The Sanitary License for Health-Care Establishments is the official authorization that Guatemala’s Ministry of Health (MSPAS) issues to clinics, hospitals, sanatoria, clinical labs and any other entity providing health services. Without this license, a facility cannot legally operate. It is granted by the Departamento de Regulacion, Acreditacion y Control de Establecimientos de Salud (DRACES) and applies in five modalities: opening, renewal, transfer, modification and replacement.
Quick summary: In-person filing at MSPAS / DRACES. Variable cost per facility category. Time: 30-90 business days. Validity: 5 years. Required for every health-care establishment — clinics, hospitals, labs, medical offices. Not available online.
Data verified against the official Catalogo Unico de Tramites del Estado, tramites.gob.gt — Service 1791.
Who Needs This License
Guatemala’s Health Code and the Regulation of Health-Care Establishments cover:
- Private clinics (medical, dental, dermatology, physiotherapy, etc.)
- Private hospitals and sanatoria
- Diagnostic centers (clinical labs, imaging, ultrasound, X-ray)
- Dialysis and oncology centers
- Medical and dental offices
- Reproductive health centers
- Geriatric and palliative-care centers
- Rehabilitation centers
- Maternity homes, group homes with on-site medical services
If your establishment serves the public for health-related purposes, you need this license — regardless of size.
The 5 Modalities
| Modality | When It Applies |
|---|---|
| Opening | First-time license for a new establishment |
| Renewal | Before the license expires (every 5 years) |
| Transfer | When the physical address of the establishment changes |
| Modification | Change of trade name, owner, legal representative or services rendered |
| Replacement | Original certificate lost, stolen or damaged |
Each modality has its own specific requirements but shares a common documentary core.
Requirements (Opening)
- Application letter to MSPAS / DRACES, signed by the legal representative
- Valid DPI of owner / legal representative
- Trade or company patent (if a juridical person)
- Establishment NIT (CUI-NIT lookup)
- Articles of incorporation (if a juridical person)
- Architectural plan of the facility (signed by a registered architect)
- List of services to be provided
- List of health staff (with active professional licenses)
- Inventory of medical equipment
- Biosecurity manual and hospital-waste handling plan
- Contract with an authorized biohazard waste-management company
- Biosecurity training certificates
- Official payment receipt (MSPAS schedule, Acuerdo Gubernativo 712-99)
- Additional documents per facility category
Steps
- Define the modality that applies (opening, renewal, transfer, modification, replacement).
- Assemble the file per the modality’s requirements. For openings, prepare the architectural plan, biosecurity manual and waste-management contract.
- Pay the fee at an authorized bank per the MSPAS schedule. Keep the original receipt.
- Submit the file at DRACES, MSPAS zone 11.
- Receive the intake receipt with file number.
- Technical inspection. For openings, MSPAS schedules a site visit to verify infrastructure, equipment and biosecurity.
- Address findings if any (infrastructure adjustments, manuals, equipment).
- Receive the sanitary license signed and sealed — valid for 5 years.
Cost and Time
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official cost | Variable per MSPAS fee schedule (Acuerdo Gubernativo 712-99) and facility category |
| Estimated time | 30-90 business days |
| Validity | 5 years |
| Renewal | Before expiration — new inspection required |
| Modality | In-person (not online) |
A small clinic pays much less than a multi-specialty hospital. Confirm the amount with DRACES based on your facility category before paying.
How to Apply
The procedure is not available online. You must submit the file at:
- DRACES — Department of Regulation, Accreditation and Control of Health Establishments
- MSPAS headquarters, zone 11, Guatemala City
- MSPAS main switchboard: 2444-7474
Official portal entry: tramites.gob.gt/servicio/1791.
Common Mistakes
- Operating before the license is issued — MSPAS may order closure and impose fines.
- Forgetting the hospital-waste contract — it is mandatory.
- Staff without active professional licenses — every health professional must hold a current colegiado.
- Failing to update the license after changes — a change of address or owner without a modification filing voids the license.
- Waiting until expiration to renew — start the renewal at least 60 days before expiration.
Related Procedures
- Sanitary Registration Certificate Replacement
- Habitability Certificate for Health Establishments
- Health Card (food handlers)
- Register a Business in Guatemala
- Guatemala government procedures hub