The tarjeta de pulmones (lungs card or TB clearance card) is a certificate that proves you do not have tuberculosis or other infectious respiratory diseases. It is one of the most commonly required employment documents in Guatemala, alongside the tarjeta de salud and antecedentes penales. It is a different document from the tarjeta de salud — Acuerdo Gubernativo 72-2003 defines them separately in Article 2 (paragraphs g and h) and Article 12 lists them as two separate obligations. There are two places that issue it: the Liga Nacional contra la Tuberculosis and the MSPAS Dispensario Antituberculoso Central. Neither is an ordinary health centre.

Tuberculosis remains a public health concern in Guatemala, with the country reporting thousands of new cases annually. The tarjeta de pulmones serves as a screening mechanism — particularly for workers in the food industry, healthcare, education, and customer-facing roles. By requiring periodic chest X-rays, the system helps detect active TB cases early, protecting both the worker and the public.

The two routes differ in one important way. At the Liga you bring a chest X-ray you already had taken elsewhere, together with the radiologist’s signed and sealed report — the X-ray is not performed there. At the MSPAS Dispensario, its director told Prensa Libre the requirement is simply to appear in person for a medical evaluation with your DPI. Both issue the card the same day.

Quick summary: Issued at the Liga Nacional contra la Tuberculosis (9a calle A 0-65, zona 1, Mon-Fri 7:00-17:00) or the MSPAS Dispensario Antituberculoso Central (10 avenida 14-65, zona 1, tel 2232-0643, Mon-Fri 8:00-16:30). Same-day. The Liga charged Q30 per Prensa Libre in January 2024; MSPAS publishes no fee. No renewal period is published for this card — the one-year validity that circulates online belongs to the tarjeta de salud.

Establishment data (addresses, phones, hours) verified against the official MSPAS establishments portal on 1 September 2026. The Liga’s address, hours and Q30 fee come from Prensa Libre reporting in January and June 2024 and could not be confirmed against any 2025 or 2026 publication.

Cost

RoutePublished cost
Liga Nacional contra la TuberculosisQ30 for the exams (Prensa Libre, Jan 2024). The chest X-ray itself is taken elsewhere and paid separately; no source publishes that price.
MSPAS Dispensario Antituberculoso CentralNo fee published by MSPAS.
(For comparison) tarjeta de salud at any health centreQ 0 — free, per the government trámite catalogue and MSPAS via Prensa Libre.

Requirements

At the Liga Nacional contra la Tuberculosis (Prensa Libre, January 2024):

  • A chest X-ray taken at any authorised radiology centre
  • The radiologist’s report — original plus photocopy, with original signature and seal
  • The X-ray film or disc itself
  • DPI, original

At the MSPAS Dispensario Antituberculoso Central (its director, via Prensa Libre, June 2024):

  • Appear in person for a medical evaluation
  • DPI, original (mandatory)
  • Sign the constancia they issue you

If you are unwell on the day, the Dispensario’s director warned that the card will not be issued.

Not published by any source: the accepted payment method, and any validity period for this card.

Step-by-Step Process

Route A — Liga Nacional contra la Tuberculosis

  1. Have a chest X-ray taken at any authorised radiology centre, and collect the film or disc
  2. Collect the radiologist’s report — make sure it carries an original signature and seal, and take a photocopy
  3. Go to the Liga: 9a calle A 0-65, zona 1, Guatemala City — Monday to Friday, 7:00 to 17:00
  4. Present the X-ray, the report and your original DPI
  5. Receive your tarjeta de pulmones the same day

Route B — MSPAS Dispensario Antituberculoso Central

  1. Go to the Dispensario: 10 avenida 14-65, zona 1, Guatemala City — Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 16:30, tel 2232-0643
  2. Be evaluated in person by the doctor
  3. Present your original DPI and sign the constancia they issue
  4. Receive the card the same day, per the Dispensario’s director

No source publishes the queue length or a best time to arrive for either route, so we do not estimate one.

