Guatemala · Work
Guatemala Researcher residence
First stay: 5 yrs
Temporary residence — intellectuals, researchers and scientists
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Researcher residence is a work route for Guatemala. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $25 · $200
- First stay
- 5 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$25 · $200
- $25Application filing fee paid when the file is submitted (Acuerdo IGM-039-2025).
- $200Status fee: 1 year US$200, 2 years US$300, 3 to 5 years US$500.
RenewalRenewable
You can extend temporary residence for further periods of 1 to 5 years. File the extension before it expires, otherwise you must apply for a new residence.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
After 5 continuous years of temporary residence you can apply for permanent residence. Central Americans can apply after 1 year.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years as a permanent resident
Naturalisation can be requested after 5 continuous years as a permanent resident (not available to Central Americans through this route).
Where to applyWhere to apply
The application file is submitted in person at the Foreigners Department (Subdirección de Extranjería) of the Guatemalan Migration Institute.
What you'll need
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of $25 · Application filing fee paid when the file is submitted (Acuerdo IGM-039-2025).
- A fee of $200 · Status fee: 1 year US$200, 2 years US$300, 3 to 5 years US$500.
Documents4
- A passport valid, with a legalised copy and the last entry stamp, is required.
- A certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin or the last two years of residence (valid 6 months) is required.
- A migration movement certificate is required.
- Proof of payment of the application fee is required.
What happens at day 183
How Guatemala decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 5 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in a calendar yearPresence in Guatemala, continuous or not, makes an individual resident (art. 6 no. 1 lit. a)
- Foreign-source income
Territorial
- Special regime
Guatemala territorial income tax · Tax relief
All tax rules for Guatemala Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Certified translation
A passport valid, with a legalised copy and the last entry stamp, is required
- Police certificate and civil documents
A certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin or the last two years of residence (valid 6 months) is required
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Temporary residence category for intellectuals, researchers and scientists engaged by entities in Guatemala, with its own application form. 1
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $25 · Application filing fee paid when the file is submitted (Acuerdo IGM-039-2025). 1
- A fee of $200 · Status fee: 1 year US$200, 2 years US$300, 3 to 5 years US$500. 1
Requirements
- A passport valid, with a legalised copy and the last entry stamp, is required. 1
- A certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin or the last two years of residence (valid 6 months) is required. 1
- A migration movement certificate is required. 1
- Proof of payment of the application fee is required. 1
Stay
- Granted for 1 to 5 years depending on the authorisation; extension in periods of 1 to 5 years.
- First stay: 12 to 60 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Scientific, research or academic activity for the contracting entity in Guatemala.
Official sources
- Residencias Temporales (categorías, costos, requisitos) · Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración · checked 2026-10-12
- Residencias Permanentes (categorías, costos, requisitos) · Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración · checked 2026-10-10
Researcher residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Researcher residence | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Work residence | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Job-offer residence Mexico | – | 4 yr | – |
| Internationalisation visa M Colombia | – | 3 yr | – |
| Scientist/professional permit Costa Rica | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Researcher residence?
A fee of $25. Application filing fee paid when the file is submitted (Acuerdo IGM-039-2025). A fee of $200. Status fee: 1 year US$200, 2 years US$300, 3 to 5 years US$500.
How long can I stay on the Researcher residence?
Granted for 1 to 5 years depending on the authorisation; extension in periods of 1 to 5 years.
Can I work on the Researcher residence?
Scientific, research or academic activity for the contracting entity in Guatemala.
Does the Researcher residence lead to permanent residence in Guatemala?
Time on the Researcher residence counts toward permanent residence in Guatemala, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years as a permanent resident.
Is there a tax break for Researcher residence holders in Guatemala?
Guatemala territorial income tax (rentas obtenidas en territorio nacional): Guatemala's Impuesto Sobre la Renta applies only to income obtained within national territory (art. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Guatemala territorial income tax (rentas obtenidas en territorio nacional)
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Applies to residents and non-residents alike
- Limit: GTQ 300k/yr ≈ $39k
Guatemala's Impuesto Sobre la Renta applies only to income obtained within national territory (art. 3, Decreto 10-2012), whatever the nationality or domicile of the recipient; Guatemalan-source income is defined in art. 4.
Taxed on
Income obtained in Guatemalan territory by category (profit activities, employment income, capital income); employment income of individuals is taxed at 5% up to Q300,000 of taxable income and Q15,000 plus 7% on the excess (art. 73 as enacted in 2012).
Who it applies to
- Applies to residents and non-residents alike; the source rules in art. 4 decide what is taxed. Income generated outside Guatemala is not Guatemalan-source income under arts. 3 and 4.
- Individuals are tax residents if present more than 183 days in a calendar year (continuity not required), or if their centre of economic interests is in Guatemala unless they prove tax residence elsewhere by a certificate from that country's tax authority (art. 6).
Exclusions
- Income from activities carried out within Guatemala, assets located in Guatemala and capital income such as gains on shares of entities whose assets are Guatemalan real estate is Guatemalan-source (art. 4).
- Non-residents with Guatemalan-source income are taxed under title V of the law.
Limits
- GTQ 300,000 a year (≈ $39,200) · Employment-income scale: 5% applies to taxable income up to Q300,000; above it Q15,000 plus 7% of the excess (art. 73, 2012 text)
Days in the country
- More than 183 days in calendar year · Presence in Guatemala, continuous or not, makes an individual resident (art. 6 no. 1 lit. a)
Tax residence
Residence for tax purposes is not tied to immigration status; the alternative test is centre of economic interests in Guatemala.
Visas
The territorial base applies regardless of visa or residence permit.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
More in Guatemala
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Residencias Temporales (categorías, costos, requisitos) · Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración · checked 2026-10-12
- Residencias Permanentes (categorías, costos, requisitos) · Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.