Country Guide: Guatemala

Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Original Passport with Entry Stamp (and 1 copy)
• Original Bill of Lading (OBL) / Air Waybill (AWB) – 2 originals of each
• Original Packing list in English or Spanish
• Tributary Identification Number (NIT) Card (Guatemalans, expatriates)
• Delivery and billing instruction including insurance information
• Copy of Duty Free Exemption

 

Specific Information

• Antiques, artifacts, carpets, and paintings are permitted if declared as part of the household goods shipment in reasonable quantities and indicated on the packing list.
• The NIT is a personal identification number a shipper must obtain from the Finance Ministry in Guatemala or Superintendencia de Administration Tributaria (SAT).
• Customer can obtain the TIN at an SAT branch in Guatemala with an original Passport.
• Shippers are required to obtain an application form for the NIT; if no personal address in Guatemala, an employer address may be used (Guatemalans, expatriates).
• It can take from 1 hour to 1 day to receive the NIT Card Number.
• A copy of the Passport and the NIT Card are needed for Customs clearance.
• The address on the NIT Card must match the name used on the OBL / AWB or Cargo Manifest, or the shipment cannot be cleared.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Original Vehicle Commercial Invoice
• Original Vehicle Title / Registration / Proof of ownership
• OBL
• Original receipts of payment, transfer, check submitted, etc.
• Car Condition Report

 

Specific Information

• The OBL must include the following information regarding the vehicle (POV): number of chassis, engine number, number of doors, make, year, style, number of cylinders, vehicle identification number (VIN), fuel type, color, cubic centers (cc), etc.
• If documents required are unavailable or incomplete, the shipper will be charged USD150.00 for an inspection.
• The Vehicles Fiscal Registry prohibits the import of lightweight ground vehicles, including: automobiles, classic automobiles, and motorcycles 10 years or older (Guatemalan citizens, foreign citizens and foreign Diplomats).

Pets

Documents Required

• Vaccination Certificate
• Veterinary Health Certificate
• Original Air Waybill
• Original Invoice

 

Specific Information

• The pet must arrive at the beginning of the week to avoid weekends in Customs care; the flight must arrive in the morning.
• Pets are subject to the payment of duties.
• The Veterinary Health Certificate must be issued in the origin country and dated within 30 days prior to arrival.
• An electronic copy of the documents must be sent to the agent to obtain the Veterinary Health Certificate; it takes approximately 3 business days.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Firearms (authorization by the Ministry of Defense and special permit is required)
• Alcohol / wine (permission from the Health Ministry is required and a maximum of 6 bottles are permitted); an original Commercial Invoice and Certificate of Origin are required.
• Food items (2 kgs)

Prohibited Items

• Drugs
• Pornographic materials

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

 

 

 

Helpful Website(s):

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html

http://guatemala.usembassy.gov