Guatemala Guide
Entry requirements
Citizens from most Western countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and most, but not all, EU states) need only a valid passport to enter Guatemala for up to 90 days. Your 90-day stamp is also valid for travel to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (collectively known as the CA–4 nations). Passport-holders from other countries (including some Eastern European nations) qualify for a Guatemalan visa, but have to get one from a Guatemalan embassy or consulate. Citizens from most developing world nations, including much of Asia and Africa, need to apply for a visa well in advance. If you're wondering whether you'll need a visa, phone an embassy for the latest entry requirements; Guatemala has embassies in all the region's capitals.
When you arrive at Guatemalan immigration you may be asked by the official how long you plan to stay, and offered 30, 60 or 90 days. If you want 90 days, make sure you get it. Although there's no charge to enter or leave the country, border officials at land crossings commonly ask for a small fee (typically US$2.50), which is destined straight for their back pockets. You might try avoiding such payments by asking for un recibo (a receipt); but prepare yourself for a delay at the border.
It's possible to extend your visit for a further 90 days, up to a maximum of 180 days. To do this, go to the immigration office (migración) in Guatemala City. You'll need to present your passport, photocopies of each page of your passport, a photocopy of valid credit card (front and back), and pay the extension fee (US$17); your extension is usually issued the following day. After 180 days you have to leave the CA–4 region for 72 hours; Belize and Mexico are the nearest countries.
Your 90-day CA–4 stamp is also valid for travel in Honduras, but border officials usually ask for an entry/exit fee of a dollar or two, even to visit Copán. Nationalities that require a visa to travel in Honduras should contact an embassy in advance; there's a list at 
www.sre.hn (in Spanish only).