Legalizations
When a document is to be used in Guatemala for legal purposes, it should be legalized. The legalization proves that said document is authentic or that the person who appears on the document is the person whose signature appears on the document.
Please read all the instructions regarding your type of legalization before beginning the process in order to avoid any delays or rejections.
Please note that the following information specifies the requirements to legalize documents that originate in the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
To find the Consulate of Guatemala that has jurisdiction over your state, please click here.
§ General legalizations
§ Marriage Certificates and Divorce Decrees
§ Birth and Death Certificates
§ Diplomas and School Transcripts
§ Veterinary Certificates to Travel With Pets
§ Guidelines to send human remains to Guatemala
§ Patents and Trademarks
For any additional information, please call: 212.686.3837 or e-mail: consnewyork@minex.gob.gt
Please read all the instructions regarding your type of legalization before beginning the process in order to avoid any delays or rejections.
Please note that the following information specifies the requirements to legalize documents that originate in the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
To find the Consulate of Guatemala that has jurisdiction over your state, please click here.
§ General legalizations
§ Marriage Certificates and Divorce Decrees
§ Birth and Death Certificates
§ Diplomas and School Transcripts
§ Veterinary Certificates to Travel With Pets
§ Guidelines to send human remains to Guatemala
§ Patents and Trademarks
For any additional information, please call: 212.686.3837 or e-mail: consnewyork@minex.gob.gt
General Legalizations
These include powers of attorney, adoption documents, etc.
Please note that prior to presenting the documents for legalization at this Consulate General, they must be certified by a Notary Public AND by the Clerk of the County Court where the notary is registered OR by the Secretary of State of the corresponding state (Having either of these last two signatures suffices to legalize the document).
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
Please note that prior to presenting the documents for legalization at this Consulate General, they must be certified by a Notary Public AND by the Clerk of the County Court where the notary is registered OR by the Secretary of State of the corresponding state (Having either of these last two signatures suffices to legalize the document).
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
- The name of the official signing the document must be legible. Please make sure to identify the name of the official separately if the signature is not legible. If we are not able to identify the official signing the document, we may contact you and your legalization may be delayed.
- Payment must be made through money order or business check made payable to: Consulate General of Guatemala
- Mail or deliver documents to:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
- Please send name and contact information with your legalization in case we have any questions.
- The processing time in our office is approximately 3 business days. This does not include shipping times to and from this office. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so we may return your documents. If one in not included, the document will not be returned until one is provided.
- If you hand deliver your documents to the office, they may be legalized and returned the same day.
Marriage Certificates and Divorce Decrees
Please note that prior to presenting the documents for legalization at this Consulate General, they must be certified by the County Court where the document was issued.
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
- The name of the court official signing the document must be legible. Please make sure to identify the name of the court official separately if the signature is not legible. If we are not able to identify the court official signing the document, we may contact you and your legalization may be delayed.
- Payment must be made through money order or business check made payable to: Consulate General of Guatemala
- Mail or deliver documents to:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
- Please send name and contact information with your legalization in case we have any questions.
- The processing time in our office is approximately 3 business days. This does not include shipping times to and from this office. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so we may return your documents. If one in not included, the document will not be returned until one is provided.
- If you hand deliver your documents to the office, they may be legalized and returned the same day.
Birth and Death Certificates
The document must be a certified copy.
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
- The name of the official signing the document must be legible. Please make sure to identify the name of the official separately if the signature is not legible. If we are not able to identify the official signing the document, we may contact you and your legalization may be delayed.
- Payment must be made through money order or business check made payable to: Consulate General of Guatemala
- Mail or deliver documents to:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
- Please send name and contact information with your legalization in case we have any questions.
- The processing time in our office is approximately 3 business days. This does not include shipping times to and from this office. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so we may return your documents. If one in not included, the document will not be returned until one is provided.
- If you hand deliver your documents to the office, they may be legalized and returned the same day.
Diplomas, School Certificates, Transcripts
Original diplomas and certificates may be legalized.
Please present the original document signed by the school official.
If you do not wish to have your original diploma legalized, you can legalize a copy certified by the school. To legalize a copy of the diploma, please follow the steps under General Legalizations.
Transcripts from the school attended must be signed by the principal or authorized school official and be accompanied by a letter from the school confirming attendance at the institution, also signed by the principal or authorized school official.
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
Please present the original document signed by the school official.
If you do not wish to have your original diploma legalized, you can legalize a copy certified by the school. To legalize a copy of the diploma, please follow the steps under General Legalizations.
Transcripts from the school attended must be signed by the principal or authorized school official and be accompanied by a letter from the school confirming attendance at the institution, also signed by the principal or authorized school official.
Fee: $10.00 per document
General observations:
- The name of the school official signing the document must be legible. Please make sure to identify the name of the school official separately if the signature is not legible. If we are not able to identify the school official signing the document, we may contact you and your legalization may be delayed.
- Payment must be made through money order or business check made payable to: Consulate General of Guatemala
- Mail or deliver documents to:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
- Please send name and contact information with your legalization in case we have any questions.
