Getting married in Guatemala involves both the ceremony and the civil registration at RENAP (Registro Nacional de las Personas). Unlike some countries where religious and civil marriages are separate events, Guatemala recognizes marriages performed before three types of authorities: a municipal alcalde (mayor), a notario (notary public), or a ministro de culto (minister of worship). Regardless of who performs the ceremony, the marriage must be inscribed at RENAP to be legally valid.

The most affordable option is marrying before the municipal mayor, which is entirely free. The Municipalidad de Guatemala even holds matrimonios colectivos (collective weddings) every month where dozens of couples marry simultaneously in a festive ceremony at no cost. If you prefer a private ceremony at a location of your choice, a notary will charge between Q500 and Q3,000 in professional fees.

Quick summary: Civil marriage before a mayor is free. Notary fees range from Q500-Q3,000. Both spouses need valid DPIs showing “soltero/a” status, recent birth certificates, medical certificates, and two witnesses. RENAP registration takes 1-2 weeks.

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

Cost

Item Cost
Civil marriage before mayor Free
Civil marriage before notary Q500-Q3,000 (notary fees)
Notary ceremony outside office Additional Q500-Q2,000
Marriage certificate (RENAP) Q25
Birth certificate per person Q15
Medical certificate per person Q50-Q200
Capitulaciones matrimoniales (if foreign spouse) Q500-Q1,500

Requirements

Both Spouses Must Present:

  • DPI vigente with civil status showing “soltero/a” (single)
  • Certificacion de nacimiento from RENAP — issued within the last 3 months
  • Certificado medico — a medical certificate confirming physical health and absence of infectious/hereditary diseases
  • Two witnesses with valid DPIs who are not family members

If One Spouse Is Foreign:

  • Birth certificate from country of origin — apostilled or legalized
  • Certificate of no impediment (certificado de solteria) from country of origin — apostilled or legalized
  • Spanish translation by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) if documents are not in Spanish
  • Capitulaciones matrimoniales — a prenuptial property agreement, mandatory when one spouse is a foreigner (processed before a notary)

Special Cases:

  • Widows/widowers: Must present the death certificate of the previous spouse
  • Divorced persons: Must present the divorce inscription from RENAP with updated civil status on DPI
  • Minors (under 18): Marriage of minors has been prohibited in Guatemala since reforms to the Civil Code

Step-by-Step Process

Option 1: Marriage Before the Mayor (Free)

  1. Gather documents — DPIs, birth certificates, medical certificates
  2. Identify two witnesses — adults with valid DPIs, not family members
  3. Visit your municipality’s civil registry and request a marriage date
  4. Attend the ceremony — the mayor (or designated official) performs the ceremony at the municipal hall
  5. Sign the marriage act — both spouses and witnesses sign
  6. Municipality sends documentation to RENAP for inscription
  7. Request your marriage certificate at RENAP (Q25) once inscribed

Option 2: Marriage Before a Notary

  1. Choose a notary and agree on fees (Q500-Q3,000)
  2. Provide documents to the notary for review
  3. Notary prepares the marriage act (escritura publica)
  4. Ceremony — can be at the notary’s office or location of your choice
  5. Notary sends testimony to RENAP for inscription
  6. Request your marriage certificate at RENAP (Q25)

Option 3: Marriage Before a Minister of Worship

  1. Your church/religious institution handles the ceremony
  2. Minister must be legally authorized to perform civil marriages
  3. Minister sends documentation to RENAP for inscription
  4. Request your marriage certificate at RENAP (Q25)

Processing Time

  • Ceremony scheduling: 1-4 weeks depending on the municipality
  • RENAP inscription: 1-2 weeks after the ceremony
  • Marriage certificate: Immediate once inscribed (available online at eportal.renap.gob.gt for Q25)

Collective Weddings (Matrimonios Colectivos)

The Municipalidad de Guatemala regularly holds free collective wedding ceremonies, usually the first Friday of each month at the Edificio de Correos (7a Avenida 12-11, Zone 1). These are festive events where the mayor personally officiates and marries all participating couples.

Requirements for collective weddings are the same as individual ceremonies before the mayor. Contact the Municipalidad de Guatemala at 1551 or visit muniguate.com for the next date.

Other municipalities around the country, including Mixco, Villa Nueva, and Quetzaltenango, also hold periodic collective weddings — check with your local municipality.

From the US (Diaspora Info)

If one or both partners are Guatemalans living in the US:

  • Consular marriages — Guatemalan consulates can register marriages performed in the US. The consular registration is free
  • Getting married in Guatemala — you must both travel to Guatemala for the ceremony, as proxy marriages are not recognized
  • US marriage recognition — a marriage performed in Guatemala is generally recognized in the US, but you may need an apostilled marriage certificate translated into English
  • Document preparation — if the US-based spouse needs a certificate of no impediment, contact your county clerk or state vital records office. Some states do not issue this document, in which case an affidavit sworn before a notary public can substitute

Tips & Common Mistakes

  1. Check your DPI civil status first. Your DPI must show “soltero/a.” If you were previously married and divorced, make sure your DPI has been updated to reflect your current status. This is the number one reason marriage applications get rejected.

  2. Get fresh birth certificates. RENAP birth certificates older than 3 months are not accepted for marriage. Get new ones right before starting the process — they cost Q15 each at any RENAP office or online at eportal.renap.gob.gt.

  3. Medical certificates expire quickly. Get them close to your ceremony date. Most doctors charge Q50-Q200 and issue them the same day.

  4. Foreign documents take time. If your spouse is foreign, allow 2-4 weeks for apostilles, translations, and notarization. Sworn translators (traductores jurados) in Guatemala City charge Q300-Q800 per document depending on length.

  5. Follow up on RENAP registration. The officiating authority is supposed to send the marriage act to RENAP, but delays happen. Check with RENAP 2 weeks after the ceremony to confirm your marriage was inscribed.