Do I need a visa to travel to Guatemala?

08.10.2023 - 21:55 / lonelyplanet.com

Once mainly visited by volunteers, aid workers and backpackers on a budget, Guatemala has now made it onto the radar of trendsetters and Hollywood stars.

With direct flights from multiple destinations in the United States and Europe, Guatemala is easy to reach, and citizens of many countries don’t need to pre-apply for a visa to enter the country.

This places Guatemala's volcanoes, jungles and Mayan ruins within tantalizing reach. However, visa requirements can change, so it’s always advisable to check the latest guidance from Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Relations before booking your trip.

It’s also wise to check the latest health requirements covering which vaccines you’ll need. If you’ve traveled from a country in South America or Africa, you may need a yellow fever vaccine, regardless of your nationality.

Citizens of 83 "Category A" countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico and most European countries, can enter Guatemala without having to apply for a visa. If you travel with a passport from one of these visa-free countries, you just need to make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months and has at least one blank page. You’ll also need proof of onward travel, such as a round-trip plane ticket.

Providing you meet these requirements for entry, you’ll receive a stamp in your passport on arrival that acts as a Guatemala visa. This stamp is valid for 90 days and allows you to travel to all the CA-4 countries during this period. This means you can spend about three months traveling around Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Which countries need a visa to Guatemala? Well, more than 100 nationalities do require visas, and these are divided into Category B and Category C countries. Whether you come from a Category B or a Category C country, you’ll need to pay the visa fee – for a 90-day single-entry visa, it’s US$25, while a 90-day multiple-entry visa costs US$50.

If you come from a Category B country such as India, Moldova or Jamaica, you'll need a visa from a Guatemalan mission in your home country. Contact your nearest Guatemalan embassy to find out exactly what you need and make an appointment. Although you cannot apply for a Guatemalan visa online, you can download the visa application form and fill it in before visiting the embassy.

You'll also need to gather together the required supporting documentation. The embassy will tell you exactly what you need, but the required documents usually include passport photos, proof of a round-trip ticket, bookings for accommodation in Guatemala, bank statements to prove you have sufficient funds for your stay, and health insurance. You'll need to bring all these documents as well as