Paraguay temporary and permanent residence: the most up-to-date information

For a long time, Paraguay remained less visible than the better-known countries of Latin America. Over the past several years, however, the situation has changed. Entrepreneurs, investors, remote professionals, and families increasingly consider the country when they need an additional legal status outside their primary country of residence.

In 2025, Paraguay received a record 47,687 residence applications—63% more than a year earlier. During the year, 40,600 temporary and permanent residence permits were issued to foreign nationals. For a country with a population of approximately 6–7 million people, this represents significant migration activity.

In 2025, Brazilian citizens formed the largest group of new residents—23,526 people, or approximately 58% of the total. They were followed by citizens of Argentina, Germany, Bolivia, Spain, Venezuela, the Netherlands, the United States, Russia, and France.

Interest in Paraguay is driven by a combination of factors:

What Does Temporary Residence in Paraguay Provide?

1. Legal Residence in Paraguay

Temporary residence is called Residencia Temporal.

It allows a foreign national to remain legally in the country beyond the tourist period—currently three months—without repeatedly extending tourist status or leaving the country solely to obtain a new entry stamp.

The applicant receives official resident status registered with the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Paraguay’s National Directorate of Migration.

2. The Right to Work and Conduct Lawful Activities

While a temporary residence application is under review, an applicant may receive residente precario status—a provisional status valid during document processing.

It allows the applicant to:

After temporary residence has been granted, the right to live and work in Paraguay continues for the validity period of the residence document.

Residence itself does not replace registration as a sole proprietor, company registration, an employment contract, a tax identification number, or a professional license where any of these are required for a particular activity.

3. The Ability to Obtain a Paraguayan Cédula

Previously, a cédula was issued mainly to permanent residents. Following the adoption of Migration Law No. 6984/2022, temporary residents also became eligible.

The validity of a temporary resident’s cédula is linked to the validity period of the residence permit.

A cédula considerably simplifies everyday life in Paraguay. It is commonly used for:

4. The Ability to Open a Bank Account

A Paraguayan resident holding a cédula may apply for a personal or corporate bank account.

In practice, Paraguayan banks may request:

Most Paraguayan banks rely heavily on digital identification and mobile applications. These applications may require a local telephone number and a locally configured Google account.

5. The Ability to Register a Business

A foreign resident may:

The appropriate business form should be selected separately, taking into account turnover, the number of partners, the nature of the activity, and plans for international payments.

The most common options include:

6. Access to Paraguay’s Territorial Tax System

Paraguay generally applies the territorial principle of taxation. Taxation is focused on income from Paraguayan sources, including activities carried out in the country, property located in Paraguay, and rights economically used within Paraguayan territory.

This makes Paraguay attractive to international entrepreneurs. However, the rule should not be oversimplified into the statement that every type of foreign income is automatically tax-exempt.

When determining the source of income, the following factors may be relevant:

For example, when a person lives in Paraguay and personally provides consulting services from Paraguay to a foreign client, the income cannot automatically be treated as foreign-source income merely because the client and bank account are located abroad.

7. The Ability to Purchase Real Estate

A foreign national may purchase real estate in Paraguay using a foreign passport without first obtaining residence.

Residence is not a mandatory condition for every transaction. Its practical value lies in simplifying identification, payments, tax documentation, and the subsequent management of the asset.

8. The Ability to Obtain a Driving License

A resident with a cédula and a confirmed local address may apply for a Paraguayan driving license.

Requirements and procedures vary by municipality. A medical certificate, confirmation of blood type, examinations, proof of residence, and other documents may be required.

9. Residence Applications for Family Members

Spouses and children may submit their own residence applications. Applications for minors are completed with the participation of parents or legal guardians.

Where a child applies with only one parent, properly executed consent from the other parent or a court decision expressly allowing the child to reside in Paraguay may be required.

10. An Additional Legal Base

For an entrepreneur, a second residence permit can form part of a personal and business strategy.

It may allow the holder to:

A residence permit does not provide Paraguayan diplomatic protection, does not replace a passport, and does not grant the visa-free travel rights available to Paraguayan citizens.

What Does Permanent Residence in Paraguay Provide?

Permanent residence is called Residencia Permanente.

It provides the right to reside in Paraguay indefinitely. The status itself is permanent, although the physical resident card must be renewed every ten years.

A permanent resident receives:

Permanent residence is more convenient for purchasing real estate, operating a long-term business, formal employment, and entering into contracts. It does not, however, exempt the resident from tax, corporate, or banking requirements.

The Constitution of Paraguay allows a foreign national to apply for naturalization after meeting several requirements. These include at least three years of residence under permanent resident status, carrying out a profession, trade, scientific, artistic, or industrial activity in the country, and demonstrating good conduct.

