Health Card (Tarjeta de Salud) in Guatemala (2026)

The tarjeta de salud (health card) is a document issued by Guatemala’s Ministerio de Salud Publica y Asistencia Social (MSPAS) certifying that a person is healthy enough to work in environments involving food preparation, handling, or service. If you have ever worked in a restaurant, comedor, tienda, panaderia, or any food-related business in Guatemala, you know this card — it is one of the first things employers ask for during the hiring process.

The card is more than just a formality. It serves a genuine public health purpose. The examination screens for infectious diseases that could be transmitted through food handling, including hepatitis A, sexually transmitted infections, and parasitic diseases. The results help protect both workers and the public, and they give employers documentation that their staff meets health standards.

Getting the tarjeta de salud is relatively quick and inexpensive. You visit a government health center (centro de salud), provide a photo and your DPI, pay Q30, and in many cases receive the card the same day. Some health centers that require lab tests may deliver the card the following day once results are ready.

Quick summary: Costs Q30 (~$4 USD). Processed at any government health center. Same-day in many cases. Must be renewed annually. Required for all food-handling jobs.

Prices verified March 2026. Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.

Cost

Requirements

• DPI vigente — photocopy (or birth certificate for minors)
• Photograph — 3.6 cm x 3.3 cm on photographic paper (similar to passport size). Bring it from home to save time
• Lab results (required at some health centers):
  • Hepatitis A test
  • VDRL (syphilis screening)
  • Stool analysis (heces)
  • Urine analysis
• Payment of Q30

Note: Some health centers include the lab tests in the Q30 fee, while others require you to get them separately at a laboratory.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Get a passport-sized photo (3.6 x 3.3 cm) — photo studios near health centers and markets typically offer these for Q5-Q10
2. Make a photocopy of your DPI (both sides)
3. If your health center requires lab tests — visit the health center or a private lab first to get the required blood, stool, and urine tests done
4. Go to your local centro de salud — arrive early (7:00-8:00 AM) as they process on a first-come basis
5. Present your photo, DPI copy, and lab results (if applicable)
6. Pay Q30
7. Receive your tarjeta de salud — same day at many locations, or the following day if tests are processed internally

Where to Get It

The tarjeta de salud is issued at centros de salud (government health centers) run by MSPAS, located throughout Guatemala. Key locations in Guatemala City include:

Each department and major municipality has its own centro de salud or area de salud where the tarjeta de salud can be issued.

Constancia de Manipulacion de Alimentos

In addition to the tarjeta de salud, some employers (especially larger restaurants, hotels, and food factories) require the constancia de manipulacion de alimentos (food handling certificate). This is a related but separate document that certifies you have received training in food safety and hygiene practices.

Requirements for the constancia:

• DPI photocopy
• Passport-sized photo
• Current tarjeta de salud
• Completion of a food handling training session (capacitacion)

The training is offered at the same health centers and typically takes a few hours.

Renewal

The tarjeta de salud must be renewed every year. The renewal process is the same as the initial application:

1. Visit a centro de salud
2. Present updated photo, DPI, and lab results (if required)
3. Pay Q30
4. Receive the renewed card

Many employers track renewal dates and will not allow you to continue working in food-handling roles with an expired card.

From the US (Diaspora Info)

The tarjeta de salud cannot be obtained from abroad — it requires a physical visit to a health center in Guatemala:

• If you are returning to Guatemala to work in the food industry, plan to get your tarjeta de salud during your first week
• The process is quick (often same-day) and inexpensive (Q30)
• If you are sending a family member to work, remind them to get both the tarjeta de salud and the tarjeta de pulmones as most food-industry employers require both

Tips & Common Mistakes

1. Arrive early. Health centers serve on a first-come, first-served basis. If you arrive at 7:00 AM, you are more likely to be processed the same day. Afternoon arrivals may be told to come back tomorrow.

2. Check if your health center does lab tests in-house. Some centros de salud have their own laboratory and include tests in the Q30 fee. Others require you to bring lab results from an external laboratory, which costs an additional Q50-Q150. Call ahead to check.

3. Bring the right photo size. The photo must be 3.6 cm x 3.3 cm on actual photographic paper. Cell phone printouts and photocopies are not accepted. Get it done at a photo studio for Q5-Q10.

4. Get the tarjeta de pulmones at the same time. Since most food-industry employers require both the tarjeta de salud and the tarjeta de pulmones, plan to get both during the same week. The pulmones card is obtained at a different location (Liga Nacional Contra la Tuberculosis), so they cannot be done at the same health center.

5. Set a calendar reminder for renewal. The card expires after one year, and employers can and do check. Set a reminder a month before expiration to avoid a gap in your work eligibility.

Official Links

• Tramites.gob.gt — Tarjeta de Salud
• Tramites.gob.gt — Constancia de Manipulacion de Alimentos
• MSPAS — Ministry of Health