The Paraguayan immigration law changes as all other legislation; let’s look at the most recent requirements in 2024.

There are several options for becoming a resident in Paraguay. However, there are only two main options:

  1. become a temporary resident
  2. become a permanent resident

Who can obtain temporary residency in Paraguay in 2024?

Since the changes in the immigration legislation in October 2023, most applicants who arrive from visa-free countries must first become temporary residents for two years. After this initial period, they can extend the temporary residency permit for another two years or apply for permanent residency. 

Hint: we receive dozens of questions that start with “I heard that I must invest 5000 USD to become a resident”. No, it is the deposit and not an investment during the permanent residency application to prove solvency. However, if you declare that you have a university degree during the temporary residency process, there is no deposit after two years for the permanent residency. You can prove your solvency by depositing more or less 5,000 USD in the National Bank, a university degree, or regularly receiving a pension. 

So, citizens of the European Union, Canada, Australia, the US, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, UAE, Ukraine, Russia and the Mercosur countries may become temporary residents in Paraguay. This requirement may change; it depends on the political situation and the actual relations of the state to Paraguay. 

Who can become a permanent resident of Paraguay in 2024?

The best option to become a permanent resident is to do business here and apply through the SUACE residency by investment program. In this case, there is no temporary residency period for the investor. However, their family members will become temporary residents first. And, of course, if you were a temporary resident of Paraguay for two years, you can also apply for permanent status.

What are the requirements to become a temporary resident of Paraguay in 2024? 

You must start the process in Paraguay; you need a qualifying visa. Then, you will need a birth certificate (Apostilled) and a clean police certificate (Apostilled). If you have family, you need the marriage certificate or the divorce. During the temporary process, you do not have to prove solvency; there is no deposit. Also, you must be healthy, but this requirement depends on various factors. Please ask us about it. 

The temporary resident status existed in Paraguay before 2023, but since applicants could immediately apply for a permanent residence permit, almost no one wanted to settle temporarily. You can read about the details of the Paraguayan temporary residency here.

Why do you need a visa as a requirement when you can enter Paraguay without previously having an entry, business, student, or tourist visa?

Because the new legislation obliges the applicants to have a visa, you can get it at the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Paraguay. You can obtain the visa upon arrival at the airport (in some cases), or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can issue it. As it will be valid after two weeks, there is an additional fee at the Ministry to use it on the same day at the Migrations. So, once more, you will need a visa for the residency process, even if you can enter Paraguay without one. 

What are the requirements to become a permanent resident of Paraguay in 2024? 

So, the necessary documents are the same as for the temporary residency application: visa, birth certificate, clean police certificate, certificate of marriage or divorce. However, most of those applicants who need a visa to enter will use the SUACE residency by investment option, and we can invite investors who are citizens of those countries where you need a visa in your passport to enter Paraguay. Because investors from visa-exempted countries can do business in Paraguay as temporary residents, they do not have to fulfil any requirement or maintain their locally registered company. 

Most entrepreneurs in Paraguay use the self-employed status without registering an LTD or other company form. In 2024, several clients chose the investment program because they immediately wanted a permanent residence permit without the temporary phase. However, you must apply for an entry visa as an investor. In that case, you also must prove that you have the planned project’s investment amount and present travel insurance valid for Paraguay. According to the law, anybody from any country can apply for residency in Paraguay. However, political issues may modify this issue.

Another non-official but essential requirement is that if you arrive from a country that is not 100% transparent or has problems with the previously issued documents, for example, there was no birth certificate. (Pakistan, India, China, etc.), having some visas in developed countries in your passport would be beneficial. Paraguay has few embassies abroad and can’t conduct local due diligence checks on applicants. During the immigration procedure, the local Interpol office will issue a certificate. But you have to obtain it here, and it is frankly more accessible to get a visa if other countries have checked the person before. 

The most important information for investors is that from 2024, you must bring the investment amount and deposit it in your company’s bank account while applying for permanent residency. Without this deposit, you can’t start the immigration process; many fraudsters arrived in Paraguay as investors, but they never started a business. You can read here all the details of becoming a permanent resident of Paraguay as an investor. 

Do you want to become a temporary or permanent resident of Paraguay in Paraguay? Contact us, and let’s start your process.