Temporary Residency in Paraguay

Temporary residency is the route most people take into Paraguay. It is a two-year permit that converts to ten-year permanent residency, and the requirements are among the lightest in the region — no minimum stay, no deposit, and open to virtually any nationality.

What temporary residency gives you

A two-year temporary permit that converts to 10-year permanent residency. Minimal requirements, accessible to virtually any nationality.

Paraguayan law does not require physical presence to maintain your residency. We recommend temporary residents visit once a year to keep the file active and reinforce ties to the country, but you are free to live and work anywhere in the world in the meantime.

Requirements

All documents are translated into Spanish here in Paraguay. No medical exam is needed.

This is the single biggest change most online guides still get wrong. A great deal of published advice references the old framework under Ley 978/96, which did require a bank deposit. Ley 6984/2022 removed it.

How long it takes

Approval typically runs 90–100 days from application. You only need to be physically in Paraguay for 1–2 business days — everything is prepared before you arrive, so you can apply the moment you land.

Your application goes to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones. You receive your Precaria immediately and return home while it processes. Once temporary residency is granted you apply for your Cédula, and once you hold the Cédula you apply for your RUC tax ID.

Converting to permanent residency

Temporary residency upgrades to permanent after 21 months. Permanent status runs for ten years and drops the visit recommendation to once every three years.

After three years as a permanent resident you become eligible to apply for naturalization and a Paraguayan passport.

Bringing your family

Your spouse and dependent children can be added to your application. Parents may qualify in certain cases. Family members go through a parallel process during the same trip to Asunción, so one visit covers the household.

Common questions

How long does the entire process take?

Temporary residency typically takes 90–100 days from application to approval; then you apply for your Cédula and RUC. The SUACE investor route reaches permanent residency in about a month. You only need to be on the ground for 1–2 business days.

Do I need to live in Paraguay to keep my residency?

Paraguayan law does not require physical presence to maintain your residency. That said, we recommend temporary residents visit once a year and permanent residents once every three years to keep their file active and reinforce their ties to the country.

Can I include my family?

Yes. Your spouse and dependent children can be added to your application. Parents may qualify in certain cases. They go through a parallel process during the same trip to Asunción.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

No. All government processes are in Spanish but we accompany you to every appointment and handle all communications on your behalf.

Further reading

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