Change of Operation Registry MEM Guatemala 2026: Free (Q0), Requirements & Steps

The change of operation registry is the license issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) that authorizes a new owner or operator to run installations, units or equipment in Guatemala’s hydrocarbon sector. It applies to refineries, processing plants, storage depots, transport units and retail outlets for petroleum, petroleum products, natural gas and related activities.

Quick summary: The procedure is free (Q0), the official processing time is 1 business day, the result is a license naming the new operator, and the channel is online listing with physical filing of the file at the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons of the MEM. Legal basis: Hydrocarbon Commercialization Law (Decreto 109-97) and its Regulations.

What Is the Change of Operation Registry?

When a hydrocarbon installation changes ownership or operator (sale, inheritance, assignment, corporate merger, spin-off or company dissolution), the license that authorized the previous person to operate does not transfer automatically. The new owner must request a change of operation registry from the MEM so the license is reissued in their name and the operation is legal.

It applies to activities such as:

• Refining of crude oil and petroleum products
• Transformation and processing of hydrocarbons
• Storage in depots, tanks or terminals
• Transport by pipeline, tanker truck, barge or other means
• Retail at fuel stations, LPG bottling plants and similar outlets
• Other related activities in the hydrocarbon supply chain

Requirements

The exact documentation depends on whether the applicant is an individual or a legal entity, and on the type of transfer (sale, assignment, inheritance, merger, etc.). All documents must be presented as legalized legible copies.

For an individual applicant

• Current DPI in legalized copy (or passport for foreigners)
• RTU registration certificate and NIT
• Legalized document proving ownership or assignment of the installation
• Current SAT tax compliance certificate (solvencia fiscal)
• Technical documentation of the installation (approved plans, capacity, cadastral location)

For a legal entity applicant

• Business patent (patente de comercio) for the company and the corporation
• Legalized articles of incorporation and any registered amendments
• Current legal representative appointment, registered with the Mercantile Registry
• Legalized DPI of the legal representative
• Corporate NIT and updated RTU
• Legalized transfer document (deed, contract, merger)
• Current tax compliance certificate
• Technical documentation of the installation

Common requirements (individual and legal entity)

• Formal application addressed to the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons
• Identification of the installation: location, type, capacity, previous license number
• Payment of stamps and tax stamps that apply to the type of document
• Any current environmental, municipal or fire safety authorizations that apply

Steps

1. Gather the legal and technical documentation. If the installation was sold or assigned, the public deed should be registered with the General Property Registry (when applicable) and notarized.
2. Verify that the previous license is still valid at the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons. If the license expired or was suspended, it must first be regularized.
3. File the formal application at the single window of the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons of the MEM, at the central headquarters in Guatemala City.
4. Reception and document review. An analyst checks that the file is complete. If documents are missing, the applicant is notified to submit them.
5. Technical inspection (when applicable). In some cases, the MEM conducts a physical verification visit to the installation.
6. Resolution and license issuance. Once approved, the MEM issues the license with the new holder registered.
7. Notification to the applicant. The new operator receives the signed and stamped license authorizing legal operation.

Cost and Time

Although the procedure itself is free at the MEM, there are associated costs the applicant should plan for:

• Notarized copies and certifications
• Lawyer or agent fees (if any)
• Tax compliance and other SAT documents
• Mercantile Registry filings when applicable

How to Apply

All documentation is filed physically at the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons of the MEM. Although the procedure is not 100% online, the forms and updated requirements list are published on the MEM portal:

Official site: mem.gob.gt — Hydrocarbon Requirements

Physical address: Diagonal 17, 29-78 zona 11, Guatemala City (MEM central headquarters).

Recommendation: If you live outside Guatemala or cannot appear in person, grant a notarized special power of attorney to a Guatemalan lawyer or agent to file on your behalf. This is common for hydrocarbon operating companies whose shareholders live abroad.

Related MEM Procedures

The hydrocarbon sector has several adjacent procedures you may need:

• Petroleum and petroleum products transport license
• Renewal of petroleum transport license
• Authorization to certify fuel transport
• Authorization to certify LPG cylinder transport
• Register a company (prerequisite for legal entities)
• CUI / NIT lookup at SAT

Tips

• Plan ahead. Although the official time is 1 day, in practice you should file the file at least 30 days before you need to operate under the new holder’s name.
• Check the previous license. An expired license complicates the process. If expired, evaluate whether to renew first or apply for a new license.
• Tax compliance up to date. The MEM coordinates with the SAT. Any tax debt by the new holder can stall issuance.
• Document the chain of ownership. If the installation changed hands multiple times without registry updates, the new holder may need to rebuild the chain with prior deeds.
• Technical inspections. Refineries, large storage facilities and major fuel stations usually require physical inspection. Make sure the installation meets current standards.
• MEM phone: 2419-6363 (central HQ) to check the status of your file.

Official Links

• MEM — Hydrocarbon Requirements
• Tramites.gob.gt — Change of Operation Registry
• General Directorate of Hydrocarbons