Paraguay Residency Program: The Complete 2026 Guide
Learn how to obtain temporary residency and a Paraguayan identity card, which documents you need, how the application works, what it costs and what changes when you later apply for permanent residency.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Requirements and government fees may change.
Paraguay residency at a glance
For most applicants, the standard route begins with temporary residency. The temporary residence card can be issued for up to two years and gives the holder access to a Paraguayan cédula with the same validity period.
What is the Paraguay residency program?
Paraguay’s immigration system allows foreign nationals who intend to establish themselves in the country and carry out a lawful activity to apply for legal residence.
The expression “Paraguay residency program” is commonly used online, but there is not one single program designed exclusively for foreigners, retirees or digital nomads. Paraguay has several legal residence categories governed principally by Immigration Law No. 6984/2022, its regulations and resolutions issued by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.
For most people who are not applying through a special investor, family or diplomatic category, the relevant route is ordinary temporary residency. The applicant enters Paraguay lawfully, prepares the foreign and Paraguayan documents required by the authorities, files the application in person and receives temporary resident status while the file is processed.
Once approved, the resident receives a residence card and can then apply for a Paraguayan identity card, known locally as the cédula de identidad. This cédula is one of the most useful practical results of the process because it provides a local identity number used in many everyday administrative and commercial transactions.
Legal residency can make it easier to build a genuine life or business presence in Paraguay. It may assist with signing contracts, applying for certain financial services, registering with public institutions, obtaining a tax number when appropriate and proving a recognised immigration status.
Nevertheless, residency is not a promise that every bank, payment provider, landlord, mobile operator or government office will approve a particular request. Each institution can impose its own compliance, income, address and documentation requirements.
Temporary residency in Paraguay
Temporary residency is the standard starting point for many foreign nationals under Paraguay’s current immigration law.
Validity
The temporary residence card may be granted for a period of up to two years. Paraguayan immigration rules also contemplate an extension for an equivalent period where the applicant satisfies the applicable requirements.
Precarious resident status
After a properly submitted application is admitted, the applicant may obtain temporary “residente precario” status while the final temporary residence application is being processed. This status can permit the applicant to work, study and leave and re-enter Paraguay during its validity.
Access to the cédula
A foreign national with approved temporary residency can apply for a Paraguayan cédula. Under the current system, its validity is tied to the validity of the temporary residence status.
Permanent residency later
Temporary residency is generally the prerequisite for an ordinary application for permanent residency. The change of category must be planned before the temporary card expires.
What can a temporary resident do?
A temporary resident has legal authorisation to reside in Paraguay for the period stated on the residence card. In practical terms, residents may be able to:
- Live legally in Paraguay during the validity of the residence permit.
- Apply for a Paraguayan cédula de identidad.
- Work or carry out a lawful professional or commercial activity.
- Study in Paraguay.
- Enter and leave Paraguay while maintaining valid documentation.
- Sign residential, commercial and service contracts.
- Apply for an RUC tax number when their circumstances require one.
- Apply for bank and payment accounts, subject to each institution’s compliance rules.
- Buy or rent property, subject to ordinary legal and contractual requirements.
- Prepare for a later change to permanent residency.
Permanent residency in Paraguay
Permanent residency authorises a foreign national to reside indefinitely in Paraguay, but the physical residence card must periodically be renewed.
Under the ordinary route, an applicant first completes the period of temporary residence and then requests a change of category to permanent resident. Current immigration guidance states that this application should be filed during the three months preceding the expiration of the temporary residence card.
If the temporary card has already expired, the current rules provide a limited period in which a change of category may still be requested with the corresponding fine. Beyond that window, the applicant may need to request an extension of temporary residence instead. Because the consequences depend on the dates and the applicant’s file, it is safer to begin preparing well before expiration.
Permanent residence card validity
Permanent resident status is indefinite. The physical permanent residence card is renewed every ten years. Permanent residents can also obtain a Paraguayan cédula with a ten-year validity period under the current rules.
