Latest as of November 2024Paraguay Permanent Resident Visa Application Service（paraguay visa for us citizens）
- Kori Aihara
- Apr 5
- 12 min read
Updated: Apr 18
Our Paraguay Immigration Information Office will be assisting us nationals and a wide variety of foreign nationals in obtaining Paraguayan permanent residency starting in 2019. Here you will find detailed information about obtaining a Paraguayan Permanent Resident Visa for us citizens.
【The latest information as of November 2024】
【⚠Change in information due to October 2022 immigration law changes】
Previously, it was possible to obtain a permanent residence visa on the condition of making a deposit of $5,000 in a Paraguayan national bank for a certain period of time, but since the October 2022 amendment to the Immigration Law (Law No. 6984/2022), the application process has changed to a two-step process: first obtain a two-year residence visa, then a permanent residence visa. The flow of application has been changed. Although it may seem like more work to obtain a permanent residence visa, the requirement to prove personal funds by depositing $5,000 in the National Bank of Paraguay, which was previously a requirement when applying for a two-year temporary residence visa or a permanent residence visa, has been eliminated.
The following is an explanation of how to obtain Paraguayan permanent resident status in one shot by applying for investor status at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The author obtained permanent resident status in this way*.
Support Service Subjects
Those considering permanent residence in Paraguay
Those who do not intend to continue to actually reside in Paraguay, but wish to obtain Paraguayan permanent resident status to expand their life options in the future.
Those who are considering market entry to develop a niche market that does not yet exist in Paraguay, which has one of the lowest barriers to entry for entrepreneurs in South America, including tax benefits
For those who are considering studying Spanish in Paraguay, an inexpensive, safe, and stable country
Those who would like to start my retirement pension life in Paraguay, which is one of the safest countries in South America, has low inflation, and is friendly to foreigners
Those who want to start a digital nomad lifestyle in Paraguay, where earnings earned abroad via the Internet or other means are tax-free.
Those who want to start with Paraguay, where it is particularly easy to obtain a permanent residence visa to go to other countries in Latin America.
【Paraguay Permanent Resident Visa Application for us citizens】
Here are three recommended acquisition patterns for obtaining permanent residence in Paraguay.
Pattern①
This pattern is recommended for those who wish to obtain a permanent residence visa while actually residing in Paraguay and establishing a foundation for living in the country. The following is divided into the first and second stages.
First stage
・Arrival in Paraguay
・apply for a temporary residence visa valid for 2 years to the Immigration Bureau → Obtain a temporary residence visa valid for 2 years
・Required time: 90 to 110 days
・Apply for a national ID card (Cedula) valid for 2 years at the police station → Obtain a national ID card (Cedula) valid for 2 years
・Required time: 30-45 days
※The second stage will begin approximately two years after the first stage↓↓↓※
Second stage
・Submit proof of income to the Immigration Office
・Start applying for a permanent residence visa at the Immigration Office 90 days before the expiration date of the temporary residence visa valid for 2 years → Obtain a permanent residence visa.
・Required time: 90 to 110 days
・Apply for a national ID card (Cedula) valid for 10 years at the police station → Obtain a national ID card valid for 10 years
・Required time: 30-45 days
settlement：In this pattern ①, you can obtain Paraguayan permanent residence after about two years and one or two months, while taking your time to settle in Paraguay and establish a foundation for living in Paraguay. You will need to decide on an apartment, house, or hotel where you will actually live. If you have children, you will need to choose whether to enroll them in a public school or a school where the English is spoken. Many of the residents who follow this pattern have already determined how they will generate income prior to their visit to Paraguay. For example, those who can earn their living expenses through the Internet, those who are living on a pension, and those who have an image of life in a new place in mind from the beginning, such as starting a English language school, a restaurant, or a massage parlor. Or, if you are a traveler, you may want to take advantage of the idling period until your residency visa or ID card (Cedula) is issued to travel to neighboring countries such as Brazil or Argentina.
・In Paraguay, it is easier to sign a rental apartment, house, or other contract once you have applied for a temporary residence visa valid for two years.
・In addition, a Cedula, a national ID card valid for two years, will allow you to open a bank account, establish a company, and work locally in Paraguay.
Next, we will introduce the second pattern of obtaining a Paraguayan Permanent Resident Visa.
Pattern②
This pattern is recommended for those who do not actually reside in Paraguay, but wish to expand their life options by acquiring Paraguayan permanent residence. Please refer to the first and second stages of this pattern.
First stage
・Arrival in Paraguay
・Apply to the Department of Immigration for a temporary resident visa valid for 2 years
・A power of attorney is prepared and the remaining legal procedures are filed by the assignee on behalf of the client
・Create a lease agreement and set up your residency in Paraguay (which will allow for later processing once you are out of the country).
