Paraguay is known as one of the countries with the least stringent requirements for obtaining residency. Virtually anyone with a clean criminal record can secure residency in Paraguay, but the specific requirements vary depending on the type of residency one desires. Typically, the simplest process involves obtaining temporary residency first and then transitioning to permanent residency after 2 years. However, for those who prefer, it’s also possible to immediately qualify for permanent residency if you meet the necessary investment criteria.
Furthermore, the requirements differ depending on the applicant’s country of origin. For individuals from a country that is part of MERCOSUR, the steps are slightly simpler, and the process is faster. We have already assisted 500+ applicants from around the world in obtaining temporary and permanent residency in Paraguay. The requirements we list here are the same ones we verify for our clients when assisting them with the process.
Requirements for Temporary Residency
There are no specific requirements in terms of income, net worth or investments to apply for temporary residency. It is not even necessary to open a bank account in Paraguay.
Temporary residency grants the right to reside and work in Paraguay, as well as to be subject to Paraguayan taxes for 2 years. It can be renewed and after 21 months it can also be converted into permanent residency.
The requirements are quite minimal, making this one of the most accessible second residency programs in the world. Interested individuals must arrive in Paraguay with:
- Passport
- Entry visa or passport stamp
- Birth certificate (apostilled)
- Certificate of criminal record (apostilled). If you have lived outside your home country in the last three years, then the document must come from the country where you resided during that time. Additionally, you will need a document proving that you indeed lived in that country for the past three years.
- Documents verifying your civil status (apostilled). A single applicant won’t need to show any document, while married applicants will have to bring their marriage certificate and divorced applicants will have to bring their divorce certificates. All certificates must also be apostilled.
The rest of the documents can be obtained directly in Paraguay. You need to visit various offices to request the Interpol background check certificate, a specific criminal record certificate for foreigners issued by the Police Informatics Department, and sign two sworn declarations.
After gathering all this documentation, you can visit the Direcci贸n Nacional de Migraciones to apply for the carnet de radicaci贸n temporal. Once you have this document, you can apply for the identity card. One important thing to note is that Law 6984 of 2022 eliminated the requirement to demonstrate financial solvency. Previously, you had to deposit $5,000 in a Paraguayan bank to apply for temporary residency, but this step is no longer necessary.
See also: Complete Guide To Temporary Residency in Paraguay
Temporary Residency for MERCOSUR Citizens
If the applicant is a citizen of a MERCOSUR nation, there are some slight changes. Firstly, you can use your national identity card instead of a passport. Additionally, instead of an entry visa or passport stamp, you can show the boleta migratoria, a document issued by the immigration office when a MERCOSUR citizen enters another MERCOSUR country.
The birth certificate is still required and must be apostilled. The criminal record certificate remains necessary but can be obtained directly from your country’s embassy or consulate in Paraguay. Similarly, you still need to request the criminal record certificate for foreigners from the Police Informatics Department of the Paraguayan National Police.
Lastly, there’s no need to request registration and certification from Interpol. This can be replaced with a simple sworn statement confirming that you have no international criminal record. In this case as well, there is no requirement to demonstrate financial solvency.
In essence, the requirements remain very similar to those for all other applicants. Moreover, for those coming from a MERCOSUR nation, it’s possible to go through the traditional process applicable to all other nationalities.
Requirements for Permanent Residency by Investment
Paraguay offers a program that allows individuals to obtain permanent residency immediately by qualifying as investors who will bring employment and capital to the country. This is a permanent right, but the documents need to be renewed every 10 years. Additionally, there is no requirement for continuous presence in the country to maintain this right.
In this case, you will need to have all the same documents required for a non-MERCOSUR citizen to obtain temporary residency. However, an additional document, the Certificado de Constancia de Inversionista, is required. This certificate is issued by SUACE, the entity responsible for opening and closing businesses in Paraguay, as outlined in Article 34 of Law 978/96.
The Certificado de Constancia de Inversionista certifies compliance with all the necessary requirements to qualify as an investor with the right to permanent residency. To obtain it, you must visit SUACE with a detailed business plan that includes:
- A minimum investment of $70,000 or the equivalent in guaran铆.
