The Paraguay Residency Handbook.
How residency in Paraguay actually works in 2026, checked against Migraciones, DNIT and the laws themselves. No fluff, no sales pitch.
Quick summary
- Migraciones feeGs. 2,926,925 per stage
- Temporary residencyUp to 2 years
- File for permanentLast 3 months of the card
- Max. time away1 year temporary · 3 years permanent
- Permanent needsProof of real income
- WhereIn person at Migraciones
Ley 6984/2022 · Decreto 6225/2026 (fees) · Res. DNM 407/2026 (solvency) · Res. MIC 283/2026 (Investor Pass)
Four updates that change how you plan.
If you read about Paraguay residency before mid-2026, check these first.
New fees
Temporary and permanent residency now cost Gs. 2,926,925 each (up from Gs. 2,787,550). MERCOSUR temporary is Gs. 2,341,540. Cash in guaraníes; cards add 2–3% + IVA.
Permanent needs real income
To convert to permanent you must prove income that is real and verifiable and matches the activity you declared when you applied for temporary residency. Zero ("nil") tax returns no longer count.
Signed on 28 May 2026, it applies to applications filed from 6 July 2026; the new fees come from a separate decree, in force since 1 July 2026.
Investor Pass
Four investment routes (USD 70,000–200,000) now lead straight to permanent residency, skipping the temporary stage. See the routes.
Absences are being enforced
Migraciones reminded residents that more than 1 year in a row abroad (temporary) or 3 years (permanent) without justification is grounds for cancellation (Ley 6984/2022, Art. 55). You can ask for authorisation before passing the limit.
From your home country to permanent residency.
Documents at home
Birth certificate, civil-status certificate and criminal record, all apostilled.
Local checks
Paraguayan police certificate, INTERPOL certificate and sworn Spanish translations.
File temporary
In person at Migraciones. You get precarious status: you can work and travel while it's processed.
Card & cédula
Temporary card for up to 2 years, then your cédula. Build your income evidence from here.
File permanent
In the last 3 months of the card, with proof of real income. How it works
Migraciones publishes no official processing times. Reported in 2026: temporary about 3–4 months, permanent 3–6 months. Track your own dates.
What counts as proof, by situation.
Res. DNM 407/2026 sets 12 categories and no minimum amount: professionals, technicians, employees, the self-employed, remote workers, property owners, shareholders and partners, farmers and ranchers, religious workers, retirees, dependants and students. The table shows six of them.
| Your situation | What Migraciones asks for |
|---|---|
| Remote worker / digital nomad | Work certificate showing the work relationship, the income and how you're paid. Foreign documents apostilled and translated. |
| Self-employed (commerce or services) | RUC registration plus IVA returns for the last 3 months, or last year's IRP return with a tax-compliance certificate. Returns must show real activity. RUC help |
| Retiree / pensioner | Pension certificate showing the amount and the account it's paid into, apostilled. |
| Employee in Paraguay | IPS (social security) certificate or a registered employment contract. |
| Property owner | Title registered in the Registro Unificado Nacional, with a two-year registration condition. |
| Shareholder / partner | Registered company documents naming you, or the EAS certificate from the beneficial-owner registry. |
Whatever you choose, it must match the activity you declared in your temporary application (Art. 3). Being a student, or holding a degree, is not enough on its own.
Notes for US, Canadian and European applicants.
United States
- Entry: visa-free for up to 90 days until 13 August 2027 (Ley 7314/2024).
- Criminal record: FBI Identity History Summary (a national-level check, as Migraciones requires), apostilled by the US Department of State. Birth certificates are apostilled by the state that issued them.
- Tax: the US taxes citizens on worldwide income. No US–Paraguay tax treaty or Social Security agreement exists. US citizens and RUC
Canada
- Entry: visa-free for up to 90 days until 13 August 2027 (Ley 7314/2024).
- Criminal record: RCMP certified (fingerprint-based) check. Since 11 January 2024 Canada issues apostilles: Global Affairs Canada for federal documents, provincial authorities for provincial ones such as birth certificates.
- Tax: no Canada–Paraguay tax treaty. Leaving Canada for tax purposes means cutting residential ties and can trigger departure tax; the CRA's form NR73 gives you its view.
European Union
- Criminal record: your national certificate, apostilled. Every EU country issues apostilles.