・Can only stay in Paraguay for a few days, travel, etc., and then return to other countries
・Temporary resident visa valid for 2 years + National ID card (Cedula) valid for 2 years to be kept by the assignee upon completion or delivered by Fedex to the designated address
※The second stage will begin approximately two years after the first stage↓↓↓※
Second stage
・You are required to come back to Paraguay again not to be absent from Paraguay for more than one year. *The Immigration website states that if the applicant has been out of Paraguay for more than one year, he/she can only renew the temporary residence visa that is valid for two years. However, if you actually plan to be away from Paraguay for more than one year, please consult with us in advance!※
・You return to Paraguay 90 days before the expiration date of your temporary residence visa, which is valid for 2 years, and start the application for a permanent residence visa at the Immigration Office → obtain a permanent residence visa.
・A power of attorney is prepared and the remaining legal procedures are filed by the assignee on behalf of the client
・Can only stay in Paraguay for a few days, travel, etc., and then return to other countries.
・Paraguay Permanent Resident Visa + National ID Card (Cedula) valid for 10 years, to be kept by the assignee upon completion or delivered by Fedex to the address specified.
In the case of Pattern ②, it is possible to obtain permanent resident status without actually residing in Paraguay.
pattern③
Then there is the third pattern ③, which is the one that allows you to take a shot at permanent residence 30 to 45 days after application. This pattern is to take an oath at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that you will make an investment of $70,000 during a two-year period. There is also a requirement to contribute to the employment of at least 5 people, which is allowed if the investment is in Paraguayan stocks, for example, as the employees of the company will also benefit from the investment. This pattern ③ is recommended for those who actually have a business plan.
・Arrival in Paraguay
・Apply for an investor application at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry office
・Choose the form of company (is it EAS, SA, SRL? (For more information, please see the page on incorporation of a company)
・Paraguay Permanent Residency after 30-45 days
・Obtain a National ID (Cedula) valid for 10 years within 30 days of obtaining permanent residence
・90 days after investor application, report the status of investment to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
※If you only want to apply for a permanent residence visa for a short stay in Paraguay, a designee can process the application on your behalf based on a letter of attorney※
※The company must make a capital payment of $70,000 for an investment of $70,000 or a capital contribution of $70,000 to the company within two years. Failure to do so may result in the payment of a fine equal to the IVA sales tax on the paid-in capital balance to satisfy the requirements for a permanent residence visa.※
～About the acquisition of Paraguayan nationality～
Two to three years after obtaining a Paraguayan Permanent Resident Visa, an application for Paraguayan citizenship can be initiated. The procedure is done through an attorney at the Supreme Court. Please contact us for more information.
～What documents should I bring?～
Here are the documents you need to bring to obtain a 2-year temporary residence visa or a permanent residence visa in one shot.
【Only four. Documents you need to bring to apply for a Paraguayan 2-year temporary residence visa and a one-shot permanent residence visa】
①Passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining (it is recommended to have at least 1 year of validity remaining) ②A copy of the family register (certificate of all items) The family register is called a Certificate of All Matters, which covers birth certificates and documents related to marriage, divorce, and death of a spouse. Although there is no set expiration date for the document on the Paraguayan side, please make sure to obtain the latest version if there are any changes in marital status, etc. *In particular, depending on the marital status, for example, single fathers and single mothers who wish to have their children obtain a Paraguayan temporary residence visa or permanent residence visa may be required to submit a consent form for the visa application of the children of a past partner who is supposed to have separated from his or her children. We recommend that you contact us in advance by message or phone call to our website to confirm your inquiry*.
・The application should be made to the municipal office of the city, town or village where the family register is kept.
③Police Criminal History Certificate (Certificate of No Crime)
You must present a copy of your Apostilled Criminal Background Certificate (Certificate of No Offense). This document is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Therefore, ideally, if you apply at the police station 30 to 40 days before you plan to enter Paraguay, even if it takes 10 days to issue the certificate and 15 days to obtain the apostille, you can enter Paraguay with at least 5 months of validity remaining.
In the unlikely event that your non-crime certificate expires after you have entered Paraguay, please contact us and we will take care of it.
If the applicant is under 14 years of age, a criminal background check is not required.
If the applicant is under 14 years of age, a criminal background check is not required.
*Occasionally, we receive inquiries such as, “I would like you to speak to a person at the police station because the police station is asking for a visa application form issued by the Paraguayan administrative agency to which the non-criminal certificate is submitted and a document certifying that the submission of the non-criminal certificate is required by the Paraguayan side. If such a case occurs, please contact the local Paraguayan representative on our website at the Whatsapp application phone number +595985475643 on the spot. We will provide you with the information you need to convince the police contact person*.
④Apostille Acquisition
Apostille is an endorsement document that acknowledges that the official document in question was actually issued by the government. You need to obtain an apostille for the family register (certificate of all items) in (2) and the certificate of criminal record (certificate of non-criminality) in (3) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by applying for it by mail. *Please do not open the seal of the Certificate of Criminal Record when applying for Apostille. If you open the seal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of us will not grant you an apostille*.
The above documents (1) to (4) are to be taken to Paraguay.
