Your Roadmap to Residency
Ultimate Guide: How to Get Permanent Residency in Paraguay (2025)
Seeking a reliable Plan B? Paraguay offers one of the fastest, most straightforward paths to permanent residency — ideal for digital nomads, entrepreneurs, families, retirees and anyone wanting financial and lifestyle flexibility. Discover how in this Ultimate Guide.
Why Paraguay?
Unlike many other countries, Paraguay offers one of the easiest and most affordable ways to gain permanent residency — with low cost of living, no income taxes for foreigners, and minimal government interference.
Its residency process is fast, straightforward, and doesn’t require you to live there full-time. You can use it as your legal base, a long-term Plan B, or even your new home.
Whether you’re escaping high taxes, seeking geo-arbitrage, or simply want peace of mind in uncertain times, Paraguay gives you a rare combination: freedom, flexibility, and security — all in one.
🟢 And the best part? It’s still under the radar… for now.
TL;DR – Quick Overview
🪪 Type of Residency
You must first apply for temporary residency. After 21–24 months, you can upgrade to permanent residency.
📍 Where
The process is done in person in Asunción, Paraguay.
📋 Required Documents
Valid passport, clean criminal record, birth certificate, and a few notarized documents (we’ll guide you).
🕒 Time Investment
1–3 short trips to Paraguay for Temporary Residency + 1–3 short trips for Permanent Residency
💰 Estimated Cost
$800-1 150 (€700–1 000) if done DIY. From $1 480 (€1 290) with our help (includes full assistance).
📄 What You Get
- 🔹 Temporary residency (valid 2 years, renewable) + national ID (Cedula)
- 🔹 After ~2 years: Permanent residency (valid 10 years) + new ID
⏱️ Processing Time
- Standard: 6–7 months
- With us: From 2 months
🗓️ Residency Requirements
No need to live in Paraguay. One visit every 3 years is enough to keep your status valid.
💡 Why It's Popular
0% tax on foreign income and crypto, low cost of living, minimal bureaucracy, no mandatory health or pension payments, strong privacy.
Ready for the details? Scroll down for a step-by-step breakdown 👇
Key Benefits of Paraguayan Residency
Permanent residency in Paraguay isn’t just a formality – it’s your Plan B. Your way out. Your path to freedom, independence, and peace of mind.
Whether you’re from the EU 🇪🇺, USA 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, UK 🇬🇧, or anywhere in the West, this residency gives you long-term options that your home country doesn’t.
What do you actually get?
- 💸 0% income tax – including on crypto & foreign income
- 🏡 Up to 3x lower cost of living
- ❌ No EU-style restrictions, bureaucracy, or overreach
- 🛡️ Plan B in case of war, economic collapse, or lockdowns
- 🌍 Stable and peaceful country outside the global mess
- 🔒 Freedom, privacy, and protection of your assets
- 🧘 No mandatory social or health insurance
Why permanent residency in Paraguay?
Paraguayan permanent residency (residencia permanente) isn’t just a visa – it’s a long-term legal status that gives you full rights without living under a microscope.
What does it mean in practice?
- ✅ You can live, work, run a business, or study in Paraguay – no limits.
- 🛫 You don’t even have to live there full-time – just visit once every 3 years to keep it active.
- 💼 You can become a tax resident in Paraguay – and escape the high-tax, high-control system of your home country.
- 🛡️ You can keep your original citizenship – Paraguay allows dual citizenship (unlike many other countries).
- 🌍 It’s perfect if you travel a lot and don’t want to be “tax-resident” anywhere else.
It’s not a loophole. It’s a fully legal, recognized residency – ideal as a Plan B for your freedom, or even a Plan A for your taxes and lifestyle.
Who’s moving to Paraguay?
Paraguay is quietly becoming a safe haven for those who are tired of playing by the rules of overregulated Western systems.
And it’s not just about taxes – it’s about freedom, peace of mind, and reclaiming a life that actually makes sense.
Here are some of the most common profiles of people who’ve already made the move – and haven’t looked back:
How to Get Permanent Residency in Paraguay (Step by Step)
Getting permanent residency in Paraguay is surprisingly straightforward. No interviews, no mandatory investments, no language exams, and no endless paperwork.
