Since October 2025, Guatemala offers temporary residence to remote employees of foreign companies and the self-employed, with $2,000 a month in foreign income ($3,000 with dependents). Permits run 1 to 5 years.
Checked against the sources at the end on November 2, 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you apply.
At a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visit first | 90 days (shared across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua under the CA-4 agreement), extendable once for 90 days |
| Route for remote workers | Temporary residence for workers with a foreign employer or self-employed (Acuerdo IGM-016-2025) |
| Money you need to show | At least $2,000 a month in foreign income ($3,000 with dependents), shown by 12 months of bank statements or an apostilled CPA certificate |
| Length | 1 to 5 years, depending on the fee tier you choose |
| Government fees | $25 application fee plus $200 (1 year), $300 (2 years) or $500 (3 to 5 years) |
| Timeline | About 2 to 4 months |
| Where you apply | In person at the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (IGM) in Guatemala City |
| Family | Spouse and minor children can apply at the same time as dependents |
| Long-term residence | Permanent residence after 5 years of temporary residence |
| US taxes | Still due every year. See our US taxes and banking guide |
Who qualifies
Since October 2025, Guatemala offers temporary residence to remote employees of foreign companies and the self-employed, with $2,000 a month in foreign income ($3,000 with dependents). Permits run 1 to 5 years.
- Remote employees of companies outside Guatemala: yes.
- Freelancers and business owners: yes.
- Income: At least $2,000 a month in foreign income ($3,000 with dependents), shown by 12 months of bank statements or an apostilled CPA certificate. That's about $2,000 a month.
Open question: The program is new; confirm fees and processing times with IGM.
Documents
Order US documents first: apostilles and FBI checks are the slowest part.
- Passport
- Proof of foreign employment or self-employment
- 12 months of bank statements or an apostilled CPA certification
- Apostilled criminal record with Spanish translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for dependents
Step by step from the US
- Check your numbers against the rule above, using the last 6 to 12 months of income.
- Order US documents: FBI background check, apostilles and translations where needed.
- Apply: In person at the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (IGM) in Guatemala City.
- Buy health insurance that meets the requirement for your whole stay.
- Arrive and register your address and any residence card on time.
Taxes
- Guatemala taxes Guatemala-source income; services performed in Guatemala can count, so take advice
- No US-Guatemala tax treaty or totalization agreement
- US citizens still file a US return every year. The foreign earned income exclusion is up to $132,900 for 2026; the foreign tax credit is the alternative. See our US taxes guide.
Common mistakes
- The 90-day tourist stay is shared with El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua
- Tourist status doesn't authorize remote work
- Antigua and Lake Atitlán are popular but have limited healthcare
Where to live in Guatemala
Our city guides cover costs in dollars, neighborhoods, live weather and the time difference: Antigua Guatemala · Guatemala City · Lake Atitlán (Panajachel) · Quetzaltenango (Xela).
Moving with a partner or kids? See Moving abroad with family.
Sources
Checked on November 2, 2026. Where sources disagree, we say so above.
- Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (official)
- Living in Guatemala: IGM remote worker residence (Nov 2026)
Get an email when Guatemala's rules change
Income minimums, fees and paperwork change often, and old advice sticks around online. When the rules change for Guatemala, we'll send you one short email with what changed and the source. Nothing else.
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