Guatemala digital nomad visa & residency (2026)

Acuerdo IGM-016-2025 created three formal worker sub-categories: employed by a Guatemalan employer, employed by a foreign employer (remote work), and self-employed/freelance. The second and third sub-categories together constitute the digital nomad pathway, which went live on 8 October 2025.

Applicants must work remotely for an employer or clients based outside Guatemala and must not derive income from Guatemalan sources. No minimum income threshold has been officially published, and no Guatemalan guarantor (garante) is required — a change from prior rules.

IGM fees total approximately USD 225 (application, registration, carnet), plus USD 40/year foreigner quota. The permit is valid for one year, renewable annually; permanent residency (cedula) is available after five years of continuous lawful residence.

Alongside the digital nomad category, Acuerdo IGM-016-2025 reduced the mandatory criminal background-check period from five years to two years and made in-person field verification by IGM mandatory. Acuerdo IGM-015-2025 simultaneously overhauled the Guatemalan visa framework.

Separately, the Rentista/Pensionado category under Decreto 44-2016 grants immediate permanent residency to foreigners demonstrating a stable passive income of at least USD 1,250/month (plus USD 300/month per dependent) from sources outside Guatemala — a viable alternative for remote workers with consistent foreign income.

The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala confirms that foreign nationals seeking residency must submit apostilled/legalized documents, a valid passport copy, police clearance, and proof of migration movements; all foreign-language documents require certified Spanish translation.