Residency and Paraguayan Nationality

Residency in Paraguay

Paraguay recognises two categories of residency: temporary and permanent. Temporary residency is the standard point of entry. It is granted for two years and, on expiry, may be converted into permanent residency. After a further three years holding permanent residency, the holder may apply for Paraguayan naturalisation.

Temporary residency is not, however, compulsory in every case. An applicant who provides satisfactory evidence of qualifying investment in the country may obtain permanent residency directly, without passing through the preliminary stage.

Everything else follows from that distinction: which documents must be gathered, how many trips the process requires, how long it takes and what it costs. This page sets out both routes in the detail needed for you to establish which applies to your case before committing time or money.

The two routes

The four investment categories

Resolution 283/2026 establishes four categories. One point is worth stating clearly, as it is seldom mentioned: the productive investment category already existed and was, until the reform, the only one available. The other three are new, and it is these that opened access to applicants who previously fell outside the scheme. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce refers to the four categories together as the Investor Pass.

Documentation for temporary residency

The documentation set out below applies to temporary residency, which is the entry route for applicants who do not evidence investment.

The other two routes have their own requirements. Conversion into permanent residency, once the two-year term of the temporary residency has elapsed, additionally requires evidence of economic solvency under the criteria consolidated by DNM Resolution No. 407/2026, which sets out twelve categories with distinct evidentiary requirements and provides that this requirement may not be presumed in any case. Permanent residency obtained directly through the investment route is governed by its own requirements, described above.

Personal documents

The following documents are supplied by the applicant from their country of origin. This is the part of the process where most problems arise, which is why it is worth reviewing before travelling.

• A valid passport, with a minimum of six months' remaining validity.
• A criminal record certificate issued at federal level — not provincial or state level —, duly apostilled. Not required for minors under fourteen.
• Birth certificate, apostilled.
• Civil status certificate, apostilled, whether of marriage, divorce or widowhood, as applicable.

Documents obtained by the firm in Paraguay

The following documents are obtained and processed by the firm in Paraguay, without the applicant's involvement.

• INTERPOL criminal record certificate.
• Certificate of life and residence.
• Criminal record certificate for foreign nationals.
• Official translations.
• Photocopies and authentications.
• Notarial power of attorney for representation before the National Directorate of Migration.

Additional documentation for the investment route

To the documents above are added the CIE application form, which has the character of a sworn declaration and is available on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce; a sworn declaration as to the source of funds; and documentation evidencing the investment under the category chosen, which may consist of a business plan, account statements, title deeds or evidence of the financial investment.

Where the investment is channelled through an already incorporated company, its articles of incorporation must also be filed and, if the investor does not appear in them, evidence of the transfer of shares or of beneficial ownership.

A note on the issuing country

The specific requirements vary according to the country issuing each document: the competent authority, the legalisation procedure and, in some cases, the very nature of the certificate required all differ. These particularities can alter the list above significantly.

We do not publish them, because they depend on the specific situation and because a generic list is more likely to mislead than to guide. They form part of the preliminary document review.

Timelines

The standard statutory period for resolution of the migration filing is ninety days. The actual time, however, depends substantially on how the file is managed: on whether it is submitted complete, whether queries are answered without delay, and whether it is actively followed up with the relevant offices. A file that is submitted and then left unattended takes longer than one that is properly managed.

Once residency is obtained, the identity card is processed at police headquarters and takes a further thirty to sixty days.

Under the investment route, the regulations provide that SUACE has five business days to issue the Foreign Investor Certificate once the complete file has been received. In practice that period is not met, and it is worth knowing this when planning. The regulations do not, in turn, set a deadline for the subsequent stage before the migration authority.

No serious firm can commit to an exact date. What a firm can do is tell you what the timeline depends on and which part of that lies within professional control.

In-person requirement

The applicant's physical presence is required at both stages of the process: at the migration stage and when obtaining the identity card, which requires in-person biometric registration at police headquarters.

One reason is that the sworn declaration required by the National Directorate of Migration is strictly personal: it is signed before the migration officer at the moment the file is lodged, and it does not admit representation or advance signature.