- The processing time in our office is approximately 3 business days. This does not include shipping times to and from this office. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so we may return your documents. If one in not included, the document will not be returned until one is provided.
- If you hand deliver your documents to the office, they may be legalized and returned the same day.
Veterinary Certificates
STEP 1:
To travel with your pet to Guatemala, a veterinarian will need to complete International Health Certificate-APHIS Form 7001 and attach a certificate of vaccines with specific information regarding the following vaccines:
Dogs: Rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and hepatitis
Cats: Rabies, distemper, FVR (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis), FCV (Feline Calici Virus), FIP (Feline Pneumonilis, Feline Leukemia)
Birds: Psittacosis (blood test)
Horses: Hoof and mouth disease and certificate of good health
STEP 2:
Completed form International Health Certificate-APHIS Form 7001 must be legalized by a United States Department of Agriculture office in one of the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania.
Please ask your veterinarian for the location of your local USDA office.
If you are outside of these states, please click here to locate the corresponding Consulate.
STEP 3:
Present completed and legalized form International Health Certificate-APHIS Form 7001 to this Consulate General.
Fee: $10.00
General observations:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
To travel with your pet to Guatemala, a veterinarian will need to complete International Health Certificate-APHIS Form 7001 and attach a certificate of vaccines with specific information regarding the following vaccines:
Dogs: Rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and hepatitis
Cats: Rabies, distemper, FVR (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis), FCV (Feline Calici Virus), FIP (Feline Pneumonilis, Feline Leukemia)
Birds: Psittacosis (blood test)
Horses: Hoof and mouth disease and certificate of good health
STEP 2:
Completed form International Health Certificate-APHIS Form 7001 must be legalized by a United States Department of Agriculture office in one of the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania.
Please ask your veterinarian for the location of your local USDA office.
If you are outside of these states, please click here to locate the corresponding Consulate.
STEP 3:
Present completed and legalized form International Health Certificate-APHIS Form 7001 to this Consulate General.
Fee: $10.00
General observations:
- The name of the official signing the document must be legible. Please make sure to identify the name of the official separately if the signature is not legible.
- Payment must be made through money order or business check made payable to: Consulate General of Guatemala
- Mail or deliver documents to:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
- Please send name and contact information with your legalization in case we have any questions.
- The processing time in our office is approximately 3 business days. This does not include shipping times to and from this office. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so we may return your documents. If one in not included, the document will not be returned until one is provided.
- If you hand deliver your documents to the office, they may be legalized and returned the same day.
Guidelines to send human remains to Guatemala
When someone passes away in the United States and the family wishes to send the remains to Guatemala, the funeral home handling the repatriation needs to present the following documents in order to legalize them prior to the departure of the remains:
1. Certified death certificate.
2. Burial transit permit issued by the health authorities.
3. Letter of non-contagious diseases issued by the health authorities.
4. Embalmer’s affidavit – This document must be certified by a Notary Public and by the Clerk of the County Court where the notary is registered OR by the Secretary of State of the corresponding state (Having either of these last two signatures suffices to legalize this document).
Fee: $10.00 per document. $40.00 total.
A photocopy of any form of identification of the deceased (birth certificate, passport, DPI, Cedula de Vecindad, etc.) and a tentative flight schedule are also required when presenting the legalization.
Turnaround times for the legalization of documents for repatriation to Guatemala are the following (Please take these into consideration before scheduling your flight):
-If you hand-deliver the documents to our office, they will be processed and returned the same day.
-If you mail your documents to our office, the processing time in our office is approximately 3 business days. This does not include shipping times to and from this office. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so we may return your documents. If one in not included, the document will not be returned until one is provided.
General observations:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
1. Certified death certificate.
2. Burial transit permit issued by the health authorities.
3. Letter of non-contagious diseases issued by the health authorities.
4. Embalmer’s affidavit – This document must be certified by a Notary Public and by the Clerk of the County Court where the notary is registered OR by the Secretary of State of the corresponding state (Having either of these last two signatures suffices to legalize this document).
Fee: $10.00 per document. $40.00 total.
A photocopy of any form of identification of the deceased (birth certificate, passport, DPI, Cedula de Vecindad, etc.) and a tentative flight schedule are also required when presenting the legalization.
Turnaround times for the legalization of documents for repatriation to Guatemala are the following (Please take these into consideration before scheduling your flight):
-If you hand-deliver the documents to our office, they will be processed and returned the same day.
-If you mail your documents to our office, the processing time in our office is approximately 3 business days. This does not include shipping times to and from this office. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so we may return your documents. If one in not included, the document will not be returned until one is provided.
General observations:
- The name of the official signing the documents must be legible. Please make sure to identify the name of the official separately if the signature is not legible. If we are not able to identify the official signing the documents, we may contact you and your legalization may be delayed.
- Payment must be made through money order or business check made payable to: Consulate General of Guatemala
- Mail or deliver documents to:
276 Park Ave. S.
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10010
- Please send name and contact information with your legalization in case we have any questions.
Patents and Trademarks
To enquire about procedures regarding Patents and Trademarks, please contact our Embassy in Washington, D.C. at 202.745.4953 or 202.745.3873 or visit: www.guatemalaembassyusa.org
