Temporary Foreign Driver Permit Guatemala 2026: Q50 — For Tourists & Visitors

The temporary foreign driver permit is the document issued by Guatemala’s MINGOB Department of Transit that authorizes foreigners to drive legally in Guatemala while their residency case is being processed, during a long tourist stay, or as a temporary resident or diplomat. It costs Q50 (about US$6.50) and is delivered in roughly 10 business days.

Quick summary: Hybrid procedure (online + in-person). Cost Q50. Time: 10 business days. Validity: up to 1 year or until your main migratory case is decided. Applies to tourists staying more than 30 days, residency applicants, refugees, asylees and diplomats.

What This Temporary Permit Is

When a foreigner enters Guatemala as a tourist, their home-country driver’s license is valid for the first 30 days under the Central American Vehicular Transit Convention and the international agreements Guatemala recognizes. After that window, if you keep driving in Guatemala, you need a temporary MINGOB permit.

This permit is different from a regular Guatemalan driver’s license. It is a bridge document that covers you while your definitive migratory status is being decided, or during a long stay, without forcing you through the full Guatemalan driver’s license process.

Who Needs This Permit

It applies to the following categories of foreigners:

• Tourists staying more than 30 days who plan to drive regularly
• People with a permanent residency application open at IGM
• Holders of granted temporary residency
• Refugees or asylees (a specific variant exists — see asylum/refugee driver permit)
• Accredited diplomatic personnel in Guatemala
• Foreign students with a study visa
• Workers with temporary visa or labor contract with a Guatemalan employer

If you’re in Guatemala for less than 30 days as a tourist, you do not need this procedure: your foreign license is directly valid.

Requirements

Home-country documents

• Valid home-country driver’s license (original + 2 photocopies)
  • If the license is not in Spanish or English, sworn translation by a translator registered with MINEX
  • Some cases accept an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a complement
• Valid passport (original + photocopy of data page and Guatemala entry stamp)

Guatemalan migratory documents

• IGM migratory document showing your current status:
  • Tourist visa (if you’ve been here more than 30 days)
  • Proof of pending residency application
  • Valid temporary residency card
  • Diplomatic ID (if applicable)
• Proof of address in Guatemala (utility bill or lease agreement, no older than 3 months)

Personal documents

• 2 passport-size photos (color, white background)
• Valid police record certificate (some offices require it)
• Basic medical exam (vision, hearing) — performed at MINGOB itself

Step-by-Step Process

Stage 1 — Preparation (at home)

1. Gather all documents and make double photocopies (originals + 2 copies)
2. If your license is not in Spanish, arrange the sworn translation with a MINEX-recognized translator (cost ~Q150-300, takes 1-3 days)
3. Verify your migratory status at IGM — if your visa has expired or your migratory case has lapsed, you must regularize that first

Stage 2 — Online start

4. Log into the MINGOB Department of Transit portal and create an account if you don’t have one
5. Select “Driver Permit for Foreigners — Temporary” in the procedures menu
6. Upload the digitized documents the system requests
7. Pick a date and office for your in-person appointment

Stage 3 — In-person visit

8. Show up at the Department of Transit on the date and time you selected (bring all originals)
9. Basic medical exam — vision and hearing (10 minutes)
10. Pay Q50 at the cashier (cash or debit/credit card)
11. Fingerprints and photo taken for the card
12. Receive your receipt with tracking number

Stage 4 — Permit pickup

13. Wait 10 business days from the appointment day
14. Return to the Department of Transit with your receipt and DPI/passport
15. Receive your physical permit — a laminated card with your photo and data

Cost & Timeline

Common Mistakes

• Waiting more than 30 days without the permit and driving anyway — fine for driving without a valid license (Q500-1500), vehicle impounded
• Bringing an expired home-country license — the license must be valid; an expired one does not qualify
• Forgetting the sworn translation if your license is in another language — MINGOB rejects it
• Assuming an IDP (International Driving Permit) replaces this permit — the IDP is only valid the first 30 days, like your home license
• Showing up without the IGM migratory document — without active or pending migratory status, the permit is not granted
• Missing your scheduled online appointment — you’ll have to reschedule and the whole process slips

Legal Basis

This permit is governed by:

• Decreto 132-96 — Traffic Law, articles 19 and 22 (special permits for foreigners)
• Acuerdo Gubernativo 273-97 — Traffic Law Regulations, articles 60-65 (procedure and validity)
• Decreto 44-2016 — Migration Code (qualifying migratory categories)
• Central American Vehicular Transit Convention (validity of foreign licenses for the first 30 days)

Differences vs. a Regular Guatemalan License

If you plan to live in Guatemala more than 1-2 years, it makes more sense to apply for the full Guatemalan license instead of renewing this permit yearly.

Related Procedures

• Asylum / Refugee Driver Permit — humanitarian variant
• Guatemala Driver’s License — general guide for residents
• Driver’s License Activation
• Drivers License Late Fee Waiver (Living Abroad)
• Police Record Certificate (PNC)
• Criminal Record Certificate (PNC)

Official Links

• Official procedure — tramites.gob.gt
• Ministry of Government — MINGOB
• Department of Transit
• Guatemalan Migration Institute (IGM)