Paraguay Residency 2025: Complete, Up-to-Date Guide (Temporary → Permanent, SUACE Investor, Embassy Strategy, Requirements, steps, timelines)

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Why Paraguay residency?

If you’re weighing second-residence options in the Americas, paraguay residency stands out for its clear rules, modest paperwork, and two flexible routes—a standard Temporary → Permanent path and a direct-to-Permanent investor path.

Since Law 6984/22, Paraguay formalized a staged process, clarified translation/apostille rules, and set out how and when permanent status can lapse for long absences.

The two main routes to paraguay residency

1) Standard route (Temporary → Permanent)

Under Law 6984/22, most applicants obtain Temporary Residence (valid up to 2 years, extendable once) before applying for Permanent Residence.

After filing, you’re covered by residente precario, which lets you stay during adjudication; once the temporary card is issued you can obtain a Cédula with matching validity. Begin your Permanent Residence filing about 3 months before the temporary expiry (≈ 1 year 9 months after issuance).

2) Investor route (direct to Permanent via SUACE)

If speed is the priority, Paraguay runs an official investor track through SUACE (Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas) that allows you to skip the two-year temporary stage and go straight to Permanent Residence with a minimum USD 70,000 investment and creation of ~5 local jobs.

Reported processing can be as fast as ~45 days after the investment declaration. Practical notes rarely spelled out elsewhere: you can qualify by buying shares in a Paraguayan company or by capitalizing your own company; personal real-estate purchases don’t qualify, but a real-estate company can; entity choice tips include S.A. for larger/real-estate projects and E.A.S. for flexible, small-scale ventures; even opening a corporate bank account by proxy is possible.

Good to know: Law 6984/22 replaced older residency shortcuts—e.g., the ₲32 million (~US$4,500) bank deposit—which are now abolished.

Paraguay residency types at a glance

• Residencia Temporal (Temporary Residence): up to 2 years, renewable once; prerequisite for Permanent unless using the investor route.

• Residencia Permanente (Permanent Residence): long-term status after Temporary (or directly via SUACE).

  
  

Requirements (documents & standards)

Whether you pursue the standard or investor path, expect to prepare the following:

• Passport (with legal entry stamp) and basic IDs.

• Birth certificate and, where applicable, marital-status document (marriage/divorce/death).

• Police clearances for the last 3 years from countries where you resided; Interpol and Paraguayan police checks are added locally. If a clearance has no expiry or >180-day validity, enter Paraguay within 180 days of issuance.

• Apostilles/legalizations on foreign documents and Spanish translations by a Traductor Público; typical translation cost ~US$100–200 per person.

• Sworn statements (good conduct, intended activity/address in Paraguay) as required.

  
  

For investor files: add Constancia de Inversionista (MIC/SUACE) confirming the USD 70,000 plan and job creation.

For applicants under 18: carry parents’ passport copies (notarized), and if one/both parents are absent, a travel authorization & special POA from the home-country notary (apostilled/legalized). Paraguay doesn’t require the child to be formally recognized at entry, but having apostilled evidence avoids downstream issues.

If you need an entry visa first: embassy strategies that work

Applicants from countries that require a Paraguay entry visa should align their embassy plan with one of three scenarios:

1. Your country has a Paraguayan embassy (e.g., India, Morocco, Indonesia, Lebanon, Qatar, Cuba) → apply at home.

2. You legally live in a different country that has a Paraguayan embassy (and have 2+ years legal stay there) → apply in your country of residence (e.g., Pakistani in UAE, Chinese in Japan).

3. Your country has no Paraguayan embassy (e.g., Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia) → apply in a third country that does.

   
   

Active embassies & 2024 closures. The current global network includes posts in Asia (New Delhi, Jakarta, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Seoul, Beirut, Taipei, Ankara, Doha), Europe (Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid, London, Moscow, Vienna, Brussels, Stockholm), Americas (Washington D.C., Mexico City, Bogotá, Santiago, Brasília, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, La Paz, Lima, Panama City, San José, Havana, Santo Domingo), and Africa (Pretoria, Rabat). Closures noted in 2024: Portugal, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and Egypt. Always reconfirm your target mission before filing.

Entry-visa paperwork you prepare in your country of residence (translated into English or Spanish and notarized):

• Bank statements (last 6 months) showing sufficient funds

• Employment contract or business license

• Full copy of your passport (all pages) with 6+ months validity remaining.

  
  

Documents lodged in Paraguay (by a local office/representative) often include an invitation letter from a Paraguayan company and other internal filings required by immigration/consular authorities.

Entry-visa timelines: typical issuance ~30–45 days. Use that time to prep your residency file so you can transition smoothly on arrival.

How to get paraguay residency: step-by-step

A) Standard path (Temporary → Permanent)

1. Pre-arrival prep. Apostille civil & police records; arrange Spanish translations (in your country or with a court-registered translator in Asunción).

2. File at Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM). Filing grants residente precario while your Temporary Residence is processed.

3. Receive Temporary Residence (often issued in ~90 days when files are complete). Apply for your Cédula; typical issuance ~45–60 days after the residence card.

4. Extend once if needed (prórroga) with updated Paraguayan police checks / status updates.

5. Apply for Permanent Residence ~3 months before the temporary expiry. Power-of-attorney handling and courier return of cards are possible if you must travel.

