{"id":9146,"date":"2020-05-11T11:56:03","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T17:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ninetheme.com\/themes\/wavo\/v9\/\/?page_id=3321"},"modified":"2026-10-05T12:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T18:26:15","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/investguatemala.com\/es\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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FAQs<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Everything you need to know<\/b> about investing in Guatemala<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Invest<\/b>Transform<\/b>Connections<\/b>Opportunities<\/b>Discover<\/b>Talent<\/b><\/span> <\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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1. Investing in Guatemala<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy should a company consider Guatemala?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Guatemala is the largest economy in Central America and one of the region’s most stable, with a young workforce, a diversified energy matrix and direct access to both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The country offers preferential access to major markets through an extensive network of trade agreements, competitive operating costs, and special regimes that grant qualifying export-oriented projects a ten-year corporate income tax exemption. Invest Guatemala works with companies evaluating the country, providing sector data, cost information and introductions to the relevant institutions.<\/p>

Sources:<\/b><\/p>

– Invest Guatemala, “Reasons to Invest in Guatemala<\/a>“
– Invest Guatemala, “Why Guatemala<\/a>“
– Ministry of Economy (MINECO), Trade Agreements in Force<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are Guatemala's main competitive advantages?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Guatemala’s main advantages are its location, its workforce and its trade access. Transit time to the United States is approximately four to six days by sea and about three hours by air. The country has the largest working-age population in Central America, with an average workforce age of 28. Installed electricity generation capacity is approximately 3,400 MW, with renewable sources accounting for a majority of generation. Sixteen trade agreements provide preferential access to more than 45 countries. Qualifying export-oriented projects may access special regimes offering a ten-year income tax exemption. Macroeconomic management has been consistent, with public debt at roughly 27% of GDP and a historically stable exchange rate.<\/p>

Sources:<\/b><\/p>

– Invest Guatemala, “Reasons to Invest in Guatemala<\/a>“
– Bank of Guatemala (central bank)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCan a foreign company own 100% of a Guatemalan company?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Yes. Guatemala’s Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98) establishes that foreign investors receive treatment no less favorable than that granted to national investors. There is no general requirement for local participation in the capital of a Guatemalan company, and a foreign investor may hold 100% of the shares of a Guatemalan entity. A limited number of regulated activities are subject to sector-specific licensing requirements that apply to all participants. Requirements may vary depending on the nature and scope of the investment; companies should obtain appropriate legal advice for their specific project.<\/p>

Sources:<\/b><\/p>

– Congress of the Republic of Guatemala, Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98)
– Organization of American States, Foreign Trade Information System (SICE), Guatemala Foreign Investment Law\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre there restrictions on foreign investment?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Guatemala does not maintain general restrictions on foreign investment, and no prior authorization or investment screening is required to invest. The Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98) guarantees national treatment, meaning foreign investors are treated no less favorably than national investors. The restrictions that do exist are limited and sector-specific: regulated activities such as banking, insurance, energy and telecommunications require licensing from the competent authority, and those requirements apply equally to national and foreign participants.<\/p>

Sources:<\/b><\/p>

– Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98)
– Congress of the Republic of Guatemala<\/a>\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs there a minimum investment requirement?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

No. Guatemala does not impose a minimum investment amount as a condition to invest or to establish a company, and the Foreign Investment Law does not set a threshold. Minimum capital applies at the corporate level rather than the investment level, and it is nominal. Thresholds do apply in two specific contexts: certain special regimes involve area or activity requirements as conditions for obtaining a particular benefit, and investor residency for a foreign individual involves a minimum investment. Neither is a condition for investing in the country.<\/p>

Sources:<\/b><\/p>

– Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98)
– Invest Guatemala, “Investment Incentives”<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow does Guatemala protect foreign investment?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Guatemala’s Constitution and the Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98) recognize the right to private property and guarantee national treatment for foreign investors. The Foreign Exchange Free Negotiation Law (Decree 94-2000) guarantees the free holding, transfer and remittance of foreign currency. In addition, the Ministry of Economy reports nineteen bilateral investment promotion and protection agreements in force, together with investment chapters in seven free trade agreements, including CAFTA-DR.<\/p>

Sources:<\/b><\/p>

– Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98)
– Foreign Exchange Free Negotiation Law (Decree 94-2000)
– Ministry of Economy (MINECO), Investment Agreements in Force\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow does Guatemala protect foreign investment?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Guatemala’s Constitution and the Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98) recognize the right to private property and guarantee national treatment for foreign investors. The Foreign Exchange Free Negotiation Law (Decree 94-2000) guarantees the free holding, transfer and remittance of foreign currency. In addition, the Ministry of Economy reports nineteen bilateral investment promotion and protection agreements in force, together with investment chapters in seven free trade agreements, including CAFTA-DR.<\/p>

Sources:<\/b><\/p>

– Foreign Investment Law (Decree 9-98)
– Foreign Exchange Free Negotiation Law (Decree 94-2000)
– Ministry of Economy (MINECO), Investment Agreements in Force\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t