Main Location

Liga Nacional contra la Tuberculosis

  • Address: 9a calle A 0-65, zona 1, Guatemala City
  • Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 to 17:00
  • Source: Prensa Libre, January 2024 and June 2024. The Liga has no reachable official website, and we found no phone number published by any source.

Dispensario Antituberculoso Central (MSPAS)

  • Address: 10 avenida 14-65, zona 1, Guatemala City
  • Phone: 2232-0643
  • Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 16:30
  • Status: Funcionando
  • Source: official MSPAS establishments portal, read 1 September 2026

Outside Guatemala City

Only one location outside the capital is published anywhere we could find. In Quetzaltenango the card is issued at an annexe of the Hospital Nacional Rodolfo Robles, Diagonal 11 D8-013, zona 1 — which Prensa Libre describes as the only authorised centre in that region. It is a national hospital annexe, not a Liga branch.

For every other department, no issuing location is published. If you live elsewhere, call before travelling rather than assuming a local office exists.

When You Need This Document

The tarjeta de pulmones is required for:

  • Food industry employment — restaurants, comedores, food factories, bakeries, supermarkets
  • Healthcare workers — hospitals, clinics, pharmacies
  • Education sector — teachers and school staff
  • Domestic workers — many households require it
  • Hotel and tourism — front-of-house and kitchen staff
  • Government positions — many public sector jobs require it
  • General employment — an increasing number of employers in all sectors request it

In practice, the tarjeta de pulmones has become a near-universal employment requirement in Guatemala, much like the antecedentes penales and antecedentes policiacos.

From the US (Diaspora Info)

The tarjeta de pulmones cannot be obtained from abroad — it requires a physical chest X-ray at the Liga’s facilities:

  • If you are returning to Guatemala to work, plan to get the tarjeta de pulmones during your first few days. The process is same-day
  • The Liga’s main office in Zone 1 is the most accessible option for visitors unfamiliar with other locations
  • If you are sending a family member to work, remind them to get both the tarjeta de pulmones and the tarjeta de salud — most employers require both
  • For US immigration or employment: The tarjeta de pulmones is NOT equivalent to the medical examination required for US immigration (which must be done by USCIS-approved physicians). These are completely separate processes

Edge Cases & Special Situations

Details

Pregnant women should avoid chest X-rays due to radiation exposure. If you are pregnant and need a tarjeta de pulmones for employment, inform the Liga staff. They may issue a temporary exemption or alternative documentation. Some employers accept a medical certificate from your obstetrician confirming no TB symptoms as a temporary substitute until after delivery.

Details

The chest X-ray may reveal non-TB conditions like pneumonia, lung nodules, or other findings. The Liga’s radiologist will note the finding and may refer you for additional evaluation at a hospital. If the abnormality is clearly not infectious TB, you can still receive your tarjeta de pulmones. The card certifies TB clearance, not overall lung health.

Tips & Common Mistakes

  1. Go early in the morning. The Liga’s Zone 1 office gets very busy by mid-morning. Arriving at 7:00-8:00 AM means shorter wait times. By noon, you may be waiting 2+ hours.

  2. Do not confuse it with the tarjeta de salud. The tarjeta de pulmones (TB clearance) and the tarjeta de salud (general health card) are different documents from different institutions. The pulmones card comes from the Liga Nacional Contra la Tuberculosis. The tarjeta de salud comes from MSPAS health centers. Most employers require BOTH.

  3. Wear clothing that is easy to remove from the waist up. For the chest X-ray, you will need to remove metal objects and clothing from your upper body. A simple t-shirt that is easy to take off and put back on will speed things up.

  4. Get both employment health cards in the same week. Since the tarjeta de pulmones and the tarjeta de salud are at different locations, plan to visit the Liga on one day and the centro de salud on another day during the same week. This way, you are fully ready for employment within a few days.

  5. If you test positive for TB, do not panic. The national TB program provides free treatment. Active TB is curable with proper medication (typically 6 months of treatment). The Liga will guide you through the next steps and connect you with treatment facilities.