Guatemala Passive Income Visa
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Program Type:
Independent Means Visa
Processing Time:
2-3 months
Citizenship Timeline:
5 years
Permanent Residency Timeline:
Upon approval
Physical Presence Required:
1 day per year
Citizenship Visa-Free Access:
135 countries
Minimum Contribution:
None
Program Overview
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
Guatemala offers a permanent residency program for individuals who can demonstrate passive income or pensions.
Formally named Residencia Permanente para Rentistas o Pensionados, the program provides an immediate path to permanent residency with a relatively low monthly income requirement of US$1,250, plus an additional US$300 per dependent.
Individuals who have resided in the country for at least five years are eligible for naturalization. A Guatemalan passport affords visa-free access to more than 135 destinations, including European ones.
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
How to Qualify
To qualify for the Guatemala Passive Income Visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Income Requirement: Provide proof of a stable monthly income of US$1,250. For dependents, an additional US$300 per month is required for each dependent.
- Documentation: Submit a completed application form, valid passport (with a notarized full copy), police and criminal clearance certificates, and proof of migration movements showing the applicant’s last entry into Guatemala.
- Foreign Document Legalization: All foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized according to Guatemalan law and translated into Spanish if issued in another language.
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
Salient Benefits
- Low taxes
- Mild climate
- Low cost of living
- No investment or donation requirement
- Path to citizenship
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
Citizenship Timeline and Requirements
The Guatemala Passive Income Visa does not provide an explicit pathway to citizenship, however foreigners who hold permanent residency through the Passive Income Visa (or any other residency category) are eligible to apply for Guatemalan citizenship after 5 years of continuous permanent residency.
During this time, the individual must comply with all residency requirements, such as maintaining valid residency status and fulfilling any legal obligations. Additionally, applicants for citizenship must demonstrate fluency in Spanish and knowledge of Guatemalan history and culture.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
Program Authority and Legal Basis
Applications for this program may be directed to Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (Guatemalan Migration Institute).
Legislation upon which this program is based:
- Código de Migración (Migration Code): Decreto Número 44-2016 of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala.
- Reglamento de Residencias Guatemaltecas: Acuerdo Número IGM-092-2022, approved by Acuerdo de Autoridad Migratoria Nacional No. AMN 008-2022.
- Reglamento del Registro del Estatus Migratorio Ordinario: Acuerdo de Autoridad Migratoria Nacional No. 9-2019.
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
IMI Pros Who Can Help You
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
Qualifying Real Estate
As noted in the program qualifications above, an investor can qualify for this program with a local property purchase above the minimum investment threshold. View eligible properties curated by IMI and our real estate partners:
Guatemala Passive Income Visa
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Guatemala Passive Income Visa
Program Statistics
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.