Guatemala Minor Identity Document 2026: What Works for Under-18 Travel and Banking

TL;DR: Guatemala does not issue DPIs to under-18 minors. Minors are identified using: (1) birth certificate RENAP — Q15, primary document; (2) identity card (constancia) with photo — Q15, optional but useful at banks and private institutions; (3) minor passport — for international travel. When the minor turns 18, they must apply for a DPI.

Why does my child not have a DPI?

By law, the DPI (Documento Personal de Identificacion) is only issued to persons age 18 and older (Decree 90-2005, RENAP Law). Below that age, the Guatemalan system has no equivalent biometric ID card with photo, signature, and fingerprint.

This is common across Latin America (Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras also do not issue cedulas to minors). Instead, Guatemala provides three alternative documents to identify a minor:

1. Birth certificate (RENAP certification) — the primary legal document
2. Minor identity card (constancia de identificacion para menor) — optional, with photo, useful in everyday transactions
3. Minor passport — for international travel, also serves as ID

Each is used for different purposes. The minor identity card causes the most confusion because it is not mandatory but many private banks, private schools, and migration authorities request it.

Primary document: Birth certificate

The birth certificate (acta or certificacion de nacimiento) is the official identity document for minors in Guatemala. Accepted at:

• School enrollment (public and private)
• Child savings bank account opening
• Minor passport application
• Visa application (USA, Canada, Europe)
• Health insurance enrollment
• Any legal act (inheritance, property, beneficiary)

Request it at a RENAP office or via eportal.renap.gob.gt for Q15. Full details at RENAP birth certificate.

Optional document: Minor identity card (constancia)

The minor identity card (constancia de identificacion para menor), sometimes called “carnet de menor,” is a document RENAP issues at the request of parents or guardians. It contains:

• Full legal name of the minor
• 13-digit CUI (same as the birth certificate)
• Date of birth
• Recent photo of the minor
• Parent data
• RENAP stamp and signature

Useful for: parents who want a more portable document than the legal-size birth certificate, private banks requiring photo ID for the beneficiary, airport authorities for domestic flights, private schools with strict ID requirements.

It does not replace the DPI. When the minor turns 18, they must apply for their DPI — the minor identity card automatically loses validity.

Requirements to obtain the minor identity card

You must present at the RENAP office:

• Minor birth certificate (recent RENAP certification, ideally less than 6 months old)
• Valid DPI of the parent, mother, or legal guardian
• Recent photo of the minor — passport size (3x4 cm), white background, face uncovered
• Q15 in cash or card
• Judicial guardianship order — if the applicant is not the biological parent
• Physical presence of the minor — some RENAP offices require photo capture on-site (in that case you do not need to bring a photo)

Practical note: large RENAP offices (zona 9, zona 10, Cayala, Antigua) have on-site cameras. Smaller offices require pre-printed photos. Call 1516 to confirm.

Step-by-step: Get a minor identity card

1. Verify the birth certificate. Make sure the certificate is current and the data is correct. If there are typographical errors, first request a birth record correction (rectificacion de partida).

2. Schedule a RENAP appointment. Go to eportal.renap.gob.gt, select “Cita en sede” and choose the most convenient office. Without an appointment, wait times can run 2-4 hours.

3. Bring the documentation. Birth certificate + your DPI + minor photo (or bring the child for on-site photo). Arrive 15 minutes before the appointment.

4. Pay the fee. Q15 in cash or credit/debit card. Some offices only accept cash — confirm on arrival.

5. Data and photo capture. RENAP staff capture the minor data in the system, take the photo if not pre-printed, and print the identity card.

6. Pick up the document. Same-day issuance at offices with on-site printing. Smaller offices may take 1-2 business days.

7. Verify the data. Before leaving, check that the name, CUI, date of birth, and photo are correct. Any error must be corrected on the spot.

Cost and timing

Common errors

For Guatemalans living in the USA (Diaspora)

If your child is a Guatemalan minor living in the United States:

• The Guatemalan birth certificate works as identification at the Guatemalan consulate and for processes in Guatemala.
• For US processes, Guatemalan documents must be accompanied by certified English translation + MINEX apostille.
• Guatemalan minor passport is processed at the consulate for $50-85 USD. It is the most portable and internationally accepted ID. See minor passport from USA.
• For US school enrollment or service registration, US officials typically accept a Guatemalan passport + apostilled birth certificate (for minors born in Guatemala). For minors born in the USA, the US state birth certificate is the primary document — the registration as Guatemalan is complementary.

Important: the RENAP minor identity card is not accepted as official ID in the USA. For diaspora, the minor passport is the most practical option.

Quick comparison: 3 documents to identify minors

Related procedures

• Hub: RENAP — All procedures
• Minor CUI lookup
• RENAP birth certificate
• Birth record correction (typos)
• Guatemalan passport (including minors)
• Registration of birth abroad
• Get a DPI at age 18
• Late birth registration
• MINEX apostille (using documents in the USA)
• Minor exit permit (IGM)

Official links

• www.renap.gob.gt — main page
• www.renap.gob.gt/servicios — services catalog
• eportal.renap.gob.gt — appointments and certifications
• RENAP phone: 1516 (free within Guatemala)
• Guatemalan consulates in the USA — for diaspora minors