Paraguay Residency Requirements 2026
The eligibility test and document set, updated for the economic-solvency rules that apply to applications filed from 6 July 2026.
Last verified 2026-08-19Next review 2026-09-193 official sources
Paraguay's residency requirements come in two parts: a document set, which has been stable, and an economic-solvency test, which changed on 6 July 2026.
The document set is identity, civil status and a clean criminal record, all translated into Spanish and legalised. The solvency test now runs under Resolución DNM N.° 407/2026, which sorts applicants into twelve categories and asks for documentary proof of verifiable income and of the actual exercise of whatever activity you declare.
Eligibility: who can apply
Paraguay's general residency route is not restricted by nationality. What your nationality changes is which route is open to you and how you obtain your own documents — not whether you qualify.
- Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Perú, Colombia and Ecuador can use the MERCOSUR route, which is cheaper and faster but non-renewable.
- Spouses and children of Paraguayans, and foreign family of repatriated nationals, have their own permanent-residency routes and do not need temporary residency first.
- Investors meeting the published thresholds can go directly to permanent residency via the Investor Pass.
- Everyone else applies for temporary residency and converts later.
The document requirements
As published by the migration authority for temporary residency under Ley N° 6984/2022:
| Document | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identity document | Valid ID card, national ID or passport — original plus authenticated copy |
| Proof of migratory entry | Migration slip or passport stamp — original plus authenticated copy |
| Birth certificate | Authenticated |
| Civil-status certificate | Marriage, divorce or death certificate as applicable |
| Criminal / police record | From your country of origin or last residence, current and properly legalised |
| INTERPOL certificate | Applicants aged 14 and over |
| Paraguayan police certificate | Applicants aged 14 and over |
| Sworn statement — law | Accepting the Constitution and national laws |
| Sworn statement — activity | Your profession or activity, and your address in Paraguay |
| Visa | Where required, certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Every foreign document needs a Spanish translation and an apostille or consular legalisation. The document checklist covers the translation rules in detail, because that is where most applications lose time.
Economic solvency after 6 July 2026
Resolución DNM N.° 407/2026 was announced by the migration authority on 25 June 2026 and applies to applications filed from 6 July 2026. It updates how economic solvency is evidenced for permanent residency and harmonises the criteria with those in the MERCOSUR Residence Agreement, unifying what had been two sets of paperwork.
It defines twelve categories:
| Working | Owning | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Professionals | Property owners | Retirees and pensioners |
| Technicians | Partners and shareholders | Dependants |
| Employees | Farmers and ranchers | Students |
| Self-employed in commerce or services | Ministers of worship | |
| Teleworkers and digital nomads |
The resolution also incorporates stricter controls on verifying declared income and economic activity. In practice the standard has two halves: your income has to be verifiable, and you have to be able to show you actually do the thing you have declared. A category and a bank balance on their own are not the test.
Not established: the amount. The migration authority has not published a monetary threshold in its announcement of Resolución DNM 407/2026, and none appears in the professional analyses of the resolution we have reviewed, including those by Paraguayan and international immigration firms.
We are not going to invent one. If you have seen a specific income figure quoted for Paraguayan residency in 2026, treat it as unverified until the resolution text itself confirms it. We are seeking the text and will state the figures here when we have them, with the date.
What is not on the official list
Two requirements circulate widely that do not appear on the migration authority's published document lists for temporary or permanent residency:
- A local medical certificate. Several third-party guides list one. It is not on the authority's lists as read on 19 August 2026. Treat it as unconfirmed before you pay for one.
- A lease or property deed as proof of address. What the authority lists is a sworn statement of your address in Paraguay. A lease can be useful evidence, and it is genuinely useful for other purposes, but the published requirement is the declaration.
What the requirements do not guarantee
The migration authority states plainly that admitting your documents does not presume approval, and that additional documentation may be requested depending on the case. Meeting the published requirements is necessary, not sufficient. Anyone promising you a guaranteed outcome is promising something they do not control.
Sequence that works
- Identify your route — MERCOSUR, family, investor, or general.
- Order your criminal-record and civil-status certificates early; they are the slowest items and they age.
- Get everything apostilled or legalised, then translated by a translator the authority will accept.
- Work out which of the twelve solvency categories describes you, and assemble evidence that shows both income and activity.
- Travel, file in person, receive precarious-resident status.
- Diarise the conversion window the day your temporary card is issued.
Common questions
- What documents do I need for Paraguayan residency?
- A valid identity document, proof of migratory entry, a birth certificate, a civil-status certificate, a police record from your country of origin or last residence, an INTERPOL certificate and a Paraguayan police certificate if you are 14 or over, and two sworn statements. Foreign documents need a Spanish translation and an apostille or consular legalisation.
- What changed on 6 July 2026?
- Resolución DNM N.° 407/2026 changed how economic solvency is evidenced for permanent residency. It applies to applications filed from 6 July 2026, sets out twelve applicant categories, and requires documentary evidence of verifiable income and of the actual exercise of the declared activity.
- Is a medical certificate required for Paraguayan residency?
- A medical certificate does not appear on the document lists published by the migration authority for temporary or permanent residency. Some third-party guides list one. Treat it as unconfirmed and check before assembling documents.
Not sure which pathway applies to you?
Paraguay publishes several residency routes with different requirements, fees and deadlines. A short call will tell you which one fits your situation — or whether Paraguay is the wrong answer for you.
Sources
Every legal, fee and procedural statement on this page is taken from the sources below and was checked on 2026-08-19. Where they change, this page changes.
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — Residencia Temporal — Temporary residency: validity, requirements and fees
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — Residencia Permanente por cambio de categoría — Converting temporary residency to permanent residency
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — Actualización del régimen de acreditación de solvencia económica — Resolución DNM N.° 407/2026 — categories, effective date and standard of proof
Related
This page is general information about Paraguayan rules as published by the authorities named above. It is not legal or tax advice for your circumstances, and immigration outcomes depend on your nationality, documents and individual case. See our legal and tax information disclaimer.