- Route: EU citizens use the standard (Ley 6984/2022) route; the MERCOSUR route is for South American nationals.
- Tax: Spain is the only EU country with a Paraguay tax treaty (effective 1 January 2025). Elsewhere, check your home country's exit rules before you move.
- Reported: INTERPOL certificates for some EU nationals have taken longer since late 2025.
The detailed guides.
Requirements
The papers to bring from home and how to get apostilles right the first time.
See the residency requirementsThe process
Police certificate, INTERPOL, translations and filing at Migraciones.
See how to apply, step by stepResidency Tracker
Your stage, your next date and your days abroad, in one place.
Open the trackerDo it yourself, or get help?
For patient Spanish speakers
- Lowest cost, and you learn the system
- Bureaucracy is in Spanish, and small errors mean repeat visits
- You own every deadline, including the 3-month permanent window
For professionals and families
- Documents checked before you travel
- Income evidence planned from the temporary stage
- Costs more, and quality varies, so check anyone you hire
Red flag: "24-hour residency"
There's no instant residency and no passport for sale. Every route needs you in person at Migraciones. Anyone offering documents without that is likely selling fakes.
Questions about Paraguay residency, answered.
How much does Paraguay residency cost in 2026?
Since 1 July 2026 (Decreto 6225/2026), Migraciones charges Gs. 2,926,925 for temporary residency and the same again for permanent; MERCOSUR temporary residency is Gs. 2,341,540. Pay in cash in guaraníes, as cards add 2–3% + IVA (Migraciones fee table). Apostilles, sworn translations and certificates come on top.
What is the difference between temporary and permanent residency in Paraguay?
Temporary residency lasts up to 2 years. In the last 3 months of the card you file for permanent residency, which now needs proof of real, verifiable income (Res. DNM 407/2026). As a temporary resident, more than 1 year in a row abroad without justification can cancel your residency; as a permanent resident, more than 3 years.
Is there a minimum income for permanent residency in Paraguay?
No fixed amount. Res. DNM 407/2026 sets 12 categories of proof, such as a work certificate, a pension certificate or RUC tax returns. The income must be real and match the activity you declared in your temporary application, and nil tax returns no longer count.
Can US citizens get residency in Paraguay?
Yes. US citizens use the standard route, with an FBI Identity History Summary apostilled by the US Department of State. They can enter visa-free for up to 90 days until 13 August 2027. The US still taxes citizens on worldwide income, and there is no US–Paraguay tax treaty.
Can I get permanent residency in Paraguay directly?
Yes, through the Investor Pass (Res. MIC 283/2026): four investment routes from USD 70,000 to 200,000 lead straight to permanent residency, skipping the temporary stage. Compare the routes →
Do I have to live in Paraguay?
Not full-time, but there are limits. As a temporary resident, more than 1 year in a row outside Paraguay without justification is grounds for cancellation; as a permanent resident, more than 3 years (Ley 6984/2022, Art. 55). If you need to be away longer, request authorisation from Migraciones before you pass the limit. Check your days abroad →
Can I work while my application is processed?
Yes. While your temporary residency is being processed you hold precarious resident status, which lets you work, study and leave and re-enter the country.
Is my foreign income tax-free in Paraguay?
Paraguay only taxes Paraguayan-source income, but the law defines that as income from activities carried out in Paraguay (Ley 6380/2019, Art. 6). Work you do while physically in Paraguay can count, even for foreign clients. Income from assets or work abroad generally doesn't. Your home country may still tax you; see the country notes above.
How long does it all take?
Temporary residency lasts up to 2 years, and you file for permanent in its last 3 months. Migraciones publishes no processing times; 2026 reports put temporary at about 3–4 months and permanent at 3–6 months. The Investor Pass skips the temporary stage.
Is Paraguay safe?
Petty crime exists and normal precautions apply. Check your government's travel advice before you go.
Sources
Checked 8 October 2026. Official sources first.
- Migraciones: fees from 1 July 2026 (Decreto 6225/2026)
- Migraciones: temporary residency requirements
- Migraciones: permanent residency (change of category)
- Resolución DNM 407/2026 (PDF): solvency for permanent residency
- Migraciones: absence limits, 8 April 2026
- DNIT: Ley 6380/2019 (tax source rule)
- Global Affairs Canada: Canada joins the Apostille Convention
Informational content only, not legal or tax advice.
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