How to Get Guatemala CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsThe law has a renunciation requirement, coded as nominal without apparent consequences.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Americas
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Guatemala, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Guatemala for 5 years uninterrupted or 10 years in total.
- Previous citizenship
- The law has a renunciation requirement, coded as nominal without apparent consequences
Oath of renunciation of citizenship of another country required (proof of renunciation is not required).
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Language test required.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Civic knowledge test and oath of loyalty.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good behaviour required.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Source of income or occupation sufficient for support.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Guatemala. Under the law of Guatemala, citizenship is acquired automatically, with no official decision involved.
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
For people born in Guatemala, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship. Under the law of Guatemala, citizenship is acquired automatically, with no official decision involved.
Person is born in Guatemala. Unless parents are foreign diplomats.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Guatemala, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Provided the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities must grant citizenship following an application.
Person is a former citizen by birth who had to renounce citizenship to acquire citizenship of another country, and re-establishes residence in Guatemala.
Citizens of specific countries
Holding the citizenship of a particular country is the basis of this route in Guatemala. Provided the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities must grant citizenship following an application.
Person is citizen by birth of a country formerly part of the Federal Republic of Central America or of Belize, and is permanently resident in Guatemala. No renunciation requirement (without prejudice to what is provided in treaties concluded with other Central American countries).
Ethnic or cultural affinity
For people with ethnic or cultural ties to Guatemala, the rules below set out what applies. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has been resident in Guatemala for 2 years uninterrupted and resided in another Central American country for 3 years before arriving in Guatemala. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has been resident in Guatemala for 2 years uninterrupted and is stateless or of undetermined citizenship. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Guatemala. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has been resident in Guatemala for 2 years uninterrupted and has rendered important services to Guatemala that contributed to the country's economic, social or cultural development. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Person has been resident in Guatemala for 2 years uninterrupted and has recognised merits in the fields of science, art or philanthropy. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Not available in Guatemala: Marriage or civil partnership, Child of a new citizen, Adoption, Other family members of citizens, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is accepted in Guatemala for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- The law has a renunciation requirement, coded as nominal without apparent consequences
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Guatemala requires 5 years, the most common requirement across Central America.
Check where Guatemala sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belize | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Costa Rica | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 El Salvador | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Honduras | 3 years | None | Citizens abroad only |
 Nicaragua | 4 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Panama | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Legal basis: Constitution Art. 146, Nationality law Art. 32-39.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Guatemala Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/guatemala/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/guatemala/">How to Get Guatemala Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Guatemalan citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Guatemala requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Guatemala allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Guatemala accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Guatemalan citizenship?
Guatemala requires applicants to show language ability with a test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Guatemalan citizenship?
Guatemala requires applicants to pass a civic knowledge test or obtain a certificate.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Guatemalan citizenship?
The law of Guatemala includes a requirement to give up your current citizenship, which the data codes as nominal. In GLOBALCIT's wording: "nominal requirement without apparent consequences".
Can I get Guatemala citizenship by marriage?
No separate marriage route is coded for Guatemala. Other routes on this page may still apply to a spouse.
Can I get Guatemala citizenship by descent?
Yes, Guatemala has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Guatemala citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Guatemala.
Related pages
Also see: Guatemala passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.