New economic solvency rules in 2026
In June 2026, the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones announced updated rules for proving economic solvency in permanent residency applications. Rather than relying on one generic formula for every applicant, the new framework recognises different economic profiles.
The announced categories include professionals, technical workers, employees, independent workers, remote workers and digital nomads, property owners, shareholders or company partners, farmers, religious workers, pensioners, dependants and students.
The exact proof required therefore depends on how the applicant earns income or demonstrates real access to financial resources. Evidence may involve employment documentation, professional activity, commercial records, bank records, pension income, company ownership, property ownership or other material appropriate to the category.
Documents commonly required for the change of category
The official list currently includes the applicant’s valid foreign identity document, Paraguayan cédula, temporary residence card, updated Paraguayan police and judicial records, an INTERPOL record and proof of economic solvency. Additional documentation is required when personal information, marital status, profession or occupation has changed.
Migraciones may ask for further evidence depending on the individual circumstances. Filing documents at the reception desk does not itself guarantee approval.
MERCOSUR residency in Paraguay
Nationals of countries covered by the applicable MERCOSUR residence agreements may use a specific temporary residence category.
Who may qualify?
Eligibility depends on nationality and on the international agreements currently in force. Applicants should not assume that residence in a MERCOSUR country is enough: the relevant factor is usually nationality and the scope of the applicable agreement.
Is the process identical?
No. The legal basis, government fee and some documentary requirements may differ from ordinary temporary residency under Law 6984/2022. The personal documents still need to satisfy the rules on authenticity, legalisation and translation.
EasyParaguay checks the applicant’s nationality and immigration history before confirming which residence route is appropriate. A dual national may have more than one possible route, but the documents and passport used to enter and apply should be planned consistently.
Who can apply for Paraguay residency?
Paraguay residency is open to many nationalities, but eligibility is never completely automatic.
A typical applicant must have entered Paraguay legally, possess an acceptable and valid identity document, provide the foreign civil and criminal records relevant to the case and comply with the in-country documentary procedures.
Immigration officials may perform additional checks and may request further documents. Nationality, prior countries of residence, criminal history, visa requirements, immigration history, family situation and the authenticity of the submitted documents can all affect the file.
Applicants who commonly use the temporary residence route
- Employees planning to live or work in Paraguay.
- Entrepreneurs and company owners.
- Independent professionals and consultants.
- Remote workers and digital nomads.
- Retirees and pensioners.
- Investors who do not use a special permanent investor route.
- People joining a partner or family member in Paraguay.
- Foreign property owners.
- People seeking a legal base in South America.
Situations requiring additional review
The following situations do not necessarily make an application impossible, but they should be reviewed before documents are ordered or travel is booked:
- A criminal record, active proceedings or unresolved police entries.
- Previous deportation, expulsion or immigration violations.
- Overstay or lack of a properly registered entry into Paraguay.
- Multiple nationalities used inconsistently across documents.
- Recent legal changes of name or gender markers.
- Birth, marriage or divorce documents containing spelling discrepancies.
- Residence in several countries during the previous three years.
- Documents issued by countries outside the Apostille Convention.
- Applications involving a minor travelling with only one parent or a third party.
- Countries whose nationals require a consular visa before entering Paraguay.
Documents required for Paraguay temporary residency
The exact checklist varies by nationality, age, marital status and countries of residence. The following is the core list for an ordinary adult application.
