The situation
The Immigration authorities in Guatemala (Dirección Nacional de Migración) have announced that, effective immediately, Venezuelan nationals who do not hold residence permits in Guatemala must obtain a consulted visa prior to traveling. Previously, Venezuelan nationals were exempt from this requirement.
A closer look
- Obtaining a consulted visa. Authorized third parties, such as a Fragomen representative or attorney, can file a consulted visa application in Guatemala on behalf of the Venezuelan national. Processing can take between six to eight months to process.
- Impact. Venezuelan nationals seeking to travel to Guatemala and employers planning to send Venezuelan nationals to Guatemala should plan ahead to ensure enough time for the processing of the consulted visa.
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Exclusions.
- Venezuelan nationals who hold residence permits for Guatemala are not required to obtain a consulted visa.
- Venezuelan nationals who hold a valid U.S. or Canadian visa are exempt from the consulted visa requirement but must now obtain a visa at a Guatemalan consulate abroad, which is processed in up to a week.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to lar@fragomen.com.