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Temporary Residency for Migrant Workers
Procedure before the Guatemalan Institute of Migration (IGM) aimed at foreign workers, providing the opportunity to obtain a Temporary Residency, allowing them to legally remain in Guatemala for work-related purposes.
01
Residence Application Form
Complete the form provided by the IGM.
02
Valid Passport:
Present the original valid passport and a full copy legalized by a Guatemalan notary.
03
Certification of Passport Validity:
Issued by the Embassy or Consulate of the applicant’s country accredited in Guatemala. If there is no diplomatic representation, a certified copy of the passport issued by the corresponding authority or an apostilled or legalized birth certificate may be submitted.
04
Certificate of No Criminal or Police Records:
Original, valid documents issued by the competent authorities of the applicant’s country of origin or any country where they have legally resided in the last five years. If the country does not issue such documents, an official statement or declaration must be provided.
05
Migration Movement Certification:
Document reflecting the applicant’s entries and exits from Guatemala, including their most recent entry into the country.
06
Job Offer Letter:
An original document specifying the employment conditions, such as duration, salary, and workplace. It must be addressed to the applicant and comply with the provisions of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
07
Guatemalan Guarantor:
A Guatemalan citizen or the company employing the applicant must act as a guarantor, submitting an updated certification and a notarized affidavit of guarantee.
08
Proof of Payment:
Receipt of the corresponding payment, which will be provided when submitting the residency application.
Additional considerations
Foreign Documents:
Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalized per the Law of the Judicial Body and translated into Spanish if written in another language.
Resident Registration:
Once residency is granted, the foreign national must appear before the Subdirectorate of Immigration within 30 days of notification for data collection.
Work Permit:
It is mandatory for the migrant worker to obtain a valid and registered work permit. This procedure is carried out before the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and must be submitted within three months of applying for residency.
The application process must be completed in person at the offices of the Subdirectorate of Immigration.
**DEPENDENTS: Biological family members within the legally established degrees, spouses, or cohabitants, in addition to the general requirements, must provide the necessary certifications proving their relationship to the migrant worker and the activity they will undertake. This includes:
- A notarized affidavit specifying the intended activity.
- A valid and registered work permit.
- A notarized affidavit of guarantee.
- A guarantor certification.
- A certification of the main applicant’s ordinary migration status, including the corresponding annotation.
**MINORS: In addition to the general requirements, the following documents must be submitted:
- A valid and updated birth certificate of the minor.
- A formal application letter for the admission of a minor, including legalized signatures from both parents or explicit authorization according to the law. If the minor is accompanied by only one parent or another individual, proper representation must be demonstrated.
- A complete and legalized copy of the identification document or passport of the person exercising parental authority or legal representation.
- Documentation verifying the ordinary migration status in the country of both parents or the legal representative. If only one parent is present, a special mandate registered in the General Archive of Protocols or a certification of homologation of a foreign court ruling in Guatemala must be included.
Procedure to follow
a) Gather the general requirements and organize them in a red folder.
b) Complete the temporary residency application (Access here).
c) Schedule an appointment through the Guatemalan Institute of Migration’s system (Access here).
a) Present the complete file at the information desk, where it will be verified that all requirements are met.
b) Once validated, the applicant will be called to the main window for a second verification and submission. If all documents are in order, a payment order will be issued to process the request (US$25).
c) Make the required payment at the Banrural Bank branch located on the first floor of the Guatemalan Institute of Migration (or at any branch) and keep the receipt.
d) Return to the window to present the payment receipt, which will be attached to the file.
e) The window advisor will generate an admission receipt, which the applicant must review and sign.
a) The applicant will receive a notification message informing them of the residency approval. They must schedule a new appointment (the link will be provided in the message).
b) 24 hours before the appointment, the applicant will receive a payment order (US$200 for 1 year, US$300 for 2 years, and US$500 for 3-5 years).
c) On the day of the appointment, the applicant must appear at the designated window with: Boleto de Ornato (Municipal Tax Receipt), Payment receipt and Proof of residence (utility bill, rental contract, or equivalent). Biographic and biometric data will be recorded.
d) The applicant must sign the registration form.
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