| Document | Where obtained | Main preparation point |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport or accepted identity document | Country of nationality | Must be valid and consistent with the travel and application records. |
| Consular visa, when required | Paraguayan consular authorities | Only applies to nationalities that require a visa; local verification may also be needed. |
| Proof of lawful entry | Paraguayan border control | Passport entry stamp or official migratory entry document. |
| Birth certificate | Country of birth or issuing civil registry | Must normally be legalised or apostilled and translated into Spanish when applicable. |
| Marriage certificate | Relevant civil registry | Required when the applicant is married; must meet apostille and translation rules. |
| Divorce judgment or certificate | Court or civil registry | Required when the applicant’s civil status is divorced. |
| Spouse’s death certificate | Relevant civil registry | Required when the applicant is widowed. |
| National or federal criminal record | Country of origin or relevant residence country | Must be current, legally valid, apostilled or legalised and translated where required. |
| Proof of residence in another country | Country where the applicant lived | May be required when the applicant lived outside the country of nationality during the previous three years. |
| INTERPOL certificate | Paraguay | Obtained locally for applicants from the required age. |
| Paraguayan foreigner background certificate | Paraguayan National Police | Obtained locally during the application process. |
| Immigration declarations | Dirección Nacional de Migraciones | Generated and signed as part of the filing process. |
| Authenticated copies | Paraguayan notary | Used so the authorities can retain certified copies and return originals where applicable. |
Criminal record rules and the previous three years
The criminal record requirement is one of the most common sources of confusion. The correct country is not determined only by citizenship.
When an applicant has lived in the country of nationality, the authorities generally require a nationwide or federal certificate issued by the competent authority of that country.
When an applicant lived in a different country for more than one year during the previous three years, Paraguayan Migraciones may require a criminal record from that country together with evidence of residence there.
Applicants with a complex residence history should provide the dates and countries before ordering certificates. A local municipal certificate or a document covering only one region may not satisfy a requirement for a national or federal search.
Special note for certificates from Mexico
Under current Paraguayan immigration guidance, applicants presenting Mexican criminal records may need both federal and state-level certificates, duly legalised or apostilled. This can apply both to Mexican nationals and to foreign nationals who lived in Mexico for the relevant period.
Documents for children and teenagers
Applications involving people under 18 require additional family and authorisation documents. The precise checklist depends on whether the child is accompanied by both parents, one parent or a third-party guardian.
When only one parent is present, an appropriate notarised authorisation from the absent parent or a judicial decision may be required. The wording must expressly authorise the child to live and obtain residence in Paraguay. A simple travel authorisation may not be sufficient.
If one parent is deceased, the death certificate will normally need to be presented. Guardianship and custody cases can require court orders and additional Paraguayan judicial procedures.
Apostilles, legalisation and Spanish translations
Correctly preparing foreign documents before travelling is often the most important part of the application.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate issued by a competent authority in a country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms the authenticity of the signature or seal on a public document so that the document can be recognised in another participating country.
The apostille does not confirm that the facts stated in the document are true. It authenticates the public origin of the document.
Where must the apostille be obtained?
In general, the apostille must be obtained in the jurisdiction that issued the underlying document. A French birth certificate is apostilled through the competent French system; a Belgian certificate through the Belgian system; and a document issued in Argentina through the Argentine system.
Sending a foreign document to a translator or notary in another country does not normally transfer the authority to apostille the original public document.
What happens when the issuing country does not use apostilles?
Documents from a country outside the relevant Apostille Convention framework generally follow the consular legalisation route. This commonly involves legalisation by the competent authority in the issuing country, a Paraguayan consulate and the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Which documents must be translated?
Foreign-language documents must generally be translated into Spanish. The official Paraguayan rules accept translations made by a public translator registered in Paraguay. A translation made by an authorised public translator abroad may also be accepted when the translation itself is appropriately legalised or apostilled.
A normal commercial translation, an uncertified online translation or a bilingual document prepared by the applicant is not equivalent to a legally valid public translation.
Should the apostille be translated?
The translator should normally receive the complete document, including the apostille and any attached certification pages. Do not separate pages, remove staples or alter the document after the apostille has been attached.
Documents in Portuguese
Certain official immigration instructions provide exceptions for documents in Portuguese issued by Brazil under applicable agreements. However, the exception should be confirmed for the applicant’s exact document and procedure rather than assumed for every Portuguese document from any country.
Paraguay residency process step by step
The work begins before you arrive in Paraguay. Good preparation reduces the risk of lost appointments, invalid documents and unnecessary return trips.
Complete the initial eligibility review
We first ask for your nationality or nationalities, current country of residence, residence history during the previous three years, age and marital status. We also identify visa requirements and any circumstances requiring special review.
