Location: Guatemala
Event: On Sunday, May 10th, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei reinstated a travel ban between all departments in Guatemala, applicable to all travelers except those transporting cargo. This restriction expands from the ban that had previously been in place, which restricted travel only for the specific departments of Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, and El Progreso.
The United States Embassy in Guatemala City will continue to request case-by-case authorization for passengers manifested on flights to the United States to travel from outside the department of Guatemala to Guatemala City for the sole purpose of reaching and departing from La Aurora International Airport. Manifested passengers should contact their airline directly to receive an Embassy-written letter requesting safe transit. The Embassy advises U.S. citizens that even with these letters they may experience delays of several hours or more when traveling between departments to the airport. To prevent disruptions to travel plans, the Embassy advises all passengers to allow as much time as possible to reach the airport. Individuals traveling to the airport must comply with Guatemala’s ongoing 6:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. mandatory curfew, and all other applicable restrictions to travel and other activities.
President Giammattei also announced that any commercial marketplace that does not adhere to all COVID-19-related restrictions currently in place will have their operations shut down.
Guidance for American Citizens
The United States Embassy in Guatemala urges all U.S. citizens to comply with all restrictions currently in place. Failure to comply will be punishable by up to six years in prison.
As a reminder for U.S. citizens registered in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), your registration expires automatically based on the dates entered and you will not receive updates after that date. Update your account to show that you are still in Guatemala. Follow these instructions to keep receiving messages from the STEP Program. From within your account settings, update to INDEFINITE to ensure that you continue receiving messages. If you have any trouble, please email CASTEP@state.gov.
Please contact AmcitsGuatemala@state.gov for any urgent inquiries.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Guatemala City https://gt.usembassy.gov/
Tel. (502) 2326-4000
Amcitsguatemala@state.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Guatemala Country Information and Travel Advisory Page
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates