The Habitability Certificate for Health-Care Establishments (Certificado de Habitabilidad) is the official document that Guatemala’s MSPAS issues — through the Municipal Health Coordinator — after physically inspecting a health-care facility to verify it meets the minimum requirements for infrastructure, equipment, drinking water, ventilation, waste handling and biosecurity defined in the Regulation of Health-Care Establishments. It is a key step before (or alongside) the Sanitary License.
Quick summary: In-person filing at Municipal Health Coordinator (MSPAS) with mandatory physical inspection. Q0 according to official service 1755. Time: 15 days (official catalogue). Not available online. Applies to clinics, hospitals, sanatoria, clinical labs and other health-care facilities.
Data verified against the official Catalogo Unico de Tramites del Estado, tramites.gob.gt — Service 1755.
Habitability Certificate vs Sanitary License
| Aspect | Habitability Certificate | Sanitary License |
|---|---|---|
| What it validates | Physical infrastructure of the facility | Authorization for the establishment to operate |
| Requires physical inspection? | Yes, always | Yes, on openings |
| Validity | 6 calendar months | 5 years |
| When applied for | Part of the Sanitary License file, or after remodels | Opening, renewal, transfer, modification, replacement |
| Issuing authority | Municipal Health Coordinator | DRACES (MSPAS) |
In most cases, the Habitability Certificate is processed as part of the Sanitary License file. However, MSPAS lists it as an independent service in the state procedure catalog (Service 1755).
Who Needs the Certificate
Every entity operating or planning to operate as a health-care establishment:
- Medical, dental, dermatology and physiotherapy clinics
- Private hospitals and sanatoria
- Clinical labs, imaging, ultrasound and X-ray centers
- Dialysis, oncology and radiotherapy centers
- Medical and dental offices
- Geriatric and palliative-care facilities
- Rehabilitation and physiotherapy centers
- Maternity homes, group homes with on-site medical services
Requirements
Official service 1755 lists:
- Inspection request identifying the type of establishment
- Copy of applicant DPI
- Certificate from the solid and common waste collection company
- Location sketch
- Qualification of the responsible professional or technician
- Favorable municipal council opinion
Steps
- Assemble the file. Use the checklist in official service 1755.
- Check the request. The official entry lists Q0 and does not require a payment receipt.
- Submit the request to the Municipal District Health Coordinator.
- Receive the intake receipt with file number.
- Physical inspection. MSPAS schedules a site visit. Inspectors verify infrastructure, ventilation, sinks, clean and dirty areas, drug storage, waste handling and overall biosecurity.
- Address findings if any. The inspection may leave a record with items to correct (signage, ventilation upgrades, sink installation, etc.).
- Re-inspection (if necessary) to validate corrections.
- Pick up the certificate issued by the Municipal Health Coordinator.
Cost and Time
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official cost | Q0, according to official service 1755 |
| Estimated time | 15 days (official catalogue) (longer if corrections are needed) |
| Validity | 6 calendar months |
| Modality | In-person, with mandatory physical inspection |
Confirm any additional requirements with the municipal coordinator.
How to Apply
The official entry directs the written inspection request to the Municipal District Health Coordinator.
Correction (2 November 2026): this page directed applicants to DRACES; service 1755 identifies the municipal coordinator as the certificate issuer.
Official portal entry: tramites.gob.gt/servicio/1755.
What the Inspection Verifies
MSPAS inspectors review, among other items:
- Differentiated areas (waiting, attention, procedures, sterilization, storage)
- Natural and mechanical ventilation per facility category
- Adequate lighting in clinical areas
- Sinks in correct number and location
- Floors and walls washable, crack-free, in critical areas
- Drug storage with temperature control where applicable
- Waste handling (containers, labeling, evacuation route)
- Safety signage and evacuation routes
- Emergency equipment (extinguishers, first-aid kit, oxygen if applicable)
- Biosecurity (procedures, personal protective equipment, training)
Common Mistakes
- Incomplete file: check the six requirements published in the official entry.
- Unresolved findings: follow the written period the inspector sets for improvements.
Related Procedures
- Sanitary License for Health Establishments
- Sanitary Registration Certificate Replacement
- Health Card (food handlers)
- Register a Business in Guatemala
- Guatemala government procedures hub