Living in Guatemala
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Guatemala.
This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Guatemala. Read about how the Embassy in Guatemala can help.
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the local authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Support for British nationals abroad: a guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
To stay up to date, follow:
Before you go
See our Guatemala travel advice for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety, and emergencies.
If you plan to run a business in Guatemala see the overseas business risk guide.
Visas and residency
Check the Entry requirements section of our Guatemala travel advice for information about entry into Guatemala.
Also look at
(You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension, and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.)
British nationals are not required to obtain a Guatemalan visa to visit Guatemala as a tourist for short stays but visitors must comply with migration requirements to enter the country for longer periods of time.
For information on Guatemalan migration law, please contact the Guatemalan Embassy in London or see the website of the Guatemalan Institute of Migration in Guatemala City.
If you overstay your visa then you should expect to pay a fine before leaving the country. This fine can be paid at the main Guatemalan Institute of Migration in Guatemala City. You can also pay the fine at the airport, however you can have considerable delays and risk to lose the flight.
For general information on Guatemala, please visit the website of PROATUR, an office part of the Tourist Authority that provides information and assistance to tourists.
Passports and travel
You can apply for or renew your British passport while in Guatemala at overseas British passport applications. Note that the issuing of a passport takes place in the UK. Allow good time before any planned trip.
Check the entry requirements – Guatemala travel advice for passport validity requirements.
Healthcare in Guatemala
Guatemala and the UK do not have reciprocal healthcare agreements.
You should buy comprehensive Travel and Medical Insurance before you enter the country.
UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live permanently overseas.
- For guidance on Health risks, visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre website
Private medical care is available but can be expensive. If travelling and/or living in Guatemala, it is advisable to obtain medical insurance. Private hospitals might require payment prior to giving treatment to patients, even if personal medical insurance covers the cost of treatment. Please see the Health pages in our travel advice.
More about Guatemala’s public health system can be found on the website of the Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (in Spanish).
The Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social has a social security system for registered workers.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any medication, you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Guatemala. Certain medicines may not be available in Guatemala (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Guatemala to find out about any alternative medication.
Read this guidance if you need to travel with medicines.
Working in Guatemala
If you are planning to move to Guatemala and work, you should apply for a visa or permit at the nearest Guatemalan Embassy . If you are in the UK, you can contact the Guatemalan Embassy in London. You can work in Guatemala if authorised to do so.
Check the Guatemalan Guatemalan Embassy in London for more information on Guatemalan visa requirements, costs, application process, and the type of visa you need.
To apply for a job, you may need:
- A UK police certificate
- To apply for a temporary or permanent Guatemalan residency (visit the website of the Institute of Migration in Spanish)
The Ministry of Work of Guatemala deals with employment matters in Guatemala. For matters related to recognised educational qualifications, please contact the Ministry of Education (website in Spanish).
For information on local tax, please visit the Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria SAT website (in Spanish),
Studying in Guatemala
If you plan to study in Guatemala, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. For more information about requirements, consult the nearest Guatemalan Embassy.
Contact the relevant education provider in Guatemala to check what fees you have to pay and documentation you will need.
Tax
Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Guatemala. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Guatemala.
Read guidance on:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad
- tax if you get a pension and live abroad
- paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances
If opening a personal bank account, you will be expected to present documentation to prove that you live in Guatemala, your address in Guatemala, place of work and the name of people in Guatemala that can give references about you.
You will also be asked to explain the origin of the funds that will be deposited in your account. For information on the banking rules, please visit the website of the Superintendencia de Bancos (in Spanish).
For information on tax, please visit the Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria SAT website.
If interested in investing in Guatemala, please contact the Guatemalan Embassy in London for information.
If you need more guidance on local law, the British Embassy provides a list of English-speaking lawyer in Guatemala.
Benefits
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you are abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Pensions
If you retire in Guatemala, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.
You can claim state pension abroad if you have paid enough UK National Insurance contributions to qualify.
Life certificates for UK state pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.
Money and banking
The local currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal. It is easier to exchange US dollar notes into local currency than Sterling. Currency exchange service is available at the bureaux de change at arrival at the airport and at a select banking institutions (but they may require you to hold an account in order to exchange currency). It is not usually possible to exchange cash at hotel receptions. UK debit and credit cards are widely accepted for payment and in ATMs.
To open and operate a Guatemalan bank account you must comply with various requirements and local law. For detailed information on money and banking, please contact the nearest Guatemalan Embassy.
Accommodation and buying property
Foreign nationals have been caught up in property scams. Before making financial commitments and buying property in Guatemala, you should seek independent qualified legal advice.
Read our guidance on Buying a property abroad.
Guatemalan law does not impose restriction upon acquisition of property by foreign nationals. There are restrictions regarding property on certain areas which cannot be owned by non-Guatemalan nationals. Please seek legal advice before acquiring a property in Guatemala.
You should get professional advice before buying a property in Guatemala. You can find an English-speaking lawyer in Guatemala
Driving in Guatemala
Foreigners can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Guatemala for up to 3 months (as long as their permit of stay is still valid).
For information on driving in Guatemala and how to obtain the relevant permissions for your vehicle, please contact Guatemala’s Transit Police.
The Superintendencia de Administracion Tributaria (SAT) has information about tax regulations for importing vehicles to Guatemala (in Spanish).
For further guidance on driving and travelling in Guatemala, please check the links below:
- Learn more about driving abroad
- If you are asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact the DVLA .
- Guidance for travelling by road in Guatemala here
- If you want to take your vehicle with you, see https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk
- Driving license issuing office in Guatemala City: Maycom
- Driver’s licenses are nationally valid so you can drive through any state in the country.
- Article 24 of the regulations of the transit law refers specifically to holders of foreign driver’s licenses (in Spanish).
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Guatemala, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Voting
Foreigners may in no way interfere in the political affairs of the country. Foreign nationals resident in Guatemala cannot vote in Presidential or Municipal elections.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, and getting married
Births
If your child is born in Guatemala, you should register the birth with the local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate. If your child has British nationality you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.
Deaths
If someone dies in Guatemala read our guidance on:
- what to do if someone dies abroad
- what to do after a British person dies in Guatemala
- English-speaking funeral directors in Guatemala
Marriage and civil partnership
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
Pets
The institutions in Guatemala responsible for regulating the entry and exit of pets in Guatemala is the Ministerio de Ganaderia y Alimentación (MAGA) and the customs office. Important information can be found here.
For detailed information on how to bring your pets to Guatemala, consult with your nearest Guatemalan Embassy.
Emergencies
Dial: Fire and Ambulance: 122 or 123 Police: 110
If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Guatemala, read:
- Guatemala: information for victims of rape and sexual assault.
- guidance for victims of rape and sexual assault
- Guatemala: lawyers
If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the:
Read the guidance on international parental child abduction.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, as well as guidance on tax, and access to services.
Disclaimer
This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCDO and the British Embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.
Updates to this page
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Updated information for British nationals travelling or living in Guatemala.
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Updated with information about accessing COVID-19 vaccine abroad
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First published.