   
   

B) Investor path (SUACE → direct Permanent)

1. Obtain “Constancia de Inversionista.” Declare your USD 70,000 plan and job creation at MIC/SUACE.

2. Choose your investment method: buy shares or capitalize your own company (S.A. or E.A.S. per project scale). Note: personal real-estate purchases do not count; a real-estate company can.

3. Open a corporate bank account (proxy possible), lodge the file, and proceed to Permanent Residence + Cédula—as fast as ~45 days after declaration.

   
   

Costs, timelines, and expectations

• Government fees: set by DNM and related agencies; pay those quoted during filing.

• Translations & apostilles: plan US$100–200 per person for official translations if done in Paraguay; apostille/legalization costs vary by country.

• Processing windows (typical, not guaranteed):

  • Entry visa: 30–45 days.

  • Temporary Residence: ~90 days after arrival for well-prepared files.

  • Cédula: ~45–60 days after the residence card.

  • Investor PR: as fast as ~45 days post-declaration.

• On-the-ground time: many applicants can complete in-country steps within ~3–5 days per visit if the file is pre-assembled and appointments are sequenced.

  
  

Maintaining your status (and when you can lose it)

• Temporary residents should renew before expiry if more time is needed; treat prórroga as time-sensitive.

• Permanent residents can lose status after >3 years outside Paraguay without justification on file with DNM (extensions may be granted by resolution in regulated cases).

Taxes after paraguay residency (high-level)

Paraguay runs a territorial system: foreign-source income is not taxed, personal/corporate income taxes on Paraguayan-source income are ~8–10%, and VAT (IVA) is 10%. There is no inheritance/wealth tax.

Crypto trading: some reports no capital-gains tax on crypto and notes rules are not yet fully defined; treatment may change—seek current professional advice. A Tax Residency Certificate is available for treaty use (e.g., with Spain).

Citizenship after Permanent Residence

After becoming a permanent resident, you may seek citizenship once you can show ~3 years of actual residence in Paraguay, clean police records, basic Spanish, and financial stability.

A practical rule of thumb is ~6 months per year in-country to build a strong file. Dual citizenship is effectively tolerated in practice, and a Paraguayan passport brings broad regional mobility (Mercosur), plus many visa-free destinations. Always verify the current court practice before filing.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using outdated “deposit” shortcuts—they were abolished under the 2022 framework.

• Skipping apostilles/translations—foreign documents must be apostilled/legalized and translated into Spanish by a court-registered translator.

• Assuming airport visas—many nationals need an embassy entry visa first; plan your ①/②/③ strategy early.

• Counting personal real estate as an “investment”—qualify via a company (own or shares), not a deed in your name.

Our Service

Who we serve

• People planning to obtain Permanent Residence in Paraguay and wanting English-speaking, on-the-ground support (Japanese/English/Spanish available).

  
  

Service packages

• Option 1 — 2-Year Residence Visa + 2-Year Cédula: end-to-end filing and local support. USD 1,500 / person. 

• Option 2 — Permanent Residence + 10-Year Cédula: for holders of a 2-year visa approaching expiry; apply ~3 months before your 2-year visa ends. USD 1,300 / person.

• Option 3 — Concierge & Troubleshooting (Life in Paraguay): housing/car search and contract review, utilities setup, bank account (after Cédula), medical and emergency assistance, school guidance, senior-care introductions, import guidance, and legal help. (Custom scope / fee). 

• Option 4 — Investor PR (Direct to Permanent via SUACE, ≥ USD 70,000): skip the 2-year stage; filing and guidance provided. (Custom scope / fee). 

  
  

What’s included (Options 1 & 2)

• Pre-departure check of required documents + lifestyle consultation.

• Airport pickup to your lodging on arrival.

• Local SIM registration.

• FX/crypto exchange assistance. 

  
  

What Option 3 covers (examples)

• General consulting & emergency troubleshooting.

• Home / apartment search, contract analysis & negotiation.

• Car purchase (new/used) support & contract review.

• Electricity / gas / water / internet setup.

• Bank account opening (after you obtain your Cédula).

• Accident/crime assistance (hospital, police).

• Medical care coordination.

• School selection (public/private).

• Elderly care introductions.

• Personal imports guidance.

• Free legal advice; lawyer arrangement if needed (legal fees extra).

  
  

Add-ons (extra fee)

• Driver’s license support (after 2-year visa).

• Power of attorney pickup & couriering of your Visa/Cédula.

• Customs clearance assistance for shipments (often required > USD 100).

• House moving arrangements nationwide.

• Business establishment support.

  
  

Pricing & payment terms

• Option 1: USD 1,500 / person. Option 2: USD 1,300 / person. Fees can be paid locally (USD or PYG) at contract signing (local payment may avoid exchange fees) or by bank transfer (JPY possible). Packages include all direct costs (translations, document issuance, escribanía, transportation, taxes) and tri-lingual support (JA/EN/ES).

Notes: Package language mentions that all direct expenses are included; for investor and concierge work, scope-based quotes apply. Always confirm latest inclusions and payment methods at the time of engagement.

Contact us today

Let’s make your second residency in Paraguay a reality. We’ve helped clients from all over countries build a new life in Paraguay.

👉 Contact us for a free consultation

📍 Based in Asunción, Paraguay

📧 Email: agentparaguayvisa@gmail.com

📱 WhatsApp: [+595985475643]