Temporary Residence - Family (Residencia por motivos Familiares)

Overview

This is Guatemala's temporary residence for family reasons (Residencia por motivos Familiares), issued by the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migracion (IGM) for foreign nationals who are close family of a Guatemalan national or of a foreign national who holds residence. It covers relationships such as spouse, child and parent as defined in the rules. You evidence the family relationship and your relative's status. Temporary residence is renewable while the relationship continues, and time held counts toward permanent residence after about five years of legal residence. Heads-up: the October 2025 reform removed the guarantor (garante) requirement and cut the background-check lookback - see the in-flux note. Confirm the current requirements, validity and fees on the official page.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Confirm your relationship to a Guatemalan or resident qualifies, using the official IGM residence page.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather the legalised or apostilled civil-status certificates, proof of the relative's status, your passport and criminal-background certificate.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply for temporary residence for family reasons to the IGM, following the current requirements.

4. 04

   After approval

   Collect your residence and renew it while the relationship continues, building time toward permanent residence.

Also explored by

Compare Republic of Guatemala with

• 🇺🇸 United States of America
• 🇬🇱 Greenland (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)
• 🇨🇰 Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)

Related routes

• Temporary Residence - Worker (Residencia Temporal Trabajador)

  For people moving to Guatemala with a job: this is the temporary residence for migrant workers, tied to a job offer from an employer in the country.

• Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente)

  For residents ready to settle: after about five years of legal residence in Guatemala you can apply for permanent residence, the settled-status category issued by the IGM.