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Guatemala

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Photo of Ambassador William W. Popp

Ambassador William W. Popp

International Travel Information

What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc.

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Current Travel Advisories

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

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COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

The goal of our vaccine deliveries is simple: to save lives. We are working day and night to beat the COVID-19 pandemic and build a safe and secure world. On July 8, we took one more step along this path with our donation of 1.5 million Moderna vaccine doses to Guatemala.

On July 20, continuing our goal to get shots in arms as fast as possible, we were proud to donate an additional 3 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Guatemala. Sharing these doses is a symbol of our promise to help quickly end the pandemic.

The United States was proud to announce the November 24 delivery of an additional 2 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Guatemala. We are committed to helping the world overcome this pandemic.

On December 11, the United States shared another 2 million safe and effective Moderna COVID-19 vaccines doses with the Guatemalan people, bringing our total donations to Guatemala to 8.5 million doses. We are committed to working with our global partners to help the world overcome this pandemic.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.

Highlights

December 2, 2021

Guatemala City, Guatemala: Colegio Maya: 2021-2022 Fact Sheet

November 26, 2021

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya’s Travel to Guatemala November 28-December 1

October 11, 2021

Joint U.S.-EU Statement on the Global Methane Pledge

September 20, 2021

United States Announces Actions Against Seven Central American Officials for Undermining Democracy and Obstructing Investigations into Acts of Corruption

September 15, 2021

Guatemalan Independence Day

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U.S. Relationship

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U.S.-Guatemala Relations

U.S. policy objectives in Guatemala include:
-Protecting U.S. citizens and the Homeland, dismantling transnational criminal organizations and gangs, and increasing citizen security in Guatemala;
-Engaging Guatemalan government institutions to fight corruption, increasing openness and transparency, supporting rule of law, and strengthening the effectiveness of government institutions to improve Guatemalan confidence in government agencies;
-Reducing illegal migration and illicit trafficking of goods and people to the United States by boosting broad-based economic growth, addressing the economic drivers of migration, and engaging the government and the private sector to reduce poverty;
-Promoting an America First policy by improving goods and services export and investment opportunities for U.S. firms.

U.S. Assistance to Guatemala

The U.S. Strategy for Central America (Strategy) guides U.S. diplomatic efforts and foreign assistance in the region. The Strategy is a bipartisan, multi-year U.S. government plan covering all seven Central American countries (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama). The Strategy aims to secure U.S. borders and protect American citizens by addressing the security, governance, and economic drivers of illegal migration and transnational crime, while increasing opportunities for U.S. and other businesses.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The United States is one of Guatemala’s largest trading partners. The two countries are parties to the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which aims to facilitate trade and investment, as well as further regional integration by eliminating tariffs, opening markets, reducing barriers to services, and promoting transparency. CAFTA-DR contains a chapter on investment similar to a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. U.S. exports to Guatemala include oil, agricultural products, articles donated for relief and low-value shipments, and machinery. U.S. imports from Guatemala include agricultural products, apparel, gold, and silver.

Guatemala Flag: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; the white band denotes peace and purity.

Additional Resources

U.S. Department of State

External Resources

U.S. Department of State

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