Travel Documents & Airport Requirements

Entry Requirements

The information below addresses entry requirements for U.S. citizens. All others should check with a Guatemalan consulate for visa and entry requirements in your particular case. CGEE will assist you in reviewing information, but the responsibility for obtaining and paying for proper documentation is your responsibility.

• Passport Book: Upon arrival to Guatemala, be sure to keep any documents inserted into your passport or given to you by immigration officials. You will need to present them upon departure.

•  Visa & Entry/Exit Requirements: There are no special visa requirements for short-term stays in Guatemala for US citizens. You will need to click on the link and fill out an electronic Guatemalan immigration form online in order to enter, and again to exit, the country. Some airlines require that passengers fill out the form prior to check-in. You can fill it out up to 3 days before your flight. After you verify that you are not a "robot," you will select to fill out the form in Spanish or English. For both languages "United States" is listed as "Estados Unidos" on the drop-down menu. On this form, you should state that your reason for visiting Guatemala is “tourism.” If you check that your purpose is to study, immigration officials might mistakenly assume that you need a student visa.  After you complete and submit the form, a QR Code and a "Declaration Number" will be sent to the email that you provided. Save this email!  Upon arrival in Guatemala, immigration officials will ask to see it along with your passport. While the Guatemala City airport has WiFi, we recommend that you print the confirmation email from Guatemala immigration and carry it with you as back-up.

• Extended Stay: Anyone who plans an extended stay of more than 90 days in Guatemala will require a visa.

• Exit Tax: Guatemala has a USD $30 exit tax when you depart by air. This tax is not included in your CGEE programming fee. It is usually included as part of the airline ticket price, but it may need to be paid separately. Please check with your airline or travel agent to see if this fee will be covered or be prepared to pay USD $30. 

When you arrive at the airport in Guatemala:

• When you arrive in Guatemala: Guatemalan immigration officials at the airport may ask about your itinerary and schedule. If so, simply respond that you do not know your schedule. (A CGEE leader will give you a daily schedule during in-country orientation for your group.)

Luggage:

Due to limited luggage capacity in most vehicles in Guatemala, please only pack one large, softcovered bag and one carry-on. Pack as lightly as you can. In general, if you cannot comfortably walk five city blocks with all of your gear, you have packed too much.