Your first 90 days in Guatemala: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The CA-4 90-day rule is the single most misunderstood fact in Central America — a border run to El Salvador buys you nothing. Track the 90 days as a bloc-wide budget, and plan a real exit before it runs out or the overstay fine is charged per day.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
File for temporary residence (residencia temporal) with the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración and obtain the DPI foreigner's ID
Before your permitted stay expires — the CA-4 visa-free stay is 90 days across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua combined
The CA-4 agreement means leaving for a neighbouring CA-4 country does NOT reset your 90 days — a genuine exit from the bloc (Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica) is required. This catches nearly every long-stay visitor at least once.
Get your NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria)
Invoicing, employment, vehicle purchase and every SAT filing key off it; even routine retail purchases ask for a NIT on the receipt.
Registered with the Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT), which can be done with a passport before residence is granted; the DPI foreigner's ID follows from RENAP once residence is approved.
Open a bank account
Banco Industrial, Banrural and BAC open accounts on the DPI; with only a passport, options are narrow. Guatemala's banks are conservative with foreign clients, and proof of local income or a local reference smooths the process considerably.
Enrol in healthcare
IGSS covers formally employed contributors; everyone else uses the public network (thin outside the capital) or private hospitals, which are affordable and good in Guatemala City and Antigua. Most foreign residents self-insure for routine care and hold international cover for anything serious.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence is valid for the initial permitted stay; residents obtain a Guatemalan licence, which requires a medical and eye test and, for most applicants, a written test. Driving is on the right; road quality and night driving are the real hazards.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Guatemala?
Add your email for new Guatemala guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Guatemala: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Guatemala?
File for temporary residence (residencia temporal) with the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración and obtain the DPI foreigner's ID — Before your permitted stay expires — the CA-4 visa-free stay is 90 days across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua combined. The CA-4 agreement means leaving for a neighbouring CA-4 country does NOT reset your 90 days — a genuine exit from the bloc (Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica) is required. This catches nearly every long-stay visitor at least once. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the NIT and do I need one?
NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria) is Guatemala's personal tax/ID number. Invoicing, employment, vehicle purchase and every SAT filing key off it; even routine retail purchases ask for a NIT on the receipt. Registered with the Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT), which can be done with a passport before residence is granted; the DPI foreigner's ID follows from RENAP once residence is approved.
Can I drive in Guatemala on a US license?
A foreign licence is valid for the initial permitted stay; residents obtain a Guatemalan licence, which requires a medical and eye test and, for most applicants, a written test. Driving is on the right; road quality and night driving are the real hazards. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Guatemala?
IGSS covers formally employed contributors; everyone else uses the public network (thin outside the capital) or private hospitals, which are affordable and good in Guatemala City and Antigua. Most foreign residents self-insure for routine care and hold international cover for anything serious. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Guatemala's system treats foreign residents.