Receive your personalised document checklist
We tell you which birth, civil status and criminal record documents to obtain, where apostilles are normally required and which items should wait until Paraguay.
Send scans for pre-travel verification
Before you book final appointments, we review readable scans for names, dates, apostilles, issuing authority and obvious inconsistencies. This review cannot bind Migraciones, but it catches many preventable problems.
Reserve your EasyParaguay service
The reservation is USD 300. The remaining package balance is paid locally in Paraguay. The reservation allows us to open your file, coordinate the local service provider and prepare the itinerary.
Travel to Asunción and enter Paraguay legally
Use the travel document agreed during preparation. Keep the passport entry stamp or other proof issued by Paraguayan border control. Tell the team immediately if an entry was not properly recorded.
Obtain the required Paraguayan certificates
Local procedures may include INTERPOL, National Police records, certified copies, declarations, translations and other documents identified for the case.
Complete translations and notarised copies
Foreign documents are translated into Spanish where required. Authenticated copies are prepared so that originals can be presented while the authorities retain legally certified copies.
File the residence application personally
The applicant appears before the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones for the personal filing. Immigration declarations are completed and the official fee is paid in accordance with the procedure in force.
Obtain proof of the pending application
Once the filing is accepted, the applicant receives the corresponding proof and may obtain precarious resident status during processing, subject to the official procedure.
Application follow-up
The local team monitors the administrative process. Migraciones can request clarifications, updated documents or additional evidence in an individual case.
Temporary residency approval
Once approved, the residence card is issued. The exact processing period depends on the package, authority workload and whether the file requires additional analysis.
Apply for the Paraguayan cédula
After the necessary residence documentation becomes available, the applicant completes the identification procedure with the Paraguayan National Police.
Register for an RUC when appropriate
Applicants who require a Paraguayan tax identification number can receive assistance with the RUC registration included in the EasyParaguay service, subject to the information and documentation required by DNIT.
How long does Paraguay residency take?
Separate the time you spend physically in Paraguay from the time the authorities take to process and issue the documents.
Time required in Asunción
EasyParaguay usually plans the in-country procedures over approximately five working days. This is not a promise that every file can be completed within the same number of days. Public holidays, document issues, system interruptions, office closures, additional checks and circumstances outside our control can require a longer stay or an adjusted schedule.
Applicants should avoid booking an inflexible return flight too close to the final planned appointment. Arriving before a weekend or a Paraguayan public holiday can reduce the number of available working days.
Government processing period
Filing the documents does not mean that the final residence card will be issued during the same trip. The application enters an administrative review process. The authorities may validate foreign documents, verify records and request additional information.
EasyParaguay currently offers two service levels based on the expected administrative route:
- Standard: estimated overall processing period of approximately five to seven months.
- Fast-Track: estimated overall processing period of approximately four months.
When should you start preparing?
Many foreign criminal record documents have limited validity, while apostilles and translations require additional time. Preparing too early can result in an expired document; preparing too late can force the applicant to postpone travel.
A practical strategy is to complete the eligibility review first, confirm the exact issuing authority for every document, and then order time-sensitive records according to the planned travel date.
How much does Paraguay residency cost?
The total cost consists of professional assistance, government fees, local certificates, translations, notarisation and personal travel expenses.
EasyParaguay package
The professional package covers case preparation, local coordination, accompaniment, follow-up and the services listed in the selected plan.
Public and documentary costs
Government charges and the cost of certificates can be adjusted by the Paraguayan authorities. Payment methods may also involve official card-processing surcharges.
Personal expenses
Flights, accommodation, food, local transport and any extra stay required are not part of the residency package unless expressly stated.
Current official immigration fee structure
Paraguay’s official migration fees are calculated using statutory units and can change when the underlying wage or government decree is updated. The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones publishes the current amounts and accepted payment methods on its official website.
As of the official schedule effective from 1 July 2026, ordinary temporary residency under Law 6984/2022 and permanent residency, including a change of category, are each listed at 25 daily minimum wages. MERCOSUR temporary residency is listed separately at 20 daily minimum wages.
