Last checked 13 Nov 2026Written for US citizensSome rules are still being checked
In brief
Remote employees can get 1–5 years of residence with $2,000 a month of pay from abroad. Retirees and people on steady foreign income get permanent residence straight away with $1,250 a month.
Residency income from$1,250 a month of pension or income
Visa-free (US)Up to 90 days, extendable to 180
CitizenshipAfter 5 years of residence
Tax on foreign incomeNo: US pensions, Social Security and interest aren't taxed
Temporary residence for remote employees
(residencia temporal, trabajador migrante con empleador extranjero)
Who it's for: Employees of a company abroad who want to live in Guatemala. It doesn't cover freelancers paid by foreign clients.
Money needed
$2,000 a month of pay from abroad over the last year ($3,000 with dependants)
How long it lasts
1 to 5 years, renewable
Leads to
Permanent residence after 5 years, with a Guatemalan guarantor (fee $700)
Apply from
Inside Guatemala as a visitor, or at a Guatemalan consulate
Processing time
No official deadline; real waits Not yet verified
What you need
Passport: valid original, plus a full certified copy showing your last entry stamp
Police record: from the US (FBI or state), apostilled and translated
Pay proof: 12 months of bank statements, or an accountant's certificate with an apostille
Entry record: a certificate of your movements from the immigration office ($10)
Papers from abroad: apostille, Spanish translation, and no older than 6 months
Fees: $25 to file, then $200 (1 year), $300 (2 years) or $500 (3–5 years)
After approval: register within 30 days and get your resident ID card (DPI)
Every year: update your details and show a tax-clearance certificate
Good to know
Work permit: the rules may also require one within 3 months Needs review
Local jobs: working for a Guatemalan employer needs a different permit.
Absences: more than a year away without permission can cancel your residence.
Checked against the lawRules read in the 2025 residence regulation.
Not yet verifiedRead from an archived copy of the official file; the start date comes from secondary reports.
Not established yetWhether these years count toward citizenship.
Pending changeA remote-work bill in Congress may change labor rules; its effect here is unknown.
Sources (11)
Legal basis and exact figures
Still being checked: work-permit duty (Reglamento arts 39(5), 46(b)) isn't excluded for the foreign-employer branch, though extensions (art 12(2)) don't ask for one; no category for freelancers (self-employed branch, art 11(3), needs RTU and commercial authorisation); current IGM checklist and bank-statement apostilles not read.
Money: Reglamento de Residencias (Acuerdo IGM-016-2025 / AMN-05-2025) art 11(2): USD 2,000 a month over the last year, USD 3,000 with dependants (about Q15,286.24 / Q22,929.36 at Banguat Q7.64312, 13 Nov 2026). Employees of international NGOs or organisations are exempt from the income test.
Law: Código de Migración arts 26, 27, 75(a), 76, 78(a), 79; Reglamento arts 4, 5, 7-12, 27, 35-37, 42, 43, 45, 46, 51, 52, 58. Fees: Tarifario IGM-029-2023 numerals 3.1, 3.3 (USD 25 filing; 200 / 300 / 500); late registration USD 200; processing visa USD 25 single / 100 multiple.
Tax: resident after more than 183 days (Decreto 10-2012 art 6); 5% / 7% after the Q48,000 deduction; yearly tax solvency certificate (Reglamento art 46(a)), Q2,000 fine (Código art 194(3)).
Pending change: teleworking bill (Iniciativa 6733 or 6556) reported not yet approved in plenary, July-Aug 2026; status unverified. Regulation in force about 8 Oct 2025 (secondary sources).
Who it's for: Retirees with a pension from abroad, paid by a government, international body or private company. No paid work.
