Paraguay Visa: Requirements, Laws and Steps (2024)

Getting a visa in Paraguay is the first step for those looking to visit the country or, as is often the case, to start the process for a second residency. The procedure is regulated by the Law 1384/12, which outlines the due requirements and steps. There’s no distinction between those traveling for tourism, work, or residency; there’s only one type of visa, applicable for all travel reasons.

There are three types of visas in Paraguay:

1. Con comparecencia (in presence), requiring a personal visit to a Paraguayan embassy or consulate;
2. Sin comparecencia (not in presence), allowing for remote processing through a Paraguayan consulate;
3. En arribo (on arrival), requested directly in Paraguay by the citizen or company inviting the person.

Not everyone traveling to Paraguay needs a visa. Citizens from countries on the visa suppression agreement list don’t require one. This includes most European countries, MERCOSUR countries, and Egypt. Additionally, countries like Canada, the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom offer their citizens the option to obtain a visa upon arrival by paying consular fees.

If you have specific questions about your situation, you can also email us for clarification.

Requirements to Obtain the Visa

An important thing to know about obtaining a Paraguayan visa is the need for an invitation letter. This must be issued by a Paraguayan company and is a crucial requirement for all three visa types. The inviting company is responsible for the invitee and may be called for an interview by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the case.

Regarding the embassy or consulate to approach, one can go to the embassy in their country of citizenship or residence. For example, an Indian citizen living in Dubai can approach either the Indian or the United Arab Emirates embassy.

In some countries, like Pakistan or Ghana, there are no Paraguayan embassies. In these cases, it’s necessary to find out which embassy is responsible for your citizenship country, which might be located in a neighboring country. For instance, the Paraguayan embassy in Egypt also handles consular services for citizens and residents of Pakistan, Palestine, Nigeria, and other geographically close countries.

Requirements to Apply for a Visa at a Paraguayan Embassy or Consulate

The “con comparecencia” and “sin comparecencia” visa types are the ones that involve the embassy or consulate. The requirements for applicants are always the same:

1. Invitation letter from a Paraguayan company;
2. Passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining;
3. Apostilled or authenticated birth certificate;
4. Apostilled or authenticated background check;
5. If applicable, apostilled marriage or divorce certificate;
6. Proof of financial solvency (bank statement or employment contract).

The inviting company must also provide supporting documents for their request, specifically:

1. Copy of the ID of the person signing the invitation letter;
2. Copy of the company’s incorporation deed;
3. Copy of the RUC (Single Taxpayer Registry);
4. Completed visa application form;
5. Copy of tax payment certificate;
6. Copies of the last six months’ VAT payment receipts;
7. Social security payment certificate for employees;
8. Copy of a utility bill (electricity) of the company or the person signing the invitation letter;
9. Proof of financial solvency of the inviter.

For a visa without the applicant’s physical presence at the embassy, the invitation letter should be sent exclusively to the General Directorate of Consular Affairs. If applying for a visa with physical presence, the invitation letter should be sent both to the Director of the Passport and Consular Affairs Division of the Foreign Relations Department and to the Paraguayan ambassador in the applicant’s country.

Requirements for Applying for a Visa Directly in Paraguay

An alternative option is to request the “visa de arribo,” a type of visa that the host can apply for directly in Paraguay. In this case, the invitation letter must be sent to the Undersecretary of Administration and Technical Matters, as this visa is designed to invite individuals bringing skills and know-how to Paraguayan companies.

For this visa, the applicant only needs to present their passport, while birth certificates and background checks are not necessary. Often the inviting company has to provide a document proving the invitee’s technical competence to inform the Ministry about their role. The inviting company, however, must provide all the same documents listed for the visa application in Paraguay.

Since the invitee doesn’t need to visit an embassy or consulate in this case, the approval process usually takes longer and can be more challenging.

How the Invitation Process Works

For the visa con comparecencia, which requires a physical visit to the embassy or consulate, the procedure is as follows:

1. The Paraguayan company submits the invitation letter;
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviews the application and contacts the inviting company, typically within 15 days;
3. The embassy reviews the documents and invites the applicant, usually within 10-30 days;
4. The applicant visits the embassy with their personal documents and, after a brief interview, receives the decision. If positive, the visa is applied directly to the passport.

For the visa sin comparecencia, which doesn’t require a physical embassy visit, the process is:

1. The Paraguayan company submits the invitation letter;
2. The Ministry reviews the application and interviews the representative who signed the letter, usually within 15 days;
3. If the conditions are met, the Ministry informs the embassy to proceed with visa approval within another 30 days.

Moving on to the visa en arribo, which doesn’t involve the embassy or consulate, the process is:

1. The Paraguayan company submits the invitation letter;
2. The Undersecretary of Administration and Technical Matters reviews the application;
3. The inviting company is contacted to determine the value the applicant can bring with their skills. Approval typically takes 30-60 days;
4. If the Undersecretary is satisfied, the visa is issued;
5. The visa is registered directly at the airport with the flight number and applicant’s details. Asuncion’s airport is the only entry point for those entering Paraguay with a “visa en arribo.”

Paraguay Visa Cost

The cost of consular services depends on the type of visa and the applicant’s nationality. Prices are set by Law 4033/10 and can be found on the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Annually adjusted for inflation, current fees range from $150 to $250.

Costs may increase if using an intermediary to prepare the paperwork. This service can be helpful when the applicant and inviting company lack the time or expertise to manage the visa process.

Need Help with the Visa?

Paraguay Pathways has long been active in assisting with consular services. If you need information on obtaining a visa in Paraguay, feel free to email us, and our team will respond within 24 hours. We have already helped hundreds of individuals and companies worldwide navigate the Paraguayan visa process, for tourism or residency purposes.

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