Because these amounts can change, this page does not incorporate an official fee permanently into the EasyParaguay package price. Applicants receive an updated estimate before travel.
Translations and RUC
The number of pages and documents requiring translation differs from one applicant to another. As a reference, EasyParaguay commonly budgets around USD 85 for the translation work associated with a standard file, subject to document volume and language.
RUC registration assistance is commonly budgeted at USD 35 when applicable. Additional or unusually long documents, urgent translations, complex legalisation, powers of attorney, family proceedings or corrective civil registry work may create extra costs.
What is the Paraguayan cédula?
The cédula de identidad is Paraguay’s national identity card. Foreign residents can apply for one after obtaining the qualifying residence status and documentation.
The card displays a Paraguayan identity number and is widely used to identify a person in dealings with government offices, banks, employers, notaries, utilities, mobile operators, landlords and commercial businesses.
A temporary resident’s cédula follows the validity of the temporary residence status under the current rules. A permanent resident can receive a cédula with a ten-year validity period.
What the cédula does not guarantee
The cédula proves identity and resident status, but it does not force a private company to accept a customer. Banks and regulated businesses may ask for proof of address, source of funds, employment, tax status, income, contracts, references or a minimum local history.
It also does not make the holder a Paraguayan citizen and does not provide a Paraguayan passport.
Why names must match
Differences in spelling, order of surnames, accents, transliteration or marital names can create problems between the foreign passport, residence card and cédula. Applicants should disclose every known discrepancy during document review.
Paraguay residency and tax residency
Immigration residency does not automatically settle your tax position in Paraguay or in another country.
Immigration residency
Immigration residency is the legal permission granted by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones allowing a foreigner to reside in Paraguay under a particular category.
Tax residency
Tax residency concerns the rules used by tax authorities to decide whether a person is treated as a resident for tax purposes for a particular period or tax.
A residence card can be relevant evidence, but tax residence may also depend on physical presence, habitual residence, economic activity, registration, applicable domestic rules and any tax treaty.
Likewise, obtaining Paraguayan immigration residency does not automatically end tax residency in the applicant’s former country. Exit-tax rules, continued access to a home, family ties, business management, employment and days of presence can remain relevant abroad.
Paraguay’s territorial tax system
Paraguay is commonly described as having a territorial tax system. Broadly, Paraguayan income taxes focus on income considered to arise from Paraguayan sources. However, determining the source of income can be technical, particularly for online services, remote work, company management, investment structures and activities performed while physically present in Paraguay.
“Foreign client” does not always mean “foreign-source income.” A consultant physically performing services from Paraguay, for example, should obtain professional advice rather than assuming that every payment received from abroad is automatically outside the Paraguayan tax system.
RUC tax number
The Registro Único del Contribuyente, or RUC, is Paraguay’s taxpayer registration number. It can be needed by individuals and companies carrying out taxable or formally registered activities.
Receiving an RUC can create ongoing filing and compliance responsibilities, including periods with no commercial movement. Applicants should understand these obligations before activating a tax registration.
Tax residence certificates
Paraguay’s tax authority, DNIT, has a specific procedure for issuing certificates of tax residence for tax purposes. Such a certificate is separate from the immigration residence card and is issued under tax rules for the relevant period and purpose.
Can a Paraguay resident open a bank account or company?
Bank accounts
Residency and a cédula generally make it easier to apply for financial services than applying as a tourist. They do not guarantee approval.
Paraguayan banks apply their own know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering procedures. Depending on the institution and account, applicants may be asked for:
- A valid passport and Paraguayan cédula.
- Proof of local address.
- Evidence of employment or professional activity.
- Tax registration or tax returns.
- Bank statements and proof of source of funds.
- Contracts, invoices or company documents.
- Personal or commercial references.
- A minimum deposit or transaction profile.
Requirements differ between banks and can change without notice. A bank may also decide not to onboard an applicant even when all basic documents are present.
Creating a company
Foreign residents can participate in Paraguayan companies, subject to the corporate, tax, beneficial ownership and compliance requirements applicable to the chosen structure.
