Paraguay

Paraguay visa guide: entry, temporary and permanent residence

  • 5 visa types
  • checked 25 October 2026

How visas for Paraguay work

Paraguay's National Directorate of Migration (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, DNM) applies Migration Law 6984 of 2022: it admits visitors, extends stays and grants residence permits, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues consular visas through Paraguayan embassies and consulates. Residence applications are personal and in person at the DNM in Asunción or its regional offices.

The DNM's visa table shows two separate questions for each nationality: whether a visa is needed to enter as a tourist, and whether a visa is needed to extend the stay, apply for residence or carry out paid activities. MERCOSUR and associated states such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia need neither. Most other listed countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most EU states, Japan and Australia, enter without a visa for up to 90 days but are marked as needing a visa to extend the stay, apply for residence or work; nationals of countries that are not exempt need a consular visa to enter at all.

Long-term stays start with a temporary residence of up to two years, renewable once for the same period, followed by a change to permanent residence. Children and spouses of Paraguayans and investors registered under the SUACE single window can obtain permanent residence directly. Fees are expressed in daily minimum wages (jornales); from 1 July 2026 a jornal is PYG 117,077, so temporary or permanent residence costs 25 jornales, PYG 2,926,925 in cash.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday or short visit: visa-free entry for up to 90 days for most European and American nationalities (30 days for some, such as South Korea and Singapore); others need a consular visa. Check your nationality in the DNM table.

Settling in Paraguay to work, study, run a business or live on other lawful means: temporary residence under Law 6984, up to two years.

Spouse or child of a Paraguayan: direct permanent residence under Law 2193 of 2003.

Opening a company as a foreign investor through SUACE: special permanent residence for investors.

After temporary residence: permanent residence by change of category, within three months before the temporary card expires.

Visa types for Paraguay

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Tourist entry (estadía transitoria) and extension of stay (prórroga de permanencia transitoria)

    Many nationalities can visit Paraguay without a visa for up to 90 days; the DNM's visa table shows, country by country, whether a visa is needed to enter and whether one is needed to stay longer.

    Maximum stay: Up to 90 days, extendable once by a period no longer than the first

Business and self-employment

  • Investor visa Permanent residence for foreign investors under SUACE (trámite especial para inversionistas extranjeros)

    Foreigners who come to Paraguay as investors and use the Unified System for Opening and Closing Companies (SUACE) can obtain permanent residence through a special DNM procedure.

    Maximum stay: Indefinite

Family

  • Spouse and partner visa Permanent residence for children and spouses of Paraguayans (Ley 2193/2003)

    Foreign spouses and children of Paraguayan citizens can obtain permanent residence directly under Law 2193 of 2003, without holding temporary residence first.

    Maximum stay: Indefinite

Residence

  • Residence permit Temporary residence under Migration Law 6984/2022 (Residencia Temporal)

    Paraguay's temporary residence is the DNM's authorisation for foreigners who come to settle for a set period to carry out a lawful activity.

    Maximum stay: Up to two years, renewable for an equal period
  • Permanent residence Permanent residence by change of category from temporary residence (Residencia Permanente por cambio de categoría)

    Foreigners who have completed their temporary residence and want to settle for good apply to the DNM to change category to permanent residence.

    Maximum stay: Indefinite

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Paraguay?

It depends on your nationality, as shown in the DNM table. Many nationalities, including the United States, the United Kingdom and most EU states, need no visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days, but the table marks most of them as needing a visa to extend the stay, apply for residence or carry out paid activities. MERCOSUR and associated states need no visa for either.

How much does Paraguayan residence cost?

From 1 July 2026, temporary and permanent residence each cost 25 jornales, PYG 2,926,925 in cash; card payments add a provider commission. Temporary residence under the MERCOSUR agreement costs 20 jornales.

Can I apply for residence online?

No. Residence procedures are personal and in person at the DNM; the follow-up can be done personally or through a legal representative. Some services, such as stay extensions, can be done online.

Do documents need to be translated?

Yes. Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish by a public translator registered in Paraguay, or by an authorised foreign public translator with the translation apostilled or legalised; foreign documents must be apostilled.

What is a precarious resident?

While a temporary residence application is processed, the applicant holds 'residente precario' status, which allows leaving and re-entering Paraguay, studying and working.

Embassies and consulates

Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.