’t bring photos
• Your DPI must be in good physical condition (not wrinkled or damaged)
• If you’re a foreigner seeking residency, see our guide on residency for foreigners
• CA-4 travel: For trips to El Salvador, Honduras, or Nicaragua, you only need your DPI — no passport required

Related Tramites

• DPI (National ID) — must be valid before applying for passport
• Residency for Foreigners — if you need residency, not a passport
• Digital Nomad Visa — remote worker residency
• Minor Travel Permit — required for minors traveling without both parents
• Special Travel Pass (Pase Especial) — emergency travel document when passport is unavailable
• Consular Registration — register at your nearest consulate
• Apostille — authenticate documents for international use
• Naturalization — become a Guatemalan citizen

Common Questions

How much does a Guatemalan passport cost?

A 5-year passport costs USD $50 and a 10-year passport costs USD $85. Payment is made at authorized bank branches.

Can I renew my Guatemalan passport in the United States?

Yes. Guatemalan consulates in the US process passport renewals. You need your valid DPI, an appointment, and the passport fee. Contact your nearest consulate for scheduling.

How long does it take to get a Guatemalan passport?

In Guatemala: 2-4 weeks from your in-person appointment. At US consulates: typically 4-8 weeks.

Do I need a DPI to get a passport?

Yes. A valid DPI in good physical condition is required. If your DPI is expired or damaged, renew it first at RENAP.

What is the difference between a 5-year and 10-year passport?

Both passports have the same travel validity and are accepted worldwide. The 10-year passport costs $35 more but saves you from renewing sooner. For frequent travelers, the 10-year option is more cost-effective.

Can I travel within Central America without a passport?

Yes. Under the CA-4 agreement, Guatemalans can travel to El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua using only their DPI (national ID). A passport is not required for CA-4 countries.

Can I renew my Guatemalan passport in the USA?

Yes. All 22 Guatemalan consulates in the USA process passport renewals. You do not need to travel back to Guatemala. Book an appointment at citas.minex.gob.gt, bring your DPI and expiring passport, and pay $50 (5-yr) or $85 (10-yr) in USD at the consulate. Processing takes 4-8 weeks depending on the consulate.

Which Guatemalan consulate is closest to me?

Guatemala has 22 consulates across the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle, Dallas, McAllen, Trenton, Lake Worth, Raleigh, Providence, Tucson, Silver Spring, Riverhead, and Del Rio. See our full directory at /consulates/ for addresses, phone numbers, and jurisdictions.

How long does passport renewal at a US consulate take?

Typical processing time is 4-8 weeks from your in-person appointment. This is longer than the 2-4 weeks for renewals done at IGM in Guatemala because consular renewals are routed back to IGM headquarters in Guatemala City for production. Plan accordingly if you have upcoming travel — request your appointment at least 2 months before your passport expires.

What’s different about renewing from the USA vs Guatemala?

Three main differences: (1) You pay in USD at the consulate window, not at a Guatemalan bank; (2) Online appointment portal is citas.minex.gob.gt (consular system), not igm.gob.gt; (3) Processing time is 4-8 weeks vs 2-4 weeks in-country because the application travels to IGM headquarters in Guatemala City. Documents required (DPI, expiring passport, photo on site) are identical.

Can I renew my Guatemalan passport online from the USA?

No. There is no fully online passport renewal — you must appear in person at a Guatemalan consulate for biometric capture (photo and fingerprints). What you CAN do online is book the appointment at citas.minex.gob.gt and pre-fill the application form. The in-person visit at the consulate is mandatory.

Official Links

• IGM — Passport Requirements
• Online Appointments
• Emission Center Locations