- Employment of at least 5 individuals in Paraguay.
Additionally, you will need to present the following documents to SUACE:
- Application form for the Certificado de Constancia de Inversionista
- Authenticated copy of the company’s incorporation document if the company is already established
- Sworn declaration of the business’s establishment if it is not yet operational
- Official document verifying who has the authority to act on behalf of the company
- Certificate of criminal record for foreigners obtained from Interpol in Paraguay
- Entry visa or passport stamp
- Valid passport
If all the documents are in order, SUACE will provide the applicant with a document certifying their qualification as an investor with the right to permanent residency. With this document, along with all the other documents required for temporary residency, you must then apply for permanent residency at the Department of Migrations.
Requirements to Convert Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency
After 21 months of temporary residency, it can be easily converted into permanent residency. In this case as well, there are slight differences between citizens from MERCOSUR nations and all others, so we will examine both cases separately.
For non-MERCOSUR citizens, the requirements are as follows:
- Paraguayan identity card or a report of its loss if it has been misplaced.
- Passport from the country of origin.
- Carnet de radicaci贸n temporal issued by the Department of Migrations when applying for temporary residency.
- Certificate of good conduct issued by the Paraguayan police.
- Certificate of criminal record for foreigners issued by the local police’s Informatics Department.
- Certificado de vida y residencia, a document obtained from the local police station upon request.
- Certificate of criminal record obtained from Interpol in Paraguay.
- Any documents proving changes in profession, marital status, or other personal details since obtaining temporary residency.
- Documents demonstrating the applicant’s financial solvency.
Financial solvency can be demonstrated in various ways:
- Employees: Employment contract.
- Entrepreneurs and shareholders: Articles of incorporation for their business and shareholder records
- Technicians and professionals: Certificates or university diplomas demonstrating their qualifications
- Freelancers and traders: Proof of registration with the RUC (Registro 脷nico del Contribuyente) and a record of issued and received invoices
- Students: Documents proving enrollment in a Paraguayan university or school
- Economically dependent individuals: Documents verifying their familial relationship with a resident in Paraguay, the identity card of the person they are dependent on, and proof of that person’s financial solvency
Even though you are required to show one of the possible proofs of solvency, there are no minimum requirements in terms of income or
For MERCOSUR Citizens
In the case of citizens from MERCOSUR nations, to convert temporary residency to permanent residency, you must meet the following requirements:
- Passport or ID from your country of origin.
- Certificate of criminal record issued by the Informatics Department of the Paraguayan police.
- Carnet de radicaci贸n temporal obtained when applying for temporary residency.
- Documents demonstrating your financial solvency.
As you can see, in this case, the required documents are considerably fewer compared to non-MERCOSUR citizens. However, there are significant differences in terms of financial solvency, with a single criterion applicable to all applicants.
You will need to make a deposit in a Paraguayan bank and obtain a certificate as proof. The deposit must be equivalent to 350 days of the minimum wage, which currently amounts to 36 million guaran铆es (approximately $5,000). The only individuals exempt from this requirement are students, who can simply demonstrate their enrollment in a Paraguayan school or university.
How We Can Assist
If you need assistance in obtaining second residency in Paraguay, our team is always available. We have already helped 500+ individuals from around the world achieve this goal, navigating through the various changes in Paraguayan laws. Additionally, we have a team of professionals with expertise in law, administration, and tax consultancy to help you manage all aspects related to taxes and your position with your home country.
You can simply send us an email, and we will be happy to provide guidance at no cost to help you evaluate your situation. We also provide support in four languages: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Even though Paraguay has one of the most accessible residency requirements, the assistance of an expert is always valuable.
FAQ
Both to obtain temporary residency and permanent residency, there is no minimum income requirement.
To be eligible to obtain residency in Paraguay, a person simply needs to demonstrate that they have no criminal history. Applicants who have committed minor misdemeanors in the past can still obtain residency, subject to approval by the Department of Migrations.
If you want to qualify for immediate permanent residency by investment, you are requested at least 70.000$ in the country within 6 months of your application. A valid alternative is to obtain temporary residency first, and then convert it to permanent residency after 2 years. The conversion from temporary to permanent residency does not come with any investment requirement.