We state this plainly because information suggesting otherwise circulates. Paraguayan residency cannot be obtained entirely without travelling, and anyone who claims otherwise is either unfamiliar with the procedure currently in force or is simplifying it in order to sell the service.

As the two stages are separated by the processing time, the process ordinarily requires two trips to the country. If your availability to travel is a constraint, it is best raised at the outset rather than once the filing is under way.

Preliminary document review

The most frequent and most costly mistake made by those relocating to Paraguay is choosing a provider only after arriving in the country.

The pattern repeats itself: the person travels with the documents gathered at home, settles in Asunción, only then looks for someone to assist them, and discovers that the documents are inconsistent with one another, close to expiry, issued by the wrong authority, or lacking the required apostille. By then the trip has already been made, time is running, and the correction has to be handled remotely from the country of origin.

For that reason, once an engagement is confirmed, the firm's first step is not filing but review: examining the documents gathered, checking their validity, issuing authority and legalisation, identifying inconsistencies between documents, and establishing the particular requirements that apply to the issuing country.

The result is a concrete answer before you book a flight: whether the file is ready to be filed, or what needs to be corrected first.

About our track record

The firm has no rejections on record among the residency filings it has submitted. This warrants explanation, because the figure on its own says nothing.

The process is won before filing. When the documentation is complete and in order, the procedure is straightforward, and any competent provider can carry it through. The difference shows in the file that arrives with problems, which is most of them.

There, the work is different. Obtaining missing documentation from consular representations in the region when the standard channel is unavailable. Requesting, by reasoned submission, the exceptions the regulations provide for and that are not granted unless someone applies for them. Requiring authorisation for legal representation where the case warrants it. Assessing whether a prior record requires preliminary steps and carrying them out before filing, rather than filing and waiting.

That is the practice of law, not document handling, and it is why a complex file gets resolved rather than rejected.

From this follows something worth stating without qualification: we do not file incomplete applications, and there are cases we deliberately delay until they are ready. A record free of rejections is not a promise about your file — it is the consequence of a working method, and that method sometimes means telling you it is not yet time.

No track record constitutes an assurance as to a future filing, which depends on authorities outside the firm's control.

Who is responsible for the filing

The file is conducted by a registered attorney, bar registration number 33,998, admitted before the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Paraguay, with a verifiable professional address in Asunción, and subject to the disciplinary rules governing the practice of law.

We mention this because it is information you can verify independently, without relying on what this website says about itself. In a process that requires handing personal documents to a third party in a country you do not know, being able to verify who you are dealing with is a reasonable precaution, and one worth taking with any provider you are considering.

Fees

Professional fees for the standard route and for the investment route that does not require a business plan range between USD 1,850 and USD 2,500.

Variation within that range depends on the language of the documentation and the need for official translation, the number and complexity of the documents to be processed, the existence of prior records or circumstances requiring preliminary steps, and the number of family members included.

The investment categories that require a business plan — productive and tourism investment — are quoted on a case-by-case basis, because the scope of the work depends on the project.

Commissions

The firm does not receive commissions or payments from third parties for referring clients.

The one exception, which we disclose expressly, is the following: when a client requires property search or support, the firm works with real estate agent Rossana Ruiz, sister of the Founding Partner, whose engagement is optional, is invoiced separately, and generates a payment to the firm.

We work this way because the local property market requires a filter that takes years to build, and we prefer that filter to be applied by someone we can vouch for. The client is nonetheless free to work with any other professional, and that choice has no bearing on the rest of our services.

How we work

The engagement is agreed in writing first. It is formalised through an engagement letter for the provision of professional services, drafted in Spanish or English according to the client's preference, and signed in Paraguay.

That letter sets out the scope of work with its express exclusions, the total fee and payment terms, each party's obligations, the duty of confidentiality and the applicable jurisdiction. Nothing is left open to later interpretation.

It also contains three provisions worth highlighting, as they address concerns clients commonly raise.

