Driving license in Guatemala

You can only get a Guatemalan DL if you have residency. Living Expat style on requires you get your passport stamped every 90 days or get residency which IMO serves no purpose or benifit.

After having a permanent residency is very easy .. cost about 60 USD ... if you think to live here forever (like myself, already with a grandchild) then you should do so .. if not , just use your international driver license and passport

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your help

Armand

To not have the hassle of re-stamping your passport, and being able to have more rights in the country, it would seem advantageous to acquire a residency, which will be one of the first things on MY list once I arrive

You can take the Guatemalan driving test with any driving school... just to check your level..
the guatemalan driving code is very simple and basic.. some tricky questions for speed limit.
Now if you get residency you are not obliged to take the test because you can ask to not take the test for your already acquired experience and your own country license.. It all depends with who you are dealing.. and one more thing you need to understand some basic espagnol because I have a friend who pass the test and then when to the Police department and he was by himself so when they spoke with him he didn't understand so didn't accept his test.. he has to repeat it with the tester mentioning that a translator was with him so he could understand the questions (in spanish)
You need a an ophtamologist certificate.. that you don't have eyes problem and he needs to be extended by an authorized one...
It is an easy process when you follow all the requirements..

Sounds like an easy process really; and it would be of great benefit to be a resident -- can own guns, have driver's license, don't have to leave every 90 days to get passport stamped.... if you're going to live there, then live there I'll be seeing you all in June