Paraguayan cédula for foreigners
Once Migraciones grants your residency, the cédula is your Paraguayan ID card. Here is what the Policía Nacional asks for under the 2026 rules, what it costs and how long it takes.
At a glance
- WhoTemporary and permanent residents
- WhereDepartamento de Identificaciones, Asunción
- You pay forCertificates, translations and notary copies
- Official delivery timeUp to 90 business days
- CollectionOnly by the cardholder
Policía Nacional · Resolución 717/2026
What the cédula unlocks.
Residency is granted by Migraciones; the cédula is issued separately by the Policía Nacional. Many next steps need it.
Your RUC
- DNIT asks foreign individuals for a valid cédula or a passport issued in Paraguay
- RUC setup for foreign residents
Banking and paperwork
- A local account in guaraníes is simple once you have your cédula
- It's also needed when you file for permanent residency
Paraguayan cédula requirements for foreigners.
Bring originals together with copies authenticated by a notary (escribano). Foreign documents must be valid, apostilled or legalised, and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator registered in Paraguay.
Residency and local certificates
- Original residency certificate (certificado de radicación) from Migraciones
- Authenticated copy of your residency card
- Authenticated copy of your foreigner registration card
- Paraguayan police certificate, from age 14
- INTERPOL report, from age 14
- Certificate of life and residence (certificado de vida y residencia) from the Juzgado de Paz
Identity and civil status
- Authenticated copy of your valid national ID or passport
- Original birth certificate, apostilled
- Marriage, divorce or death certificates, if they apply
- A criminal record from your home country, still valid, from age 14
Check your home-country criminal record first
The cédula office asks for a criminal record from your home country that is still valid when you apply. The one in your residency file may be months old by then, so check it before your appointment.
How to get your cédula in Paraguay.
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Get your residency certificate
Once your residency is granted, request the certificado de radicación from Migraciones.
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Collect your certificates
Paraguayan police and INTERPOL certificates, and the certificate of life and residence from the Juzgado de Paz. Check that your home-country criminal record is still valid.
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Prepare copies and translations
A notary authenticates your copies; a sworn translator registered in Paraguay translates any foreign document that isn't in Spanish (Portuguese is accepted).
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Apply at Identificaciones
At the Departamento de Identificaciones, Denis Roa corner of Avenida Boggiani, Asunción. New photo, fingerprints and signature.
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Collect it in person
Only the cardholder can collect the cédula.
Renewing a foreigner's cédula.
When your cédula expires, or is lost or stolen, the renewal file is shorter. No new birth certificate or home-country criminal record is listed.
What to bring
- Your expired cédula, or the police report if it was lost or stolen
- Authenticated copy of your permanent residency card
- Authenticated copies of your national ID and foreigner registration card
- INTERPOL report and Paraguayan police certificate, from age 14
- Certificate of life and residence
Becoming permanent?
- File for permanent residency in the last 3 months of your temporary card
- Paraguay permanent residency
Paraguay cédula questions, answered.
Can I get a cédula with temporary residency?
Yes. The Policía Nacional issues a first cédula to foreigners with temporary or permanent residency.
How long does it take to get a Paraguayan cédula?
The official delivery time is up to 90 business days from your application (Res. 717/2026). Gathering the certificates beforehand takes extra time.
How much does the cédula cost?
You pay for the documents the file needs: the residency certificate from Migraciones (Gs. 234,154), the Paraguayan police certificate, the INTERPOL report, the certificate of life and residence, sworn translations and notary-certified copies, plus an agent's fee if you use one.
Do I need my home-country criminal record again?
For the first cédula, yes: it must still be valid when you apply. For a renewal, it is not on the list.
Can someone else collect my cédula?
No. Only the cardholder can collect it.
Sources
Checked 10 October 2026.
- Policía Nacional: first cédula for foreigners with temporary or permanent residency
- Policía Nacional: cédula renewal for foreigners
- Migraciones: fees from 1 July 2026
- ABC Color: the ten requirements under Res. 717/2026 (19 August 2026)
Informational content only, not legal advice.
Get your cédula file right the first time.
Tell us where you are in the process, and we'll help you check your documents before your appointment.