【Additional requirements for under 18 years of age】
If the applicant is under 18 years of age, the following must also be presented
If parents are present, an original and a copy (certified by a Paraguayan notary) of their passports are required.
If either or both parents are absent, you must bring a special power of attorney from a notary public in your home country for travel permission and document submission permission for your child.
If one parent is divorced or otherwise single parent, the other parent's consent and power of attorney may be required. The documents must be notarized and authenticated by a notary public before the apostille. This is a case-by-case basis. In some cases, such as when there is no mention of one parent's name in the family register (certificate of all items), the power of attorney of the absent parent may not be required*.
【Before arriving in Paraguay】
Prior to arrival, emphasis should be placed on getting all documents together. Documents to be collected include
Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
Documents related to marriage, divorce, or death of a spouse (a copy of the family register will suffice for the basics) (apostilled)
Birth certificate (basic family register is sufficient) (apostilled¥)
Criminal background check (apostilled)
Our clients are required to send us a photo or PDF of the above documents in advance. Translation is completed before the client enters the country, minimizing the time needed to complete the process.
It is also helpful if you can provide us with your flight arrival time and the location of your accommodation in advance so that we can smoothly arrange a vehicle for you.
【Upon arrival in Paraguay】
You will specify the date and place in advance and submit the documents for obtaining a visa, accompanied by our local representative, to the Immigration Office or other appropriate authorities. If the arrival date is a holiday or national holiday, the immigration office will not be open, so the process will begin on a weekday.
If the arrival time is later in the evening, the process will start the next day. The only exception to this is if the flight arrives early in the morning on a weekday, a car will be arranged for you at the airport and you will go directly to the process. However, regardless of the time and date of arrival, we will arrange a car at the airport to pick you up and take you to your lodgings.
【Our Paraguay Permanent Resident Visa Support for use citizens Services and Service Prices】
Service Description and Service Price (Plan ①)
Support service for application for 2-year temporary resident visa + 2-year cedula (Paraguayan national ID card)
1,250＄ per person
・Advice on advance consultation and travel plans, and provision of local information on Paraguay
・Prepare necessary local documents such as translations and notary documents prior to your arrival in Paraguay.
・Transportation from the airport to your lodgings on the day of entry into Paraguay
・Assistance with applications to immigration offices, ID police stations, and other relevant government facilities
Application support service for [Paraguayan permanent residence and 10-year Cedra (Paraguayan 10-year national ID card)
1,000 ＄per person
・We can assist those who already have a 2-year temporary residence visa and a 2-year cedra to switch to a permanent residence visa and a 10-year cedra.
【Post-relocation Relief Services】※This service is recommended for long-stay guests.
350＄ *We will support you until you conquer the Paraguayan way of life*.
On-site consultation and omni-directional response support in times of need
Handling all kinds of problems related to living in Paraguay (real estate, contracts, imports)
Assistance with opening bank accounts
Sharing of general useful information about living in Paraguay (choosing a school for your children, selecting medical health care for the elderly, selecting caregiver services, etc.)
Information research to realize your ideal Paraguayan lifestyle
Contract support and trouble shooting for electricity, gas, water, internet, etc.
Job placement and consultation. We have several successful cases.
We are the first responders in case of accidents (police, fire, medical, civil and criminal, etc.)!
Other minor items, those that need to be chaperoned by an interpreter (SIM, cash exchange, etc.)
Please send us a message and we will respond as needed.
*We ask that you bear the cost of any payments to third-party organizations for medical treatment, legal fees, customs clearance, etc.) Our goal is to make your life in Paraguay more comfortable*.
We ask that you pay for services locally in cash U.S. dollars, in the local currency Guarani, or by bank transfer to a Paraguayan bank account (U.S. dollars and local currency Guarani are supported). We will receive the amount after signing a contract when we meet you in person at the site. We will issue a receipt. If you need us to issue an invoice, please provide us with the information to fill out the form.
*Please note that when exchanging money in Paraguay, bills must be clean and in accordance with the notice of the Central Bank of Paraguay, or they will not be accepted for official exchange. Please be careful of bills with marks, stains, tears, or ballpoint pen marks*.
We also accept payments in the cryptocurrencies USDT and Bitcoin. *A 3% handling fee is required*.
【important point】
・Please note that if you leave Paraguay for more than one year after applying for a temporary resident visa valid for two years, your status may be revoked. If you enter Paraguay for even one day before the expiration date, you can avoid the expiration of your visa. (*But, as mentioned above, please consult with us in advance if you plan to be out of Paraguay for more than one year*.
【Paraguayan company incorporation is also available】
In addition to the above, we also provide business support services for business-to-business and business-to-consumer (incorporation, business consulting, marketing support, store locating, accountant, lawyer services, etc.). Companies and individuals who are thinking of expanding into Paraguay, or who wish to start a new business in Paraguay, please feel free to contact us.
If you are interested in obtaining a 2-year temporary residence visa, CEDULA, or permanent residence visa based on the establishment of a corporation, please feel free to consult with our local representatives!
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