The process is divided into two parts, which follow a very similar path:
Temporary residency (valid for 2 years)
Permanent residency (you can apply 21–24 months after your temporary residency is approved) — valid for 10 years
Each part can be done over several visits, in one longer stay, or — if you’re really in a hurry — even in one short trip (see our range of residency service packages).
You can get your temporary residency + Paraguayan ID within just 2 months (with the Express or Complete package),
within 4 months with the VIP package,
or in 6–7 months if you’re doing it yourself (or with our Standard assistance).
After 21 months, the same applies to permanent residency.
So in short: you’ll become a permanent resident in about 2 years from the moment you start.
Step-by-step process:
Before you head to Paraguay, you’ll need to prepare the following documents:
A valid passport
Entry visa or passport stamp, depending on your country of nationality
Criminal background check
Birth certificate
(If applicable: marriage/divorce certificate or spouse’s death certificate)
Several passport-sized photos
For permanent residency: university degree (optional, not required)
All documents must be either apostilled or superlegalized, depending on your country’s legal agreements with Paraguay.
❗️IMPORTANT
It’s critical to know whether Paraguay requires apostilled or superlegalized documents from your country. Each country has different rules and procedures for legalization and official translations, especially non-English-speaking countries.
We personally had to pay hundreds of euros in Asunción due to incomplete or incorrect translations from Czech, based on misleading or outdated information found online. Also, some local translators charge ridiculously high prices.
We’ve summarized all the correct procedures for visas, apostilles/superlegalizations, and low-cost translation services by country in our digital guide, which we regularly update according to frequent legal changes.
Once you land in Asunción:
You’ll go through several offices (police, Interpol, etc.) to apply for temporary residency (carnet de radicación temporal).
You’ll also need to get your document copies notarized — all explained step-by-step in our guide.
Then you’ll take everything to the immigration office to submit your official application.
How long does this take?
Doing it yourself with our digital guide: 2-4 working days (watch out for local public holidays!)
With our assistance packages:
On Day 1: Our team member meets you at your hotel to sign a power of attorney (takes just a few minutes).
Days 2: Relax and explore Asunción while our team handles the paperwork for you.
Day 3: Quick visit to the office — we’ll walk you through every step, zero queues, zero confusion (2x 60–120 minutes max).
❗️WARNING: Paraguayan bureaucracy doesn’t work like Western countries. If you don’t know the local rules, your process can get dragged out for weeks. You’ll waste days running around Asunción chasing missing documents, extra stamps, or fixing silly errors.
We’ve been through it all — and made the mistakes so you don’t have to.
Our digital guide gives you a simple, optimized route through the bureaucratic jungle. No stress, no nonsense.
Once your residency application is submitted, it usually takes around 3 months for the approval to come through.
⏩ Want it faster?
With our EXPRESS or COMPLETE packages, or for an additional fee, we can speed up the process to just 45 days – and even pick up the approval documents for you, so you don’t need to fly back to Paraguay unnecessarily.
Unless you’ve purchased our VIP, EXPRESS or COMPLETE packages, where we handle this entire step for you, you’ll need to return to Paraguay for 1–3 business days to complete the following:
Pick up your official temporary residency certificate
Gather or update documents required for the national ID (cédula) application
⚠️ Without clear instructions or local help, this step can be overwhelming – especially if you don’t live in Paraguay, lack contacts, or don’t speak Spanish.Visit the relevant government office to submit your application for the Paraguayan ID card (cédula)
❗️RISKS and common pitfalls:
Some required documents have an expiration date – if you miss deadlines, you’ll need to re-issue them
If you stay outside Paraguay for more than 6 months, you must bring a new apostilled criminal background check from your home country
The certificate proving your residency in Paraguay must include a signed declaration from 2 local witnesses (with contact details)
👉 This part can be very tricky if you don’t live in Paraguay full-time and don’t know who to ask, where to go, or how to deal with the local police.
🎯 We explain everything step-by-step in our digital guide, or you can ask us to handle some of the bureaucracy on your behalf.
After submitting your residency application, it usually takes around 3–4 months to get your Paraguayan ID card (cédula).
📌 However, if you choose one of our VIP, Express or Complete packages, we can speed up the process to an average of 10–14 days. We can even pick up the cédula for you, so you don’t have to come back just for that.
Now it’s time to pick up your cédula – or we’ll do it for you if you’ve chosen one of our VIP, Express or Complete packages.