Money needed
$1,250 a month of pension, plus $300 for each dependant
How long it lasts
Permanent; prove your income again every 5 years
Leads to
Already permanent; the years count toward citizenship
Apply from
Inside Guatemala; filing at a consulate Not yet verified
Processing time
No official deadline; real waits Not yet verified
What you need
Passport: valid original, plus a full certified copy showing your last entry stamp
Police record: from the US (FBI or state), apostilled and translated
Pension proof: an income letter (constancia de ingresos), with the dollar conversion if it's in another currency
Entry record: a certificate of your movements from the immigration office ($10)
Papers from abroad: apostille, Spanish translation, and no older than 6 months
Fees: $25 to file, $400 on approval, then $40 a year
After approval: register within 30 days and get your resident ID card (DPI)
Dependants: proof of the relationship, and $300 more a month for each
Good to know
No paid work: the route is for people who don't work for pay.
Family: a spouse, unmarried children and children under 18 can join; they keep status if you die.
Absences: more than a year away without permission can cancel it.
Checked against the lawRules read in the 2025 residence regulation.
Not yet verifiedRead from an archived copy of the official file.
Still being checkedThe current checklist, and whether an SSA benefit letter is enough.
Sources (12)
Legal basis and exact figures
Still being checked: current IGM checklist (form of the 'constancia de ingresos'; SSA letter); the 'reglamento específico' of rentista/pensionado benefits (Código art 78) not located, so no import or tax benefits are shown; consular filing for permanent residence not confirmed (tariff lists a USD 75 fee at missions).
Money: Reglamento art 33(1.2): USD 1,250 a month plus USD 300 per dependant (about Q9,553.90 and Q2,292.94); older sources quoting USD 1,000 are superseded. Five-yearly proof may be Guatemalan bank statements or US documents certified by the US Embassy (art 46(e)).
Law: Código de Migración arts 78(e), 79, 80; Reglamento arts 24-26, 31-34, 37, 45-46, 49, 51-52; Reglamento General art 50. Fees: Tarifario numeral 3.9 (USD 400), 4.1.3 (USD 40 a year); IGM notice Feb 2026.
Tax: under territorial ISR, foreign pensions, US Social Security and US interest aren't Guatemalan-source (Decreto 10-2012 arts 3, 4; Reglamento ISR art 67).
Who it's for: People living on steady income from abroad: investments, bank deposits or rent. Salary and freelance pay don't count.
Money needed
$1,250 a month of income from abroad, plus $300 for each dependant
How long it lasts
Permanent; prove your income again every 5 years
Leads to
Already permanent; the years count toward citizenship
Apply from
Inside Guatemala; filing at a consulate Not yet verified
Processing time
No official deadline; real waits Not yet verified
What you need
Passport: valid original, plus a full certified copy showing your last entry stamp
Police record: from the US (FBI or state), apostilled and translated
Income proof: a letter showing steady income from foreign investments, deposits or rent
Entry record: a certificate of your movements from the immigration office ($10)
Papers from abroad: apostille, Spanish translation, and no older than 6 months
Fees: $25 to file, $400 on approval, then $40 a year
After approval: register within 30 days and get your resident ID card (DPI)
Dependants: proof of the relationship, and $300 more a month for each
Good to know
No paid work: the route is for people who don't work for pay.
Family: a spouse, unmarried children and children under 18 can join; they keep status if you die.
Absences: more than a year away without permission can cancel it.
Checked against the lawRules read in the 2025 residence regulation.
Not yet verifiedRead from an archived copy of the official file.
Still being checkedThe current checklist for income proof.
Sources (12)
Legal basis and exact figures
Still being checked: current IGM checklist; the 'reglamento específico' of benefits (Código art 78) not located.
Money: Reglamento art 33(1.1): USD 1,250 a month plus USD 300 per dependant. Qualifying income (art 32): foreign bank deposits or investments, foreign company investments, real-estate remittances or religious/academic support, or authorised Guatemalan securities bought with exchanged foreign currency.
Law: Código de Migración arts 78(e), 79, 80; Reglamento arts 24-26, 31-34, 37, 45-46, 49, 51-52. Fees: Tarifario numeral 3.9 (USD 400), 4.1.3 (USD 40 a year).
Status chips:Checked against the law means we read the official legal text. Not yet verified and Not established yet mean it isn't confirmed at the official source yet. Still being checked marks open questions; each route's Sources list names them.
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