Honorary consulate
Honorary Consulate of South Africa, Guatemala
11 Avenida 30-24, Zona 5, Ciudad de Guatemala
Guatemala visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens do not need a visa for Guatemala. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Passport
ZAF
South Africa
Going to
GTM
Guatemala
No visa needed
People with a Category A passport can visit without a visa.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 90 days (3 months)
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Guatemala.
Ways into Guatemala
Your passport and other visas decide which route you need.
Visa not required For your passportCategory A visa-free visitPeople with a Category A passport can visit without a visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check your passport's category and any special rules.
- Show your passport and trip details at the border.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Return or onward ticket
- Hotel booking or host details
- Proof of funds, if asked
- Interview
- Some special passports, including Hong Kong passports, need a separate check.
- Border staff decide your allowed stay, up to 90 days.
Visa not requiredForeign visa exemptionCategory B travellers with certain foreign visas can visit without a Guatemalan visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your passport is Category B.
- Carry your passport and valid foreign visa.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Valid US, Canadian, Mexican, Schengen visa
- This rule does not automatically cover Category C travellers.
- Schengen is the European travel area covered by the Schengen visa.
Visa not requiredUS Green Card exemptionPeople with a valid physical US Green Card can visit without a visa.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your physical Green Card is valid.
- Carry it with your valid passport.
Official pageDocuments required
- Valid passport
- Valid physical US Green Card
Visa not requiredLong-term resident exemptionSome Category B or C travellers living abroad can qualify for visa-free entry.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Gather proof of your valid right to live there.
- Show proof of 1095 continuous days living there.
- Ask the consulate to confirm your exemption before travel.
Official pageDocuments required
- Valid residence papers
- Proof of 1095 continuous days
Visa requiredCategory C embassy routeCertain foreign visas let Category C travellers apply directly through a Guatemalan consulate.
How to apply
- Show your valid foreign visa to the Guatemalan consulate.
- Apply using the rules it confirms.
Documents required
- Passport
- Valid US, Canadian, Mexican, Schengen visa
- Papers requested by the consulate
- You still need a Guatemalan visa before travel.
Sources (14)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Foreign ministry: visa classifications for foreign nationals
- Guatemalan Institute of Migration: entry requirements
- Immigration: visas, extensions and pending-residence return visas
- Guatemalan Visa Regulations, Agreement IGM-015-2025
- 2026 Category C tourist or traveller application
- 2026 paid consultation or advisory visa application
- 2026 conferences, seminars and workshops visa application
- Immigration: temporary residence routes
- Official consular visa application, including transit
- Guatemalan Embassy in the United States: Tourist Visa
- Guatemalan Embassy in India: Category B visas
- Guatemalan Embassy in India: Category C visas
- Guatemalan Embassy in Spain: visas
- Foreign ministry: Guatemalan Embassy in the United Kingdom directory entry; no visa procedure established from this entry
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from South Africa
- Plugs A BAdapter needed
- MoneyGTQ Q
- Time−8h
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguageSpanish
- Emergency110 police122 CBV (national) 123 CBM (municipal local only) 1554 ASOBOMBD (municipalities associations, national) ambulance
Planning your Guatemala trip
- TikalWell-preserved Maya ruins surrounded by dense jungle and howler monkeys.
- El MiradorA major Maya site described as a possible cradle of Maya civilisation.
- Antigua GuatemalaA historic town surrounded by volcanoes and a common base for travellers.
- Lake AtitlánA lake ringed by volcanoes, with Maya villages along its shores.
Scams to watch for in Guatemala
- Phone theftThieves steal phones. Phone theft is described as the country's most common crime. Showing phones, cameras or laptops can also draw attention to your other valuables.
- Armed robberyRobbers threaten people and demand their belongings. Some robbers may be off-duty police officers. Hikers have also been robbed, and some have been kidnapped on Volcán de Agua.
- Robbery and extortion on public busesGangs target public buses. Passengers and drivers face armed robbery, and the old red city buses are also associated with extortion.
About Guatemala
Guatemala is a Central American republic between Mexico and Honduras, with two coastlines.
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Money
- Guatemalan quetzal (Q)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Time zone
- UTC-06:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +502
Other Africa passports
Going to Guatemala
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Guatemala with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do south african citizens need a visa for Guatemala?
South African citizens do not need a visa for Guatemala. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
How long can south african citizens stay in Guatemala?
Up to 90 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do guatemalan citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Guatemalan citizens need a visa for South Africa, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Guatemala?
Madagascar and São Tomé and Príncipe can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Guatemala are easier for south african citizens?
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras Nicaragua, and 3 more let south african citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Guatemala?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Guatemala?
Guatemalan quetzal (Q). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Guatemala?
Spanish.
How strong is the South Africa passport?
It ranks #51 and reaches 91 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck