Guatemala City, by Jenny Herrera -AGN- The Guatemalan Social Security Institute Board of Directors issued an agreement outlining the regulations for expanding the Social Security coverage to gradually include Guatemalan migrants who choose to register for this benefit. The regulations, encompassed in Agreement number 1543, were published in the Diario de Centro América’s legal edition.
This agreement aims to regulate the registration and affiliation to the Social Security System and the Risk Coverage that the IGSS will gradually and progressively provide to Guatemalan migrants residing outside Guatemala’s borders and their core family unit living within the country.
Registration and Requirements
Guatemalan migrants who are interested can register voluntarily through the IGSS website and enter the information requested.
The requirements for the registration of Guatemalan migrants (voluntarily) are:
- Be 18 years old or older.
- Live abroad
- Have one of the following documents: personal identification document (DPI), passport, or IGSS membership card.
- Applicant’s information.
The following information is required to register the migrant:
- Name and last name
- ID document, passport, or IGSS membership card
- Date of birth
- Electronic contact
- Recent digital photo, among others.
Family Registration
Likewise, the registration of the family core, which includes the spouse or legal partner and children under seven years living in the national territory, must be registered according to the Institute’s guidelines.
Regarding health benefits, the IGSS provides protection for illness, maternity, and accidents, to the migrant’s family unit exclusively in the institute facilities.
Payments
In order to grant social security coverage to the migrant and his family unit living in Guatemala, a monthly payment of exactly GTQ 1000 is to be made, which must be updated every year.
The affiliates can pay their contributions in advance from abroad or through a resident in the country or on a monthly or quarterly in advance, according to the migrant’s convenience. Failure to accredit health rights in accordance with Article 7 of the regulation will result in the suspension of coverage.
Validity
This agreement shall be submitted to the Executive Branch through the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, for the purposes of Article 19 of Decree Number 295 of the Congress of the Republic, Law of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute, which shall become effective 30 days after its publication in the Diario de Centro América.