The power of attorney has limited scope. The powers and authorisations you grant are limited exclusively to acts connected with this filing before the National Directorate of Migration, the National Police and the notarial offices involved. They confer no authority beyond the migration matter, and the cost of preparing them is included in the fee.

Certain deadlines are committed to. The firm undertakes to notify you in writing of any query regarding your documentation, and to file your application within three business days of receiving the complete documentation. Deadlines that depend on the authorities are not committed to, because they are not within our control.

Confidentiality survives termination. The duty of confidentiality regarding your documentation, your records and your financial information continues even after the engagement has ended.

Payment terms

Before signature, a non-refundable retainer of USD 150 is paid, which covers the preliminary document review, the assessment of the filing's viability and the reservation of a slot in the schedule. That amount is credited against, and deducted from, the total fee once the engagement letter is signed.

The balance is paid in two instalments: part on signature, when work begins, and the remainder when the identity card file is submitted, during the second trip.

The initial consultation carries no charge: the preliminary email exchange and video call are part of assessing the case and are not billed.

On scheduling

Once the engagement is confirmed, attendance dates are coordinated around your arrival in the country, and that date is reserved in the firm's schedule.

If you need to change it, you may do so as many times as necessary. Each rescheduling carries an administrative charge of USD 35, which is not credited against the total fee and reflects the reorganisation of a committed slot in the schedule. It does not apply where the postponement arises from a query raised in our own document review: if we are the ones asking you to correct something before travelling, the change of date carries no charge.

During periods of higher workload, we may need to propose dates other than those originally planned.

Bear in mind also that some documents have a limited period of validity, so a prolonged postponement may require them to be renewed. We will advise you precisely, based on your particular file.

What we do not do

We think it is best said beforehand rather than afterwards.

We do not undertake to meet processing deadlines, which depend on authorities we do not control. We do not undertake that a bank account will be opened, which is a decision for each institution under its own compliance procedures; we can explain how the process works and accompany you through it, but the outcome is not something we commit to. We do not arrange informal expediting of any kind. And we do not file incomplete applications, even at a client's request.

After residency

Once residency is obtained, the matter is concluded. There is no mandatory next step, nor any service you are required to engage afterwards.

Many of our clients resolve their migration status and require nothing further, and that is a complete service in itself. Others, over time — sometimes months, sometimes years — decide to incorporate a company, consider a property purchase or review their tax position, and by then they know the country through their own experience and know what they need.

The firm remains available in either case. What we do not do is turn a migration filing into the prelude to a sale.

Paraguayan Nationality

Paraguayan nationality may be obtained through two distinct routes: naturalisation, which applies to most foreign residents, and nationality by option, which is available in the specific circumstances set out by law. Which route applies in a given case depends on personal and family circumstances that should be assessed before any process is begun.

After three years holding permanent residency, a foreign national may apply for Paraguayan naturalisation.

The two processes are worth distinguishing, as they are often confused. Residency is an administrative procedure conducted before the National Directorate of Migration. Naturalisation is decided by the courts, has its own requirements, and is not granted automatically by the mere passage of time: it must be filed, argued and evidenced.

The firm undertakes legal representation in these proceedings. As the process depends on personal circumstances that vary from case to case, the scope of work and fees are determined after assessing the particular situation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to travel to Paraguay to obtain residency?

Yes. Physical presence is required both at the migration stage and when obtaining the identity card, which requires in-person biometric registration. As the two stages are separated by the processing time, the process ordinarily requires two trips.

How long does the process take?

The standard statutory period for the migration filing is ninety days, and the actual time depends on the file being submitted complete and actively followed up. The identity card subsequently takes a further thirty to sixty days.

What does it cost?

Fees range between USD 1,850 and USD 2,500 for the standard route and for the investment route that does not require a business plan. Categories that require a business plan are quoted on a case-by-case basis.

Are there additional costs?

Not during the process. The fee is fixed and covers the fees, charges, translations and legalisations of the filing in Paraguay. Excluded are the documents you obtain and apostille in your country of origin, and your travel and accommodation costs.

Do you accompany me to appointments, or do I attend alone?

A lawyer from the firm accompanies you to the proceedings that require your presence before the relevant institutions.

