Paraguay residency for Americans: step-by-step guide

Which route applies to US citizens

US citizens are not covered by the Mercosur Residence Agreement (it applies to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador), so the general route of Migration Law 6984/2022 applies: first Temporary Residence (up to 2 years, extendable for the same period), then Permanent Residence. Temporary residence is a prerequisite for permanent residence.

The procedure is personal and in person, in Asunción, at the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (Caballero Nº 201 esq. Eligio Ayala), Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 14:30. While your case is processed you hold “precarious resident” status, which lets you leave and re-enter the country, study and work.

Documents to prepare in the United States

US documents are in English, so they must be translated into Spanish by a public translator in Paraguay, or by a US translator authorized in their country (then the translation needs an apostille). Check travel.state.gov for the current apostille procedure.

• Passport: A valid US passport. In Asunción you will also need copies authenticated by an Escribanía Pública.
• Birth certificate: A certified copy from your state or county vital records office, with an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state.
• FBI Identity History Summary: A national (FBI) background check rather than a state-only one, with an apostille from the US Department of State. Required from age 14.
• Marriage certificate or divorce decree: If applicable, also apostilled.

Documents you obtain in Paraguay

• Certificate of criminal record for foreigners from the Paraguayan National Police (IT department) and an INTERPOL certificate, from age 14.
• Proof of entry: the entry stamp in your passport or the entry card from migration control.
• A consular visa only if your nationality requires one (check with the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mre.gov.py).
• Copies of your passport authenticated by an Escribanía Pública (Paraguayan notary).

Step by step

1. In the US, obtain and apostille the documents listed in the previous section.
2. Enter Paraguay and keep your proof of entry. A tourist stay is limited to 90 consecutive days.
3. Have the documents translated into Spanish by a public translator in Paraguay (or by a US translator authorized in their country, in which case the translation itself needs an apostille).
4. In Asunción, obtain the National Police and INTERPOL certificates and have your passport copies authenticated.
5. File the application at Migraciones: the sworn statements are generated in the system when you submit. Pay the fee.
6. Follow the case in person or through a legal representative. Acceptance of your documents does not mean the residence is granted.

Official fees

• Temporary Residence (Law 6984/2022, includes precarious status and category change): Gs. 2.926.925.
• Permanent Residence (category change): Gs. 2.926.925.
• Residence certificate (Certificado de Radicación): Gs. 234.154. Fine for overstaying a transitory stay (Art. 87), if applicable: Gs. 702.462.
• Amounts are for cash payment, valid since 2026-07-01; electronic payments add a 2% to 3% commission plus VAT. Not included: apostilles, background checks, translations, notary and legal fees.

After temporary residence: permanent residence and the cédula

The change to Permanent Residence is filed within the 3 months before the temporary card expires. If it already expired, you can still file up to 1 month later with a fine; after that only an extension of the temporary residence is possible (up to 6 months after expiry), also with a fine.

Documents: passport, Paraguayan cédula, temporary residence card, certificate for foreigners, good-conduct and judicial record certificates, an INTERPOL certificate, and proof of economic solvency.

Solvency is proven by category: professionals with a degree registered in Paraguay plus proof of practice; technicians; employees (IPS insurance or an approved employment contract); self-employed (VAT/income tax returns); remote workers and digital nomads (employer letter with income and payment method); property owners; shareholders; farmers and ranchers; retirees and pensioners (a letter stating amount and payment method, apostilled); dependents; students over 18 with their own income or family support. Investors have a separate route to permanent residence (SUACE).

The permanent card is definitive (renewed every 10 years) and gives access to the Paraguayan cédula de identidad, valid for 10 years.

Documents by type of activity

The set of documents depends on what you do. At the Residencia Temporal stage, documents regarding your type of activity are not required: a declaration of profession, occupation, and address, which is generated by the Migraciones system during the application process, is sufficient. For citizens of Mercosur countries, Residencia Temporal does not require proof of solvency for adults at all.

Proof of solvency by type of activity is required when transitioning to Residencia Permanente. The mere fact of being employed or a student is not enough: Migraciones requests documents from the list below. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish.

• Employee: Certificate of insured person from IPS (Instituto de Previsión Social) or an employment contract, visaed by the Ministry of Labor of Paraguay and registered.
• Specialist with a higher education degree: A diploma registered with the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC), and proof of practice: an IPS certificate, or an employment contract visaed by the Ministry of Labor, or VAT declarations for the last 3 months or IRP income tax declarations for the year, along with a certificate of tax compliance (constancia de cumplimiento tributario). A diploma alone is not considered sufficient proof.
• Technician: A technician diploma (título de tecnicatura) registered with the MEC, and the same proof of practice as for a specialist: an IPS certificate, a visaed employment contract, or tax declarations with a certificate of tax payment.
• Self-employed (trade and services): Certificate of registration as a natural person (constancia de persona física), VAT declarations for the last 3 months or IRP for the year, and a certificate of tax compliance.
• Remote worker and digital nomad: Certificate of employment (constancia de trabajo) stating income and method of payment. Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish. In the US, an employer letter must be notarized and then apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where it was notarized, with a Spanish translation.
• Real estate owner: Property title registered with the RUN (Real Estate Registry) at least 2 years ago. Migraciones may additionally request proof of income from this property.
• Shareholder or company member: Notarized copy of incorporation documents or shareholder registry where the applicant is listed. For EAS format companies, a certificate (constancia) from the DGPEJBF is required.
• Farmer and cattle rancher: Either a property title for productive assets registered with the RUN, with a certificate of tax payment and a certificate of registration as a natural person, or proof of sale or purchase of products, or a registered brand with a certificate of tax payment.
• Religious minister: MEC certificate of registration of the religious organization and a letter from that organization confirming your role and coverage of your living expenses.
• Pensioner: Pension certificate (constancia de jubilación o pensión) indicating the amount and method of receipt, legalized or apostilled. In the US, a Social Security benefit verification letter (or a pension statement) is the usual proof; it needs an apostille and a Spanish translation.
• Dependent (spouse, parents, person with a disability): Spouse: marriage certificate, legalized or apostilled, and a certified copy of the Paraguayan ID or residence card of the spouse who is supporting you. Parents and grandparents: document proving kinship and a certified copy of the document of the relative supporting you. Person with a disability: certificate from SENADIS or an equivalent body in the country of origin (apostilled or legalized), document proving kinship, and the document of the supporting relative. In the US, marriage and birth certificates come from the state or county vital records office and are apostilled by the Secretary of State, with a Spanish translation.
• Student over 18 years old: Certificate of regular enrollment (full-time or distance learning), proof of academic performance, and receipts for tuition payments for 2 years. Student status is not enough: you need your own income or a documented sponsor (document proving kinship, proof of money transfers, and a certified document from the sponsor).
• Children under 18 years old: Proof of solvency is not required. Requirements depend on who the child is traveling with: both parents (both sign the application), one parent (court order or notarized consent from the other parent is required), or a third party (court order or notarized consent from parents, certified by the juvenile court). Criminal record certificates are not required for children under 14 years old.

Frequently asked questions