Paraguay offers several possible business forms. The appropriate one depends on the number of shareholders, activity, investment, tax treatment, accounting needs, employment plans and desired level of administration.
Residency is only one part of company formation. The business may also require articles of incorporation, public registrations, an RUC, municipal licences, accounting, beneficial ownership reporting, employment registrations and sector-specific permits.
Buying property
Foreigners can generally buy urban property in Paraguay, but every purchase should undergo independent legal due diligence. Border-zone restrictions, rural land rules, title defects, inheritance claims, liens and informal possession can make an apparently simple purchase risky.
Buying property does not automatically grant ordinary residence. Property ownership can, however, become relevant later as one possible form of evidence within the permanent residency solvency framework.
Does Paraguay residency lead to citizenship?
Legal residency can form part of a future naturalisation case, but a residence card does not create an automatic right to citizenship after a fixed waiting period.
Paraguayan naturalisation is a separate legal and judicial process. Applicants should expect the authorities and courts to examine actual residence, integration, conduct, professional or economic activity, documentation and compliance with the constitutional and statutory requirements in force.
Online statements claiming that a person can obtain a Paraguayan passport simply by holding a residence card for three years are incomplete and potentially misleading. A nominal residence status with little or no genuine connection to Paraguay should not be presented as a guaranteed citizenship strategy.
Citizenship planning can also affect an applicant’s existing nationality. Some countries permit multiple nationality freely, while others impose notification, permission or loss-of-nationality rules.
Common Paraguay residency mistakes
1. Ordering the wrong criminal record
A local, municipal or regional certificate may not satisfy a requirement for nationwide or federal coverage.
2. Ignoring prior residence countries
Applicants who lived outside their country of nationality may need records and proof of residence from another country.
3. Translating before the document review
Applicants sometimes translate an uncertified download, an outdated certificate or a document without the required apostille.
4. Apostilling in the wrong country
The apostille generally comes from the jurisdiction responsible for the public document, not from the applicant’s current country of residence.
5. Travelling with too few working days
Weekends, holidays and unexpected office issues can make an overly tight itinerary impractical.
6. Using different passports
Entering Paraguay with one nationality and preparing the residence file under another can create avoidable inconsistencies if not planned correctly.
7. Assuming bank approval is automatic
A cédula improves the application position but does not replace source-of-funds and compliance checks.
8. Confusing residency with tax residence
Immigration approval does not automatically change tax residence or eliminate obligations in another country.
9. Believing permanent residency uses old rules
Paraguay updated the economic solvency framework for permanent residents in 2026. Older articles may now be inaccurate.
10. Waiting until the temporary card expires
The permanent residence change should normally be prepared during the three months before expiry.
Why do foreigners choose Paraguay?
Residency is only useful when the country also supports the applicant’s personal, family or business plans.
Relatively accessible residence framework
Paraguay’s ordinary temporary residence route does not generally require the applicant to purchase real estate or make a large passive investment. The process is principally document-based and requires a lawful intention to reside and undertake an activity permitted by law.
Moderate living costs
Housing, local services, private healthcare, domestic help and food can be affordable compared with major cities in Western Europe or North America. Costs are higher in premium areas of Asunción and for imported products.
Central South American location
Paraguay sits between Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia and has strong commercial links throughout the region. Asunción offers flights to important regional hubs, although the direct international network is smaller than that of São Paulo, Buenos Aires or Santiago.
Business and agricultural economy
Paraguay has significant activity in agriculture, livestock, logistics, retail, construction, energy, manufacturing and services. Its young population and cross-border commerce can create opportunities, but business success requires local market knowledge and realistic expectations.
Territorial taxation
Paraguay’s source-based tax framework attracts international entrepreneurs and investors. The benefit should not be exaggerated: the tax outcome depends on where an activity is performed, how income is generated and the applicant’s obligations in other jurisdictions.
A slower pace of life
Some residents value Paraguay for its family-oriented culture, lower density outside the capital and more relaxed daily rhythm. Others find the heat, bureaucracy, traffic, language barrier and uneven public infrastructure challenging.
