--- title: "Paraguay Residency Requirements 2026 – Document Checklist" description: "Paraguay residency requirements for 2026: birth and civil-status certificates, criminal records from age 14, apostilles and translations, with notes by country." url: https://www.paraguayprocess.com/requirements.html language: en --- Document checklist · checked 8 Oct 2026 # Paraguay residency requirements Every document Migraciones asks for, who needs it and how to prepare it, so your apostilles are right the first time. Open my checklist US, Canada & EU notes ## The short version - Birth certificate: **Apostilled + translated** - Civil-status certificate: **Apostilled + translated** - Criminal record: **Age 14+, national level** - Passport: **Valid 6+ months** - In Paraguay: **Police + INTERPOL** Your checklist ## Your Paraguay residency document checklist. Pick who's applying. Your ticks are saved in this browser only. **0 / 0** ready ### From your home country Every foreign document: an apostille, or legalisation by a Paraguayan consulate if the issuing country is not in the Apostille Convention. - **Passport** · Valid at least 6 months; 2+ years avoids renewing mid-process · *Everyone* - **Birth certificate** · Recent original · apostille · sworn Spanish translation · *Everyone* - **Civil-status certificate** · Single, married, divorced or widowed · apostille · translation · *Adults* - **Criminal record** · National or federal level, from your country of origin (or where you lived more than 1 year in the last 3 years) · apostille · translation · aim for one issued within ~90 days of filing · *Age 14+* - **Marriage certificate** · Apostille · translation · *Couples* - **Children's birth certificates & custody papers** · Proof of parentage or custody; both parents sign or apply together · *Children* ### In Paraguay - **Proof of entry** · Your passport entry stamp or entry record · *Everyone* - **Paraguayan police certificate** · Certificado de antecedentes for foreigners · *Age 14+* - **INTERPOL certificate** · INTERPOL office in Asunción · fingerprints and photo · *Age 14+* - **Sworn translations** · By a traductor público matriculado · Portuguese from Brazil exempt · *Foreign documents* - **Authenticated copies** · Migraciones asks for an original plus an authenticated copy of each document · *Everything* **Papers in order.** Next: [what happens on filing day](https://www.paraguayprocess.com/process.html#filing). ### Later, for permanent residency Filed in the last 3 months of your temporary card. Bring the original and an authenticated copy of each; the four certificates are required from age 14. [Permanent residency in detail](https://www.paraguayprocess.com/permanent-residency.html) - **Passport or ID** from your home country, still valid - **Paraguayan cédula** and your **temporary residency card** - **Police certificate for foreigners** (Policía Nacional) - **Good-conduct certificate** (Policía Nacional, Departamento de Identificaciones) - **Judicial record certificate** (Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales) - **INTERPOL certificate** - **Proof of income** under Res. DNM 407/2026 ([what counts](https://www.paraguayprocess.com/paraguay-residency-guide.html#solvency)) - **Proof of any change** in civil status, name or occupation At Migraciones you'll also sign two sworn declarations (respect for the law; your activity and address). Apostille & translation ## How foreign documents become valid in Paraguay. Step 1 ### Apostille at home From the competent authority in the country that issued the document. If your country isn't in the Apostille Convention, use consular legalisation instead. Step 2 ### Sworn translation Into Spanish by a public translator registered in Paraguay. Multilingual EU certificates are easier to verify but usually still need translating. Step 3 ### Copies Original plus an authenticated copy of each. Keep scans in the cloud and offline. Where you're coming from ## Who issues your documents. **United States** - **Criminal record:** FBI Identity History Summary (national level), apostilled by the US Department of State. - **Birth & marriage certificates:** apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state that issued them. - **Entry:** visa-free for up to 90 days until 13 August 2027 (Ley 7314/2024). **Canada** - **Criminal record:** RCMP certified (fingerprint-based) criminal record check. - **Apostille:** Canada has issued apostilles since 11 January 2024. Global Affairs Canada handles federal documents like the RCMP check; provinces handle their own, such as birth certificates. - **Entry:** visa-free for up to 90 days until 13 August 2027 (Ley 7314/2024). **European Union** - **Criminal record:** your national certificate (e.g. casier judiciaire, Führungszeugnis, certificado de antecedentes penales), apostilled. - **Apostille:** every EU country issues them. Ask for multilingual civil-status extracts where available. - **Lived elsewhere?** If you spent more than 1 year in another country in the last 3 years, Migraciones wants that country's record instead, with proof of residence. Timing ## When to request what. 1. ### 3–4 months before Order birth, civil-status and marriage certificates; start the FBI or RCMP check. 2. ### 1–2 months before Apostilles on everything; scans in the cloud. Check nothing will be too old at filing. 3. ### In Paraguay Police and INTERPOL certificates, translations and copies, then file at Migraciones. ## Sources Checked 8 October 2026. - [Migraciones: temporary residency requirements](https://migraciones.gov.py/residencia-temporal/) - [Global Affairs Canada: Canada joins the Apostille Convention](https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2023/05/canada-joins-apostille-convention-to-facilitate-use-of-public-documents-abroad.html) - [Global Affairs Canada: authentication of documents](https://international.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/services/document-authentication) Informational content only, not legal advice. Not sure about a document? ## Send it to us before you apostille it. A quick check now saves a second apostille and weeks of waiting. [Contact us](https://www.paraguayprocess.com/consultation.html) [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/595994817535?text=Hi%21%20I%27d%20like%20to%20ask%20about%20Paraguay%20residency.) [The application process](https://www.paraguayprocess.com/process.html)