The petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas export license is the authorization issued by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) to any individual or corporation that intends to export crude oil, gasoline, diesel, bunker, kerosene, jet fuel, asphalt, lubricants or natural gas by any suitable means of transport. Without this license, no hydrocarbon export operation can be carried out legally from Guatemala.
Quick summary: MEM-DGH procedure that is free (Q0). Declared time: 1 day. Result: Export license. Applies to individuals and corporations. Legal basis: Hydrocarbon Marketing Law and its Regulation. Requires the E-01 form and legalized supporting documentation.
Who Needs This License
This license is mandatory for:
- Crude oil producers that export domestic production (Petén fields and other Guatemalan reservoirs).
- Refineries and wholesale marketers that export refined petroleum products to the region (Central America, Mexico, Caribbean).
- Natural gas operators that market gas to external markets.
- Companies with transport license that also operate as product exporters.
- Individuals properly registered for tax and customs purposes intending to operate as exporters.
It does not apply to imports or domestic transport (those require separate licenses), nor to local storage without an export component.
Cost & Time
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Official cost | Free (Q0) |
| Resolution time | 1 day |
| Result | Export license |
| Validity | Per shipment or for the period stated in the resolution |
| Modality | In person at DGH (physical file) |
Although the tramites.gob.gt catalog records Q0, associated costs are significant:
- Notarial fees for legalization of copies.
- Infrastructure investment (terminals, pipelines, plants) compliant with regulation.
- Civil and environmental liability insurance.
- MARN environmental license where applicable.
- Customs registrations and parallel SAT procedures.
Requirements
According to the official tramites.gob.gt catalog:
For an individual
Attach legible legalized copies of the documents requested by DGH:
- Personal Identification Document (DPI).
- Patente de Comercio if acting as a sole-trader merchant.
- NIT and SAT registration certificate.
- Applicable customs registrations.
For a corporation
Attach legible legalized copies of the documents requested by DGH:
- Deed of incorporation and current bylaws.
- Patente de Sociedad and Patente de Comercio.
- Notarial deed of current legal representative appointment.
- DPI of the legal representative.
- Corporate NIT and SAT certificate.
For both
- Petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas export license application form (E-01), duly completed and signed.
- Technical supporting documentation of the product to be exported (origin, specifications, volume).
- Export logistics support (means of transport, route, exit port/border).
Note: The complete and updated list should be checked at the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) of MEM, since the Regulation and internal circulars may be updated. The official MEM PDF describes the basic procedure.
Procedure Steps
- Document preparation — the applicant gathers all legal documentation (incorporation, appointments, NIT) and legalizes it before a notary.
- Filling out form E-01 — complete the official application form with applicant data, product, volume and destination.
- File assembly — attach to E-01 the legalized copies and technical documentation.
- Submission at DGH — physical delivery of the file at the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons of MEM.
- Technical and legal review — DGH reviews the documentation, checks consistency with databases and, where applicable, coordinates with MARN and SAT.
- Resolution — issuance of the export license in approximately 1 day from a complete file.
- Customs procedures — the exporter presents the license at SAT-Customs to authorize shipment.
How to Apply
The procedure is done in person at the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, in Guatemala City. MEM publishes the first export license procedure in the official PDF and the main MEM page is mem.gob.gt.
Before starting this procedure, make sure you have current:
- Your incorporation or, if not yet incorporated, complete the company registration.
- Your NIT and the CUI-NIT linkage verification.
- Your Unified Tax Registry (RTU) updated at SAT.
If you also plan to transport the product before export, see the petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas transport license, and to renew it the transport license renewal guide. For specific authorizations regarding transport of fuels and LPG cylinders, see the authorization to certify fuel transport and authorization to certify LPG cylinder transport guides.
Common Mistakes That Delay the License
- Unlegalized documents — DGH requires notarized legalized copies; simple copies are rejected.
- Incomplete E-01 form — product, volume, transport and destination fields must be filled.
- Expired representative deed — the appointment must be current and properly registered.
- NIT not enabled for exports — check at SAT that the taxpayer is registered under the export regime.
- Lack of coordination with MARN when facilities require it — DGH may request a certificate or environmental license before resolving.
- No customs registration — the exporter must be registered with SAT-Customs as a regular exporter.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Is there a single license or one per shipment?”
It depends on the modality granted in the resolution. Some licenses cover continuous operation during a period; others are issued per shipment or per project. The Regulation defines conditions according to product and volume.
“What if the product is shipped by pipeline to a neighboring country?”
Pipeline exports are regulated by the same Law. Additionally, the pipeline operator must have a transport license and, depending on the border, coordinate with the regulatory authority of the receiving country.
“Can I export without owning production?”
Yes. The license covers marketers that purchase product in Guatemala (from producers or refineries) and export it. The product origin must be evidenced by invoices and transport guides.
“Does form E-01 expire?”
The form must be in its current version at the time of filing. DGH may update the form by internal circular; always confirm the latest version with the procedure officer.
“How is the export invoice issued?”
Through SAT’s FEL (Online Electronic Invoice) Regime, with the corresponding export code. The taxpayer must be registered in FEL.
“Can I grant power of attorney to a customs agent?”
Yes. It is common for an authorized customs agent to handle operational procedures at Customs, while the application before DGH is signed directly by the legal representative or an attorney-in-fact with a special power of attorney.
Related Procedures
- Petroleum, Petroleum Products & Natural Gas Transport License — prior authorization to move product.
- Petroleum & Products Transport License Renewal — renewal of the previous license.
- Authorization to Certify Fuel Transport — for certifying companies.
- Authorization to Certify LPG Cylinder Transport — LPG modality.
- Register a Company — prior step if the corporation is not yet incorporated.
- Unified Tax Registry (RTU) at SAT — tax registration update.