The constancia de antecedentes policiacos is a certificate issued by Guatemala’s Policia Nacional Civil (PNC) confirming whether or not a person has police records. Along with the antecedentes penales (criminal background check from the Organismo Judicial), this is one of the two background check documents that virtually every formal employer in Guatemala requires during the hiring process.

The PNC modernized this process several years ago, and today you can get your antecedentes policiacos entirely online through policiales.pnc.gob.gt. The online process is straightforward — you pay Q30 at the bank, enter your payment details on the website, and receive a downloadable PDF certificate. If you prefer to do it in person, you can visit the PNC headquarters or any authorized comisaria.

Quick summary: Costs Q30 (~$4 USD), available online at policiales.pnc.gob.gt, delivered as PDF the same day. Valid for 6 months. Requires a valid boleto de ornato.

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

Cost

Item Cost
Police background certificate Q30
Boleto de ornato (municipal tax) Q5-Q150 (depends on income bracket)

Payment at Banrural, Banco Industrial, or G&T Continental.

Requirements

  • DPI vigente (valid national ID) — for Guatemalans
  • Pasaporte vigente — for foreigners
  • Boleto de ornato for the current year — the annual municipal tax (people over 65 are exempt)
  • Bank payment receipt for Q30

Step-by-Step Process (Online)

  1. Pay your boleto de ornato if you have not done so this year (at your municipality)
  2. Pay Q30 at Banrural, Banco Industrial, or G&T Continental
  3. Go to policiales.pnc.gob.gt
  4. Register with your personal details (name, DPI, email)
  5. Enter the payment reference number from your bank receipt
  6. Submit the request
  7. Receive an email with a link to download your certificate as PDF
  8. Download and print your certificate

In-Person Option

  1. Pay Q30 at an authorized bank
  2. Go to the PNC Central Headquarters (6a Avenida 13-71, Zone 1, Guatemala City) or an authorized comisaria
  3. Present your DPI, boleto de ornato, and payment receipt
  4. Receive your certificate the same day

Processing Time

  • Online: Same day — certificates are usually generated within hours
  • In person: Same day at the central office; may take 1 business day at comisarias
  • Validity: 6 months

When You Need This Document

The antecedentes policiacos are commonly required for:

  • Employment — standard requirement alongside antecedentes penales for formal hiring
  • Government contracts — mandatory for public sector suppliers and contractors
  • Vehicle deregistration — needed as part of the vehicle inactivation process at SAT
  • Professional licenses — regulated professions and security-related jobs
  • Immigration procedures — visa applications for other countries
  • Security guard licensing — DIPRONA requires it for private security credentials
  • Firearm permits — required by DIGECAM

From the US (Diaspora Info)

If you are in the United States and need your antecedentes policiacos:

  • The online platform works internationally — you can access policiales.pnc.gob.gt from anywhere
  • Payment is the bottleneck — you need to pay Q30 at a Guatemalan bank. Banrural’s online banking platform is the most practical option. Alternatively, ask a trusted family member in Guatemala to make the payment and send you the receipt details
  • Boleto de ornato may be an issue — if you have not paid your municipal tax, you may need someone in Guatemala to handle that for you first. Some municipalities let you pay at Banrural
  • The PDF is digitally valid — it includes verification codes that institutions can use to confirm authenticity
  • For US immigration purposes — if you need an apostille, a representative in Guatemala will need to process that through the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores

Tips & Common Mistakes

  1. Get both documents at once. Since most employers and procedures require both the antecedentes penales and the policiacos, plan to get them on the same day to save trips to the bank and time online.

  2. Do not forget your boleto de ornato. This is the most common reason people get turned away. Even for the online process, the system may verify your ornato status. Pay it early in January to avoid complications all year.

  3. Keep your payment receipt. The boleta number and bank reference are essential for the online process. If you lose them, you will need to go to the bank for a replacement receipt, which is a hassle.

  4. Foreigners use their passport number. If you are a foreign national, you process antecedentes policiacos with your passport — you do not need a DPI. Make sure your passport is not expired.

  5. Print multiple copies. Some institutions keep the original and do not return it. Print at least 3 copies so you do not have to repeat the process if you need the document for multiple purposes.