Obtain permanent residency in Paraguay

How to Obtain Permanent Residency (PR) in Paraguay

A Map of Paraguay, where you can obtain permanent residency for business purposes
Map of Paraguay

Paraguay is increasingly becoming an attractive country to expand to. One benefit of starting or expanding your business in Paraguay is its geographic location. With powerful neighbours like Brazil and Argentina, the country offers easy access to some of the region’s largest markets. As of 2019, Paraguay’s economy is worth close to US$30 billion and is expected to perform well in the coming years. This article will be of interest to you if you are interested in obtaining permanent residency in Paraguay.

Besides these advantages, Paraguay is also welcoming to foreign investment. With a relaxed approach to obtaining residency, setting up your business will not pose many difficulties. Learn how you can obtain permanent residency quickly with the right local support.

Obtaining your Permanent Residency (PR) in Paraguay

When immigrating to Paraguay, you can immediately apply for a Permanent Residence Permit. As opposed to other Latin American countries, permanent residency status for Paraguay can be obtained within a few short months. Obtaining permanent residency status eliminates insecurities around visa expiry dates or future political changes.

SEE ALSO: When do you need a Legal Representative in Ecuador?

Note on entrance visas

Depending on your citizenship, you may need an entrance visa to get into Paraguay. Paraguay’s layered visa regulations exempt 60 countries and jurisdictions from its entrance visa requirements for various lengths of stay (as long as they have a valid passport).

Citizens of the following countries can get a visa on arrival: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and United States. A reciprocity fee applies to visas for these citizens and is charged in US dollars.

A market snapshot of Paraguay's economy
A market snapshot of Paraguay’s economy

Applying for the Permanent Residence Permit in Paraguay

Permanent Residency in Paraguay
Obtaining permanent residency will qualify you for a Paraguayan identity card.

Obtaining Permanent Residency in Paraguay is simple and straightforward through the Permanent Residence Permit. Procedures are time-efficient, and it can take as little as 3 months to process your application. 

Obtaining permanent residency qualifies you for a Paraguayan identity card. This card allows you to obtain the RUC (single taxpayer registration) necessary to pay your taxes in Paraguay. Furthermore, those with the Permanent Residence Permit are treated to certain tax benefits.

The application for a permanent permit requires an up-front deposit. The deposit amount is equivalent to 35 minimum monthly wages, which currently a total of PYG 24,554,600 or around USD 5000. This deposit can be made at the Paraguayan Central Bank (non-interest bearing) or any Paraguayan commercial bank. Once you are granted residency, you may withdraw the deposit in full.

Documents required for this application include a birth certificate and police check. These need to be apostilled by the issuing Government authority, either within the home country or at an embassy in Paraguay.

Note that the police check needs to cover 5 years of residential history. This means you will need police checks from any and all countries you resided in over the last 5 years.

The Permanent Residence Permit does not require renewing. Permanent residents simply need to visit Paraguay at least once every three years in order to keep their permit current. You now know how to obtain permanent residency in Paraguay!

Investors have government backing

Furthermore, Paraguay provides a different application procedure for foreign investors, with different benefits. An example of this is the SUACE (Systema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas) procedure. This is a one-stop shop to assist investors with procedures related to company registration and residence permit applications.

In addition to the general requirements, investors must submit a certificate issued by the Vice Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Paraguay. This certificate accredits their qualification to SUACE. Note that this certificate makes a distinction between startups and company expansions.

In order to qualify, a new business must put up an initial capital investment. It is highly recommended that investors seek knowledgable legal and financial assistance to ensure a smooth and simple company formation process.

What about Paraguayan citizenship?

Permanent residency in Paraguay does not immediately make you eligible for citizenship. The National Constitution of Paraguay identifies permanent residents as eligible for citizenship after being a permanent resident for three years. For this process, you must demonstrate that you have ties to the country. This can be demonstrated through:

A man working on his tablet
Expert attention must be paid to details and relevant documents throughout the application process.
  • Owning real estate
  • Local company ownership
  • Continuous fiscal residence
  • Regular exercise of a profession

Added benefits of Paraguayan citizenship include:

  • Voting in elections: this allows you to have a say in the direction the country is headed
  • Visa-free travel to 132 countries

Fulfilling other requirements

Besides the specific requirements for permanent residency or citizenship, you may need to provide further documentation. This can include economic solvency statements, police record checks, health certificate, a tourist visa, and documents issued by national authorities.

While Paraguay’s permanent residency application process is one of the easiest to obtain in Latin America, attention must be paid to details and relevant documents throughout the application process. Engage with a local expert to obtain Paraguayan residency with minimum wait-time.

Contact us for help with your Paraguayan Residency (PR) in Paraguay

Obtaining permanent residency in Paraguay requires a lot of dealing with local offices and authorities. Consequently, knowledge of the Spanish language and knowledge of the processes necessary is required.

It’s therefore useful to engage with a local team. At Biz Latin Hub, our local and expatriate experts offer customized business solutions in market entry and back office services across Latin America, including Paraguay. This includes support for visa processing and company formation.

If you’re ready to establish your business in Latin America and want to take advantage of the Paraguayan economy, contact us today.

Biz Latin Hub offers back-office services as well visa processing services for your Permanent Residency in Paraguay

The information provided here within should not be construed as formal guidance or advice. Please consult a professional for your specific situation. Information provided is for informative purposes only and may not capture all pertinent laws, standards, and best practices. The regulatory landscape is continually evolving; information mentioned may be outdated and/or could undergo changes. The interpretations presented are not official. Some sections are based on the interpretations or views of relevant authorities, but we cannot ensure that these perspectives will be supported in all professional settings.
Legal Team Paraguay

Legal Team Paraguay

Legal Team Paraguay is the Biz Latin Hub leading experts on doing business in Paraguay The Team writes on the news, doing business, law, and changing regulations. The team are experts in corporate law, Administrative law, Employment law, Immigration law and legal advisory services. Read more about them here. You can contact Legal Team Paraguay via our "contact us page".

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