In practice, obtaining permanent residence and waiting for three calendar years while remaining abroad is not sufficient. The court evaluates the applicant’s actual integration, including:

For this reason, promises of a “guaranteed passport in three years without living in Paraguay” should not be regarded as an accurate description of the naturalization procedure.

Who Is Paraguayan Residence Suitable For?

How to Obtain Initial Temporary Residence: 9 Steps

Following the migration reform, the standard route for most applicants generally consists of the following steps.

Step 1. Prepare the Documents Before Travelling

An applicant will usually need:

In many ordinary cases, the essential minimum consists of:

Foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish in Paraguay.

A criminal record certificate must reflect not only the applicant’s nationality but also the applicant’s actual history of residence. If the applicant lived in another country for more than one year during the previous three years, the migration authority may request a criminal record certificate from that country as well.

Step 2. Enter Paraguay Legally

Upon entry, the applicant should ensure that the entry has been correctly recorded in the migration system.

Evidence may include:

An entry error or missing record may delay the residence application.

Step 3. Obtain Local Certificates

After arriving in Paraguay, applicants usually obtain:

Applicants aged over 14 are generally required to provide both INTERPOL and local police certificates.

Step 4. Translate the Documents

Documents not issued in Spanish must be translated.

The translation may be completed by:

In practice, it is safer to confirm the format of each document and apostille in advance and arrange translation once the document set has been checked.

Step 5. Notarize the Copies

Original documents and certified copies are required for submission. The originals are returned to the applicant after verification, while notarized copies are placed in the application file.

Step 6. Submit the Application in Person

The application must be submitted personally. A representative may assist, accompany the applicant, and monitor the process, but the initial filing requires the applicant’s personal presence.

Step 7. Receive Provisional Status During Processing

After a properly completed application has been accepted, the applicant receives confirmation that the case is under review and may receive the provisional status provided by law.

This status allows the applicant to remain legally in Paraguay, work, study, leave, and re-enter the country during processing, subject to the conditions of the document.

Step 8. Receive the Temporary Resident Card

Once the application is approved, a carnet de residencia temporal valid for up to two years is issued.

Under the current migration legislation, official processing may take up to 90 days. The actual period depends on the workload of the migration authority.

For planning purposes, it is reasonable to allow approximately two to four months from the submission date, excluding the preliminary preparation of documents.

Step 9. Apply for the Cédula

After receiving the resident card, a separate application for a cédula is submitted to the Departamento de Identificaciones.

How Much Does Temporary Residence in Paraguay Cost?

As of July 2026, the official fee for temporary residence under Law No. 6984/2022 is:

At an indicative Central Bank of Paraguay exchange rate of approximately 6,069 PYG per 1 USD, this is roughly:

Additional expenses may include:

The estimated budget for one adult applying independently, excluding flights and accommodation, may be approximately 1,050–1,500 USD, depending on the number of documents and translation costs.

With professional assistance, the total budget often falls within the range of 2,200–3,500 USD per person, depending on the services included.

How Much Does Permanent Residence in Paraguay Cost?

The government fee for permanent residence, including a change of category, is:

This is approximately 482–498 USD based on the reference exchange rate of the Central Bank of Paraguay on July 14, 2026.

Additional expenses may include:

A reasonable estimated budget for changing from temporary to permanent residence, excluding the fee of an assisting company, is approximately 1,050–2,200 USD. Costs may be higher where the applicant has a complex income structure, a business, investments, or needs to restore missing documents.

Processing Times for Temporary and Permanent Residence

Document Preparation

Document preparation usually takes between two and eight weeks.

The timing depends on:

Filing in Paraguay

With a complete set of documents, the main local procedures may be completed within several working days. Applicants should nevertheless allow additional time for corrections, translations, and repeat visits. In practice, where migration specialists and lawyers provide assistance, these local steps may take approximately three to four days.

Temporary Residence Processing

The official benchmark is up to 90 days after a complete application has been accepted. In practice, processing may take approximately three to four months.

Obtaining the Cédula

The cédula is applied for after residence has been granted. The timing depends on the workload of the Departamento de Identificaciones and whether additional checks are required. In practice, the process may take from 90 to 180 days. Due to the current increase in the number of foreign applicants, waiting times have become considerably longer.

Changing to Permanent Residence

The application is submitted near the end of the temporary residence period, generally within 90 days before its expiry.

Processing may also take several months, and the documentary procedure is broadly similar to the temporary residence process. The complete route from the initial preparation of documents to permanent residence usually takes approximately two years plus several additional months.

Is It Necessary to Live in Paraguay Permanently?

For both temporary and permanent residence, it is important to consider the rules for maintaining status and the consequences of extended absence. In many cases, continuous residence is not formally required under the applicable legislation. Nevertheless, even where the immigration document remains valid, a long absence may affect:

It is especially important to distinguish between three separate objectives:

or fill out the form below to receive a free consultation.

Together, we will make international relocation and business planning more comfortable and legally secure.