A preliminary visit is recommended before making a permanent move. Residency should support a real plan, not replace the process of learning whether Paraguay suits your lifestyle.
EasyParaguay residency packages
Choose between the Standard and Fast-Track processing routes. Both packages begin with a USD 300 online reservation, with the remaining EasyParaguay balance paid locally in Asunción.
Standard
USD 300 reservation · USD 1,200 remaining balance paid in Paraguay
- Pre-travel eligibility and document review
- Personalised document checklist
- Local appointment coordination
- Assistance during approximately five working days
- Temporary residency application
- Paraguayan cédula process
- RUC registration assistance
- Local certificates and procedure coordination
- Application follow-up
- Estimated processing period: five to seven months
Fast-Track
USD 300 reservation · USD 1,600 remaining balance paid in Paraguay
- Everything included in the Standard package
- Priority case preparation
- Fast-Track administrative handling
- Pre-travel eligibility and document review
- Temporary residency application
- Paraguayan cédula process
- RUC registration assistance
- Local certificates and procedure coordination
- Application follow-up
- Estimated processing period: approximately four months
What happens after the reservation?
- We open your client file.
- You receive the information request and personalised checklist.
- You send scans of the available documents.
- We confirm the preparation and apostille requirements.
- The local provider is introduced and the Asunción schedule is coordinated.
- You travel only once the file is sufficiently prepared.
Document-review protection
If our initial review determines that the application is not presently viable, the reservation can be refunded in accordance with the written booking terms. This protection does not apply when an applicant withholds relevant information, submits false documents, changes plans after work has begun or becomes ineligible because of later events.
Paraguay residency FAQ
Is Paraguay residency easy to obtain?
Paraguay has a comparatively accessible document-based temporary residence route, but approval is not automatic. Applicants must enter legally, present the correct civil and criminal records, satisfy apostille and translation rules and pass the authorities’ review.
Do I need to invest money to obtain temporary residency?
Ordinary temporary residency under Law 6984/2022 does not generally require the applicant to purchase property or make a large investment. Special investor routes have different conditions.
Is the old permanent residency deposit still enough?
Applicants should not rely on older articles describing one simple bank-deposit formula. In 2026, Migraciones introduced a category-based economic solvency framework for permanent residency.
How long is temporary residency valid?
The temporary residence card may be granted for up to two years and may be extended for an equivalent period under the current rules.
Can I obtain a cédula with temporary residency?
Yes. Current Paraguayan rules allow an approved temporary resident to apply for a Paraguayan cédula whose validity follows the temporary residence period.
Must I be physically present in Paraguay?
Yes. The initial residence procedure is personal and includes in-country identity, police, immigration and document steps. A representative can assist with preparation and follow-up but cannot replace every personal appearance.
How many days should I stay in Asunción?
Most clients complete the main in-person procedures in a single appointment on the first day. We recommend staying in Asunción for approximately five working days to allow for administrative processing and any unexpected delays. A longer stay may occasionally be required due to public holidays or exceptional circumstances.
Will I receive the final residence card during my trip?
Normally, no. The application is filed during the trip and then enters administrative processing. Approval and issuance occur later.
How long does approval take?
EasyParaguay currently estimates approximately five to seven months for Standard processing and around four months for Fast-Track. These are estimates rather than guarantees by the government.
Can I leave Paraguay while the application is pending?
An applicant with valid precarious resident documentation may be authorised to leave and re-enter while the temporary residence file is processed. The documentation and validity should be checked before travel.
Can I work in Paraguay while waiting?
Official guidance states that precarious resident status can authorise work and study during its validity. Tax, labour and professional registration obligations still apply to the activity performed.
Which criminal record do I need?
It depends on your nationality and countries of residence during the previous three years. The certificate generally needs national or federal coverage and may need to come from a country other than your country of citizenship.
How recent must my criminal record be?
It must be valid when submitted under the rules applicable to the issuing document and Paraguayan procedure. Because validity periods vary, request the certificate according to your planned travel date rather than many months in advance.
