Airgun law · World

Are Airguns Legal in Guatemala?

Yes, with conditions.

Generally legal, but with real rules to follow, usually age verification and, in some places, a low-power threshold.

Tier 3: Moderate

Threshold-based licensing: a permit-free band for low-power airguns, with a licence required above it.

The picture at a glance

Each measure below scores how restrictive Guatemala is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).

ClassificationThreshold-based

Age rule18+

PossessionVariable

Transfer / saleVariable

TransportVariable

AuthorityNational statute

Before you buy or sell

Compressed-gas weapons are expressly recognized in the arms law.
Visitor import is the risk point.
The carve-out is calibre-only (≤5.5 mm / .22). There is no energy limit, and larger-bore air guns are not covered.

The rules in detail

Classification

Threshold-based

Decree No. 15-2009, Ley de Armas y Municiones, puts compressed-gas weapons in their own class, split into air and other-gas weapons (Art. 4). Art. 12 defines them as pistols and rifles propelled by compressed gas (piston or bottled) that use ammunition up to 5.5 mm. They are outside the firearm class.

Age rule

18+

18+ practical minimum for ordinary adult possession; confirm any sport-club or import-specific age treatment before publication.

Possession

Variable

Air and gas guns firing projectiles up to 5.5 mm (.22) may be owned without DIGECAM registration (Decree 15-2009, Art. 68). The law gives no rule for larger air calibres, so treat anything above .22 as outside the free band and check with DIGECAM.

Transfer / sale

Variable

Air and gas rifles and pistols that fire ammunition no larger than 5.5 mm, and their pellets, may be imported without a DIGECAM licence (Decree 15-2009, Art. 37). Firearm sale and import remain DIGECAM-licensed.

Transport

Variable

Air and gas guns up to 5.5 mm may be moved without a licence (Art. 68). Police and Defence Ministry guidance: carry them boxed, without the gas cylinder or ammunition, with the purchase invoice. Do not carry or display them in public.

Authority

National statute

National law administered through the firearms control authority / Ministry of Interior framework.

Hunting with an airgun

Unresolved / verify locally.

Deer

Unresolved / not addressed

Not listed

Turkey

Unresolved / not addressed

Not listed

Small game

Unresolved / not addressed

Not listed

Predators

Unresolved / not addressed

Not listed

Other big game

Unresolved / not addressed

Not listed

Import & travel

Energy threshold

No joule threshold. Calibre-based: air and gas guns up to 5.5 mm (.22) need no registration or licence (Art. 68).

Caliber rule

5.5 mm (.22) and below: no registration, no transport licence and no DIGECAM import licence (Decree 15-2009, Arts. 12, 37, 68).

Travel note

Air and gas guns up to 5.5 mm (.22) are exempt from the DIGECAM import licence (Art. 37), but customs inspection still applies. Get written DIGECAM guidance for anything larger.

Local & import notes

Visitor procedure

Decree 15-2009, Art. 37, exempts air and gas guns firing up to 5.5 mm (and their pellets) from the DIGECAM import licence, so a .177 or .22 airgun should not need a weapons permit. Customs inspection and duties still apply. Get written DIGECAM guidance first for anything above 5.5 mm.

Keep exploring

Open the interactive mapSee how this compares across the map and switch between legal and hunting views.Ballistics toolkitCheck energy, velocity, and range for any airgun and load.Ammo databaseBrowse 600+ pellets and slugs by caliber and weight.

This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.