I am Elías X. Luna, Guatemalan at heart, and for years I have helped fellow Guatemalans understand how to handle passports, appointments, civil registry matters, and consular procedures in the United States. I say this from experience: when you arrive with the right documents, the process feels much easier to manage.
This guide is made for anyone looking for clear information about the Consulate of Guatemala in Silver Spring, Maryland. It is also for anyone who saw an old address, an outdated post, or a random detail on social media and now wants to organize everything properly before leaving home.
Let me make this clear from the start: this site is independent and is not an official page of the Government of Guatemala. That is why I organize the useful information here, separate current details from old ones, and when something may change, I say it plainly: It must be confirmed on the official site.
Quick Information Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Consulate General of Guatemala in Maryland, United States |
| Current address in the official directory | 979 Rollins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852 |
| Historical reference | An official 2021 PDF lists the former office at 8124 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. That is why many people still search for it as the “consulate in Silver Spring.” |
| Phone | (240) 485-5050 |
| (240) 485-5049 | |
| consmaryland@minex.gob.gt | |
| Official site / listing | Consulate General of Guatemala in Maryland, United States |
| Website reported by MINEX | consmaryland.minex.gob.gt |
| Office hours published by MINEX | From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Before going, it must be confirmed on the official site. |
| Passport appointments | They are handled through the official IGM portal: Passport Appointments | Validate Payment Slip. |
| Appointments for other consular services | MINEX maintains a consular appointment link and special service days. The exact route may change; it must be confirmed on the official site. |
The first thing to understand
If you or your family still say “the Silver Spring consulate,” you are not lost. That is how many people identified it for years, and there are also older official documents showing that Georgia Avenue address. Today, however, the official MINEX directory shows the office in Rockville.
That detail matters a lot. Going to an old address is like following an outdated map: it costs you time, gas, and patience. The current office now appears in Rockville, not at the former Georgia Avenue address.
So why is this still searched as Silver Spring?
Because that name stayed in the memory of the Guatemalan community in Maryland, Virginia, and nearby areas. Also, several official PDFs and older references still circulate in search results. That is why, when you see “Silver Spring,” the safest thing is to check the current consulate listing first and not rely only on an old search result.
What services this consulate usually handles
In practice, most fellow Guatemalans come here for passports, civil registry services, consular identification cards, and guidance on other services. MINEX also reports services during its consular outreach events, such as passport data capture, civil registry assistance, and the issuance of birth certificates, so those are the types of procedures normally associated with this office.
Most commonly requested procedures
- Application for or renewal of a Guatemalan passport.
- Extension of passport validity, when the case applies.
- Consular civil registry: birth, marriage, death, and related procedures.
- Guatemalan Consular Identification Card.
- Consular assistance and support for Guatemalan nationals.
- Certificates and documents related to consular services.
Not all procedures require the same documents. Requirements change depending on age, the base document, and the reason for the procedure. If you arrive with only a general idea but do not check the exact requirement, it is easy to be asked to come back another day.
How to make an appointment without getting confused
If your procedure is for a passport
For passports, the clearest route is through the official IGM portal. There you schedule the appointment and handle payment slip validations. You arrive better prepared when you check the passport type, payment, and supporting documents ahead of time.
The current migration regulation lists four basic requirements for adults: the application form, DPI issued by RENAP, boleto de ornato if the procedure is carried out in Guatemala and applies, and proof of payment. Abroad, if the person does not have a DPI, they may present a Guatemalan passport or another document determined by the migration authority.
If your procedure is civil registry or a general consular service
In that case, the process is a little different. MINEX maintains consular appointment systems and also special service days such as mobile consulates or Saturday consular events. The exact platform may change over time, so it must be confirmed on the official site before booking, rescheduling, or traveling.
Why make the trip twice if you can arrive with the correct appointment and the right base document already checked?
What to bring on the day of your appointment
For an adult passport
- Appointment confirmation.
- The corresponding form, if the system requires it.
- Valid DPI; if you do not have it at that moment and your case falls under a permitted situation abroad, a Guatemalan passport or another document accepted by the migration authority.
- Proof of payment.
- Previous passport, if it is a renewal or if it can serve as supporting documentation.
If you are considering extending validity instead of getting a new passport booklet, the migration regulation provides two possible scenarios: an 18-month extension or a 3-year extension, as long as the booklet has available pages and the case meets the required conditions. It does not always apply. It is worth checking before paying.
For civil registry, consular card, or other services
This is where you need to be especially careful with the details. A certificate, an identity document, a recent certification, or proof of family relationship can change everything depending on the procedure. My advice from one Guatemalan to another: do not assume; check the exact requirement and, if something is unclear, it must be confirmed on the official site.
About office hours, Saturday consular services, and mobile events
MINEX has published public service hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the consulate in Maryland. Even so, because hours may change due to holidays, operational changes, or special service days, the right thing to do is verify before leaving. With consulates, it happens often: one small detail can change the whole day.
In addition, Guatemala’s consular network in the United States holds Saturday consular services and mobile consulates. In official publications, MINEX has stated that many Saturday consular services generally take place on the first Saturday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The exact date for Maryland, however, must be confirmed on the official site.
Practical tips before going
Bring originals and, if you can, simple backup copies too. They may not always ask for them, but they help. It is better to carry one extra sheet than to run back to the car while your appointment time is passing.
Check the address one last time on the same day. Many people still keep the Silver Spring reference, but the current office in the official directory is listed in Rockville. Small detail, big difference.
One more thing: if your case is urgent because you must travel to Guatemala and you do not have a valid passport, the IGM regulation includes the Special Travel Pass for Guatemalans abroad. It does not replace every procedure and it is not for every situation. It is used for a single urgent trip to Guatemala.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the consulate still in Silver Spring?
Not as the current office listed in the official directory. Today it appears in Rockville, at 979 Rollins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. Silver Spring still appears in older official material, which is why the confusion continues.
How do I make a passport appointment in Maryland?
The official reference for passports is the IGM appointment portal. There you schedule the appointment and validate payment slips. Before moving forward, carefully check whether your case is a new passport, renewal, or validity extension.
What is required for an adult passport?
The regulation lists the basic requirements as the form, DPI, proof of payment, and, in Guatemala, boleto de ornato when applicable. Abroad, if the person does not have a DPI, the regulation allows them to present a Guatemalan passport or another document determined by the migration authority.
Can I request a validity extension instead of a new passport?
Yes, in certain cases. The IGM allows an extension for 18 months or 3 years, but only when the booklet meets specific conditions, such as having available pages and supporting documentation. It is best to review the exact case before scheduling.
Do they accept walk-ins without an appointment?
I would not assume so. Some procedures depend on an appointment, others on a special service day, and others on operational availability. To avoid losing the trip, it must be confirmed on the official site.
Research Sources
- Consulate General of Guatemala in Maryland, United States — official MINEX directory with the current Rockville address, phone numbers, WhatsApp, email, and consulate website reference.
- Consulates of Guatemala in the United States — official PDF showing the former Silver Spring office; useful for understanding why people still search for that location.
- Passport Appointments | Validate Payment Slip — official IGM portal for scheduling passport appointments and validating the payment slip for the procedure.
- National Migration Authority Agreements 001-2023 and 002-2023 — official regulation with base requirements for ordinary passports, validity extensions, and the special travel pass.
- Mobile Consulates and Saturday Consular Services — official MINEX page for checking calendars, special service days, and related consular appointment access.
- Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs News System — official publication where MINEX reported public service hours for the consulate in Maryland.