What can you do with your new Paraguayan ID?
✅ Get a local driver’s license – We can help you obtain it in just 1 hour at the office (no test required). It’s valid in the EU as well.
✅ Open a bank account in Paraguay in both PYG and USD (with a limit of up to $1,000/month). This process may take a few extra days but can be done online – included in the Complete package.
✅ Start your own Paraguayan company – we’ll be happy to assist you with the whole process.
✅ Get your Paraguayan tax number (RUC) – If you plan to apply for permanent residency later and don’t have a university degree, you’ll need to activate your RUC after getting your cédula. This can be done during the same visit.
📦 In our Complete package, we’ll also help you with:
Opening a bank account
Getting your RUC number
Obtaining a certificate of tax residency
A one-year rental contract
Filing the first 6 months of tax declarations
… so you’ll be fully prepared for your permanent residency application.
Around 21–24 months after getting your temporary residency, you can apply for permanent residency.
All it takes is a personal visit to Asunción – the process takes just 1 to 3 business days, and it’s almost identical to your first application.
Once again, you can choose one of our service packages and go through everything quickly and without stress.
🔄 Some of the required documents are slightly different, but you’ll find everything clearly listed in our step-by-step guide.
🟡 Why bother with permanent residency at all?
It opens up even more possibilities – for example:
Higher bank account limits
Easier business setup and tax registration
Long-term stability and fewer future obligations
- And above all the possibility of changing tax jurisdictions from your original country (if you meet other conditions)
Getting permanent residency in Paraguay does NOT automatically make you a tax resident – and it does NOT mean you’re free from paying taxes in your home country.
Every country has its own rules for when it stops considering someone a tax resident. Usually, they look at things like:
Whether you spend more than 183 days per year in your home country
Whether you still have a “center of vital interests” there (e.g. own property, rental contracts, family, or strong ties)
👉 If you want to legally stop paying taxes in your home country, you need to meet its specific exit conditions – otherwise, it may continue taxing you, even after you get your Paraguayan residency.
💡 Our advice: Speak to an experienced international tax advisor to clarify your situation. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
💰 How Much Does It All Cost
Getting permanent residency in Paraguay is incredibly affordable compared to most other countries. The main costs usually include your flight tickets, stay in Asunción, and government fees.
Let’s break everything down step-by-step.
🧾 Residency Process Costs
Typical service providers charge between €2,000 and €5,000 per person to help you get temporary residency – and the same amount again when upgrading to permanent residency.
But with us, you don’t have to overpay.
We offer the most affordable and transparent options on the market – with packages tailored to your specific needs. You only pay for the services you actually use.
Here’s how much you can save:
Perfect for independent souls who want to save up to 51% and navigate the bureaucracy with confidence.
Smooth, safe, and stress-free.
Starting from $1890.
💸 Other Expected Costs
- Flights: Prices vary depending on your departure country. Roundtrip tickets typically range from €700–€1,400 from Europe, $1,200–$1,500 from the U.S., and CAD 980–1,200 from Canada.
- Accommodation: Budget hotels and Airbnbs in Asunción start from $22-60 (€20–€50) per night.
- Government fees & documents: Translation, apostilles, and legal verifications in your home country may cost around $200-450 (€200–€450).
- Paraguayan fees: If you're doing the process on your own, expect approx. $550-680 (€480–€590) in official fees (included in all our paid packages).
- Local transportation & food: Uber rides start at $1.70 (€1.50), and meals cost around $3-9 (€3–€8) in local restaurants.
All in all, Paraguay remains one of the most affordable places in the world to get permanent residency.
What Happens After You Get It?
Getting permanent residency in Paraguay doesn’t just give you a new ID – it opens a whole new world of freedom and opportunity. You can open bank accounts, invest, travel visa-free across Mercosur countries, and even shift your tax residency – with zero tax on foreign income. It’s your legal Plan B, giving you more control over your future without having to relocate full-time.
Important Things to Know Before Applying
Getting permanent residency in Paraguay is surprisingly simple – if you know when, where, how, and in what order. Here are a few key things that can save you time, money, and stress:
⚠️ Common mistakes we see:
- Documents not properly legalized (apostilled) or translated
- Using outdated or inaccurate info from forums, AI tools, or blog posts
- Missing required attachments or incorrect filing
- Poor-quality translations from unofficial translators
- Trying to “save a few bucks” – and ending up paying double to fix things
💡 Our step-by-step guide helps you avoid all of these.
