Guatemalan Congressman Tackles Passport Crisis with New Reform Proposal

Guatemala Congressman Proposes Passport Reform to Combat Shortages and Corruption Guatemala City – Congressman Cristian Álvarez recently introduced a legislative initiative aimed at streamlining the acquisition of passports in Guatemala. The proposal, presented on May 26th, 2025, seeks to amend the country's procurement laws to allow for more efficient and transparent international purchases of biometric passports. Álvarez highlighted the current issues with the passport system, including shortages and what he described as "improvised and massive purchases." He stated, "The objective is to avoid shortages, stop massive and improvised purchases, and move towards modern and secure biometric passports for all citizens. It's time to leave the chaos in passport issuance behind." The initiative's focus is on enabling the Guatemalan Institute of Migration (IGM) to make direct, periodic, and transparent purchases in the international market. This approach, Álvarez argues, will address the inefficiencies and potential for corruption within the current system. The congressman's proposal has garnered attention due to past issues with long wait times and allegations of corruption in passport issuance. Álvarez's initiative represents a significant step towards addressing these challenges and modernizing Guatemala's passport system, ensuring the efficient and transparent delivery of vital travel documents to its citizens.