South Africa to Guatemala visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders do NOT need a visa for tourism in Guatemala. They receive a visa-free entry stamp on arrival for up to 90 days. As of 30 May 2026, holders of an ordinary South African passport can travel to Guatemala for tourism without a visa. South Africa sits in Guatemala's visa-exempt category, confirmed by the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (IGM). On arrival you are granted a stay of up to 90 days, free of charge. Note that this 90-day allowance is shared across the four CA-4 countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua): the clock starts when you first enter any CA-4 state and is not reset by hopping between them. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your stay and have at least two blank pages, and you should carry proof of onward or return travel and evidence of sufficient funds. Guatemala is in Central America, not the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply. If you intend to stay longer than 90 days you must apply to extend with the IGM inside the country; business or work travel requires a different category. There is no eVisa, ETA or arrival visa needed for South African tourists.