🕰️ When not to travel
Government offices in Paraguay slow down significantly around Christmas, Easter, national holidays (especially in August and December), and on Mondays.
Avoid holidays and Mondays – most public institutions won’t be fully operational then.
🛬 Do I need to stay in Paraguay all the time?
No. With temporary residency, it’s enough to enter the country just once per year (though this isn’t strictly monitored).
Once you get permanent residency, you don’t have to live here full-time. You just need to enter the country at least once every three years to keep your status active. It usually takes just a few minutes at immigration. Paraguay doesn’t pressure you – it gives you the freedom.
🧠 Final tip:
Don’t expect things to run like Switzerland. Paraguay has its own rhythm. Once you embrace it, it’s actually refreshing. Fewer rules, more trust. And more breathing room.
Frequently Asked Questions about Residency in Paraguay
❓ How long does it take to get permanent residency?
With our support, you can get temporary residency within 2 to 6 months, depending on the package you choose. Permanent residency is available after 2 years of holding temporary status – and yes, we can speed that up too.
❓ Do I need to live in Paraguay full-time?
No. You don’t need to live here year-round. You only need to enter Paraguay once every three years to keep your permanent residency active. The process is simple and usually takes just a few minutes at immigration.
❓ Do I have to pay taxes in Paraguay?
Only if you earn income from inside Paraguay. Foreign income – including crypto, investments, or online business – is not taxed here. Paraguay has a territorial tax system. If you want to use Paraguay as your tax residency, some conditions apply (like no major ties elsewhere and spending limited time in other countries).
❓ Can I keep my original citizenship?
Yes. Paraguay allows dual citizenship. However, your home country might have restrictions – make sure to check your local laws. For example, some countries in Europe or Asia don’t allow dual status.
❓ Do I need to speak Spanish?
Not for the paperwork – we’ll assist or give you a detailed guide. But in daily life, basic Spanish is a huge advantage. English is not widely spoken, especially outside the capital.
❓ Is this a visa or something more?
It’s not a visa – this is official permanent residency. You’ll get a residency card and local ID (cedula), which gives you almost the same rights as citizens, including long-term stay, tax residency, banking, and more.
Choose your way
Two paths to freedom. Pick yours
🔥Want It Handled with Full Assistance?
- ✅ Full process completed from just 1 trip
- ✅ Step-by-step personal assistance
- ✅ No queues, no stress, no bureaucracy
- ➡️ Starting from $1480
🧭 Prefer to do it yourself and save?
- ✅ Detailed step-by-step guide
- ✅ Save hundreds of euros
- ✅ No agencies – you’ve got this
- ➡️ Only $169
What others are saying
Real people. Real freedom. Real results.
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“After retiring, I realized I didn’t want to just sit in the same place and watch the world go crazy. Paraguay offered peace, sunshine, and a slower rhythm. I was surprised how straightforward the residency process turned out to be. With clear guidance, it all went smoothly.”
– Alan T., United Kingdom
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“We wanted a place to raise our kids without fear, pressure, or propaganda. Paraguay felt like a breath of fresh air. The whole residency process was simple to follow, and the communication was always clear. Now we sleep better knowing we have a solid Plan B.”
– Emma & Daniel K., Canada
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“I was looking for a legal, clean way to protect my crypto and get part of my assets outside the EU. Paraguay’s tax system caught my eye, but I didn’t want to risk mistakes. With the right help, the process was smooth and fast. I’d recommend it to anyone thinking seriously about long-term freedom.”
— Petr S., Slovakia
What makes us different
Trusted by 110+ clients. Fine-tuned by real-world experience.
We’ve been in your shoes.
We’re not an agency – we’re digital nomads who personally went through this process, made mistakes, wasted money, and learned the hard way. Now we’re helping others avoid all that.
With our help, you can get Paraguayan residency faster, cheaper, and without the stress or confusion.
Got a question?
Feel free to send us a message on WhatsApp – we’ll help you understand the process and recommend the best option for your situation. We usually reply within a few hours.
If you didn’t find your answer in the FAQ section above, you can also contact us directly by email:
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