Can I obtain permanent residency directly?

Yes, if you evidence investment under Article 46 of Law No. 6984/2022, through the Foreign Investor Certificate issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce via SUACE.

What is the minimum investment amount?

It depends on the category: USD 70,000 for productive investment, with the creation of five formal jobs; USD 150,000 for tourism; USD 200,000 for real estate investment; and USD 200,000 for financial instruments authorised by the Central Bank of Paraguay.

Is the USD 5,000 bank deposit still available?

No. Under the previous regime, permanent residency could be applied for from the outset by evidencing profession or financial means, and one of the accepted ways of evidencing financial means was a deposit of USD 5,000 with the Banco Nacional de Fomento. That option is no longer in force. Direct access to permanent residency is now obtained through the investment route. Any source describing the deposit as currently available is out of date.

How much time must I spend in Paraguay to keep my residency?

There are presence requirements whose scope depends on the residency category held and on the purpose you intend the residency to serve. This is one of the areas where the information in circulation is least reliable, and where the correct answer depends on your particular situation.

When can I apply for Paraguayan nationality?

After three years holding permanent residency. This is a process distinct from the migration procedure, with its own requirements and subject to a judicial decision. It is not an automatic consequence of residency.

Does Paraguayan residency change my tax status in my home country?

Not on its own. Tax residency status in your home country is determined under that country's own legislation, and its tax authority applies its own criteria. Obtaining Paraguayan residency is a relevant fact, but it does not automatically resolve that question. This is a point best reviewed with your local adviser before making any decisions. In most jurisdictions the question is decided by a substance test applied by your own tax authority, which looks at where you actually live, work and maintain your centre of interests, rather than at which residence permits you hold.

I am a US citizen. Will Paraguayan residency reduce my US tax liability?

On its own, no. The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they reside, so obtaining Paraguayan residency does not by itself alter your US filing obligations. Paraguayan residency may still make sense for reasons of diversification, family relocation or regional business operations, but if your primary motivation is reducing US tax exposure, we would rather tell you at the outset that this is not the instrument for it. Your position should be reviewed with a qualified US adviser.

Can you get me a bank account?

We can explain the process and the requirements, and support you through it. We cannot ensure the outcome, which is a decision for each institution under its own compliance procedures.

What happens if I have a criminal record?

It depends on its nature and how long ago it occurred. In some cases, preliminary steps are required before the application is filed. This is one of the situations where filing without adequate preparation leads to a rejection that is subsequently more difficult to overturn.

Are Paraguayan citizenship and Paraguayan nationality the same thing?

In common usage the terms are used as synonyms, although technically they are not. What is obtained through naturalisation or by option is Paraguayan nationality. If you are looking for information on how to obtain Paraguayan citizenship, this is the relevant section.

Does Paraguay have a golden visa or citizenship-by-investment programme?

No. Paraguay has no golden visa regime and no programme granting citizenship in exchange for investment. What exists is a route to permanent residency for those who evidence qualifying investment, described above, and a separate judicial naturalisation process available after a period of permanent residency. Sources describing a Paraguayan golden visa are applying terminology from other jurisdictions.

What documentation is required to convert temporary residency into permanent residency?

In addition to the immigration documentation, applicants must evidence economic solvency under DNM Resolution No. 407/2026, which consolidated the applicable criteria into a single annex. The resolution sets out twelve categories — among them professionals, employees, remote workers, property owners, company shareholders, pensioners and dependants — each with its own evidentiary requirements. This is an admissibility requirement that cannot be presumed: it must be evidenced by adequate and verifiable documentation, and holding a professional qualification is not in itself sufficient proof.

Does the investment route also require evidence of personal economic solvency?

Not on the same terms. Permanent residency obtained by evidencing investment is governed by its own requirements, centred on the Foreign Investor Certificate and on the documentation supporting the investment under the chosen category. The solvency assessed there is the capacity to fund the business plan, not the personal means-of-subsistence requirement governed by DNM Resolution No. 407/2026.

This is an English translation provided for convenience. In the event of any discrepancy, the Spanish version shall prevail.