Do my documents need an apostille?
Foreign public documents generally need an apostille when issued by a country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents from other countries normally follow a consular legalisation procedure.
Can I translate my documents in my home country?
A translation made abroad may be accepted when prepared by an authorised public translator and when the translated document is properly apostilled or legalised. Translation in Paraguay by a locally registered public translator is often more straightforward.
Should I translate my documents before contacting EasyParaguay?
No. Send scans first. Translating an incorrect, incomplete, expired or non-apostilled document can waste time and money.
Can a married person apply alone?
Yes, but the applicant must generally present the civil-status documentation corresponding to being married. The spouse does not necessarily need to apply at the same time.
Do children need separate residency applications?
Yes. Children have their own applications and additional parental, custody or guardianship documents may be required.
Can one parent apply for a child without the other parent?
This may be possible with a properly worded notarised authorisation from the absent parent or an appropriate judicial decision. The document should expressly cover the child’s residence in Paraguay.
Can I apply with two nationalities?
Dual nationals can apply, but the selected passport, lawful entry and supporting civil documents must be coordinated. Disclose all nationalities before travelling.
Does residency guarantee a Paraguayan bank account?
No. Residency and a cédula can make the application easier, but every bank applies its own source-of-funds, address, income and compliance requirements.
Can I open a Paraguayan company after becoming resident?
Foreign residents can form or participate in Paraguayan companies, but incorporation, RUC, accounting, municipal and beneficial-ownership requirements are separate from immigration residency.
Do I become a tax resident automatically?
Not necessarily. Immigration residence and tax residence use different legal rules. A person may need to establish facts beyond possessing a residence card, and may remain tax resident elsewhere.
Is foreign income tax-free in Paraguay?
Paraguay uses a territorial approach, but determining whether income is foreign-source can be complex. Services physically performed from Paraguay and locally managed activities require individual tax analysis.
Does residency give me a Paraguayan passport?
No. A residence card and cédula do not make the holder a citizen. Naturalisation is a separate legal and judicial process.
Can I become a citizen after three years?
Three years is frequently mentioned in discussions of Paraguay’s constitutional naturalisation framework, but citizenship is not automatically granted after merely holding a residence card for that period. Actual residence, conduct, activity, integration and judicial approval are relevant.
When should I apply for permanent residency?
Under current guidance, the ordinary change from temporary to permanent residency should be filed within the three months before the temporary residence card expires.
What happens if my temporary residency expires?
A limited late filing period may be available with a fine, after which the applicant may need to request an extension instead. Obtain case-specific advice immediately rather than waiting.
Can Migraciones ask for extra documents?
Yes. Paraguayan immigration authorities expressly reserve the right to request additional information or documents based on the circumstances of the case.
Is approval guaranteed when my documents are accepted at the desk?
No. Reception of the file means that the documents were submitted for processing; it does not predetermine the final decision.
What does EasyParaguay include?
The packages include pre-travel review, a personalised checklist, local coordination and accompaniment, temporary residency, cédula and RUC assistance, together with follow-up according to the selected service.
How much is the EasyParaguay reservation?
The online reservation is USD 300 for both Standard and Fast-Track. The remaining EasyParaguay balance is paid locally in Paraguay.
What information should I send first?
Send your nationality or nationalities, current country of residence, countries where you lived during the previous three years, age and marital status. Mention any criminal, immigration, name-change or child-custody issue from the outset.
Prepare your Paraguay residency correctly before you travel
Start with an eligibility and document review. We will tell you what to obtain, what must be apostilled and what should wait until you arrive in Asunción.
Official sources and legal notice
This guide was prepared using current information published by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Paraguay’s government services portal and the Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios.
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — Temporary residency
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — Change from temporary to permanent residency
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — 2026 economic solvency update
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — Current government fees
- DNIT — Tax residence certificate
This page provides general information and does not constitute individual legal, immigration, financial or tax advice. Laws, administrative interpretations, fees and processing practices may change. The competent Paraguayan authorities retain sole discretion over every application.
