What Is a Work Certificate

The work certificate (also called constancia laboral, carta laboral, or employment letter) is a mandatory official document the employer must deliver to the worker per Article 87 of the Labor Code of Guatemala.

It’s one of the basic worker rights. Its function: formally certify that you worked at a company, for how long, in what position, with what salary, and when/how the relationship ended (if it has).

Unlike other documents, it’s FREE and must be delivered by the employer upon request — during or after employment.

What Must the Work Certificate Contain

Article 87 requires only three items: the start and end dates, the kind of work performed, and the ordinary and overtime wage of the last pay period. How the worker performed and the cause of termination go in only if the worker asks. The rest of this list is common practice:

Worker data:

  • Full name
  • DPI or identification number (recommended, not mandatory)
  • Position held

Labor data:

  • Hire date (day/month/year)
  • End date (day/month/year) if applicable
  • Monthly salary earned (at termination or current if still active)
  • Reason for termination (only if the worker asks, Art. 87):
    • “Voluntary resignation”
    • “Termination with just cause per Article 77”
    • “Termination without just cause per Article 78”
    • “Mutual agreement”
    • “Retirement by age/disability”

Company data:

  • Full name and business name
  • Business NIT
  • Tax address
  • Name and position of signatory (manager, HR director, legal representative)
  • Company seal
  • Representative’s signature

Date and place:

  • Place of issuance (city, department)
  • Issuance date

Standard Work Certificate Format

[Company logo or letterhead]

WORK CERTIFICATE

Guatemala, [issuance date]

To whom it may concern:

This is to certify that Mr./Mrs. [FULL NAME OF WORKER],
with DPI number [13 digits], worked at this company
performing the position of [TITLE OR POSITION].

The period worked was from [hire date] to [end date],
earning a monthly salary of Q [amount in quetzales]
(plus/without Q250 incentive bonus).

The reason for termination of the labor relationship was
[voluntary resignation / dismissal / mutual agreement / etc.].

This certificate is issued at the request of the interested
party for the uses they deem appropriate.

___________________________
[Full name of signatory]
[Position - General Manager / HR Director / etc.]
[Company name]
NIT: [number]
[Contact phone]

[COMPANY SEAL]

Most Common Uses of the Work Certificate

What you need it forRecommended age
Job hunting (prove experience)No limit, more recent better
US visa (DS-160)Less than 30 days
Canadian visaLess than 30 days
Open bank accountLess than 60 days
Bank/mortgage creditLess than 30 days
Credit card applicationLess than 60 days
IGSS pensionNo limit
Government social program (Bono Social)Less than 90 days
Labor lawsuitSame date as event
Passport applicationNo age requirement
Apostille for use abroadRecent for processing

How to Request Your Work Certificate

If you still work at the company:

  1. Request in writing to HR department or directly to your boss.
  2. Delivery time depends on the company, but shouldn’t exceed 5-10 business days.
  3. If the employer delays, ask again in writing. Art. 87 governs the certificate at the end of the contract; during employment the letter is common practice, not a Code article.

If you’ve ended the contract:

  1. Art. 87 requires delivery when the contract expires, normally together with your finiquito.
  2. If you didn’t receive it, request in writing with signed acknowledgment copy.
  3. The Code sets no deadline in days for delivery; don’t wait to ask.

If the employer refuses to deliver it:

  1. Request in writing with copy signed by the employer or a witness.
  2. File complaint at MINTRAB - General Labor Inspection:
    • MINTRAB (7a. Avenida 3-33, Zone 9, Guatemala City) or a departmental delegation
    • MINTRAB complaints line: 1511
    • Online: MINTRAB portal with DPI
  3. MINTRAB can sanction the employer with fines of 5 to 10 monthly minimum wages (~Q20,011 to Q40,023 at the 2026 non-agricultural minimum wage of Q4,002.28). Article 87 is named explicitly in Article 272 literal f) of the Labor Code, as reformed by Decreto 7-2017, which applies the fines set in literal e).

Work Certificate vs Other Documents

It’s common to confuse these documents. The difference:

DocumentWho issuesMandatory?What it certifies
Work certificate (constancia)EmployerYES (Art. 87)Objective relationship data
Recommendation letterEmployer (optional)NOOpinion on performance
Carta de trabajoEmployer (synonym for certificate)YESSame as certificate
No criminal recordPNC or MINGOBNO (it’s for your use)That you have no criminal record
IGSS ConstanciaIGSSNOThat you were affiliated

Tips When Receiving Your Work Certificate

  1. Verify the data. Any error (incorrect date, position, salary, reason) must be corrected before accepting.

  2. Request original copy (with seal and signature). Photocopies or printouts are usually not accepted for official processes.

  3. Make several certified copies. For multiple uses, take the original to a Notary to certify photocopies. Each certified copy costs ~Q15-30.

  4. Apostille if going abroad. For use outside Guatemala (consulates, visas, foreign jobs), you may need to apostille the certificate. The MINEX apostille costs Q85 per document (Q75 plus Q10 in fiscal stamps); because the certificate is a private document, it must go through a notary first.

  5. Store it safely. Your work certificate is part of your professional history. Keep digital and physical copies for future use.

If the Certificate Has Incorrect Data

If your employer delivers a certificate with false or harmful data:

  • Salary lower than real: affects your calculation of future benefits and your credibility with banks.
  • Incorrect termination reason: “justified termination” when it was unjustified affects your right to severance.
  • Wrong dates: affects your seniority for pensions.

Actions:

  1. Request correction in writing. Indicate the erroneous data and provide evidence (pay stubs, contract).
  2. If they refuse: file complaint at MINTRAB and demand a correct certificate.
  3. In serious cases (with clear economic harm): sue the employer in labor tribunals for document falsification.

This page offers general guidance on Guatemala labor legislation. For cases where the employer persistently refuses to deliver the certificate or delivers false data, consult a labor advisor at MINTRAB (free) or a specialized lawyer.