Visa Requirements for Guatemalan Citizens

Guatemalan citizens can visit 134 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2025. This includes all 29 Schengen countries in Europe (Spain, Germany, France, Italy, etc.) for 90 days, Japan (90 days), South Korea (90 days), Israel (90 days), and most of Central and South America. CA-4 member countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) allow unlimited travel without additional documentation. Popular visa-free destinations also include Brazil (90 days), Argentina (90 days), Colombia (90 days), and Costa Rica (30 days).

The US B1/B2 tourist visa costs $185 (approximately Q1,425) as the base application fee for Guatemalan applicants. Starting October 2025, an additional $250 visa integrity fee applies when the visa is issued, bringing the total to $435 (approximately Q3,350). This fee is paid before scheduling your visa interview at the US Embassy in Guatemala City. The visa integrity fee may be refundable if you comply with all visa conditions.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 (approximately Q1,230) for Guatemalan citizens applying for stays up to 6 months. Long-term visitor visas are also available: 2-year visa at £475, 5-year visa at £848, and 10-year visa at £1,059. VFS Global charges an additional service fee. Priority processing is available for faster turnaround at additional cost.

Canada visitor visa processing for Guatemalan applicants typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from the date of application. The visa fee is CAD $100 (approximately Q580) plus CAD $85 for biometrics, totaling around CAD $185 (Q1,070). Applications are submitted online through the IRCC portal, and biometrics are collected at designated centers in Guatemala City.

Standard visa requirements for Guatemalans include: valid passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent passport-size photographs (specifications vary by country), bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment letter or business registration, confirmed flight itinerary and hotel bookings, travel insurance (mandatory for some destinations), and a cover letter explaining your travel purpose and ties to Guatemala.

The US B1/B2 visa approval rate for Guatemalan applicants is approximately 70% to 78% based on recent fiscal year data. Approval rates are higher for applicants with strong ties to Guatemala, documented employment or business ownership, previous international travel history, and clear evidence of sufficient funds. First-time applicants typically face more scrutiny than those with prior US travel.

Yes, Guatemalan citizens can travel visa-free to all 29 Schengen countries in Europe for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This includes popular destinations like Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Portugal. Guatemalans can also visit non-Schengen European countries like the UK and Ireland, but these require advance visas. For the UK, the Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 and takes 3 to 6 weeks to process.

Guatemalan applicants face higher rejection rates for US visas (approximately 22% to 30% rejection) and UK visitor visas (around 15% to 20% rejection). Common rejection reasons include insufficient financial documentation, weak ties to Guatemala, unclear travel purpose, and incomplete applications. Canada has a moderate rejection rate of around 18% to 22% for Guatemalan applicants.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply at least 6 to 10 weeks before travel, provide 6 months of bank statements showing consistent income and savings, include employment verification letters with salary details, show property ownership or other assets in Guatemala, document previous international travel stamps (especially to Schengen countries), provide a detailed day-by-day travel itinerary, purchase refundable flight and hotel bookings, and ensure all documents are properly translated to English where required.