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Paraguayan nationality by naturalization: 3 years after permanent residence, the Supreme Court procedure and dual nationality limits

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Last verified: 2026-10-28 · Status: Stable

Foreigners can become Paraguayan by naturalization if they are adults, have lived in Paraguay at least 3 years, regularly practise a profession, trade, science, art or industry, and show good conduct. The Supreme Court counts the 3 years from permanent residence, refuses applicants who spent more than 3 months a year abroad in any of those years, and tests basic knowledge of Spanish or Guaraní, history, geography and the rules on loss of nationality; the court fee is PYG 43,051 (about US$7). Multiple nationality needs a treaty or constitutional reciprocity, and naturalized Paraguayans lose the nationality after more than 3 years of unjustified absence or by voluntarily acquiring another nationality.

USD figures use PYG 5,868.31 per US dollar, the Banco Central del Paraguay reference quotation for 28 October 2026 (planilla de cotizaciones of that day). Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Minimum residence for naturalization, counted by the Supreme Court from permanent residence	3 yearsConstitution art. 148 num. 2; Acordada 464/2007 art. 42, as of 2007-06-26 · in force
Maximum absence per year in each of the 3 years before applying	3 monthsAcordada 464/2007 art. 42 c), as of 2007-06-26 · in force
Supreme Court fee (tasa judicial) for the letter of naturalization	43051 PYGSupreme Court procedure page, as of 2026-10-28 · in force
Maximum time for the full Supreme Court to decide after the Attorney General's opinion	30 daysAcordada 464/2007 art. 48, as of 2007-06-26 · in force
Years after naturalization before a naturalized Paraguayan becomes a citizen	2 yearsConstitution art. 152 num. 2, as of 1992-06-20 · in force
Unjustified absence after which a court may declare loss of naturalized nationality	3 yearsConstitution art. 150, as of 1992-06-20 · in force

The rule

1. Constitutional requirements. Foreigners may obtain Paraguayan nationality by naturalization if they meet four requirements: legal age; a minimum residence of 3 years in the national territory; regular practice in the country of a profession, trade, science, art or industry; and good conduct as defined by law. Natural nationality belongs to people born in Paraguay, to children of Paraguayan parents born abroad while a parent served the Republic, to children of Paraguayan parents born abroad who settle permanently in Paraguay (by simple declaration), and to foundlings found in Paraguay. Congress may grant honorary nationality by law for eminent services.
Cost to do it: Court fee (tasa judicial): PYG 43,051 (about US$7); lawyers' fees are a private cost and a lawyer's signature is required.
Example: A Dutch engineer who received permanent residence in March 2023 and has worked in Paraguay since can apply from March 2026. / About US$7 in court fees.Constitución Nacional de la República del Paraguay, Art. 146, 148 and 151, 1992-06-20 official text · verified 2026-10-28

2. How the Supreme Court counts the 3 years. Under the Court's internal regulation, the minimum 3 years' residence is continuous residence counted from the grant of permanent residence. Naturalization is refused if the applicant has not obtained permanent residence or has not completed 3 years since; if the applicant has no real domicile in Paraguay (merely opening a business premises while living abroad does not count); or if, having obtained permanent residence, the applicant was absent for more than 3 months a year in each of the 3 years before the application. The Court's procedures page asks for the DNM certificate of residence showing 3 years of permanent residence from the admission resolution.
Cost to do it: DNM certificate of residence: PYG 234,154 (about US$40).
Example: A permanent resident who spends 4 months a year at a home in Spain will be refused even after 3 years. / About US$40 for the certificate; the real cost of a refusal is waiting for 3 clean years.Acordada Nº 464/2007, Reglamento Interno de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, Art. 42, 2007-06-26 official text · verified 2026-10-28

3. Documents and procedure. The application is addressed to the Supreme Court and handled by its Secretaría Judicial II with the Attorney General's opinion. The Court's checklist includes photographs; authenticated copies of the Paraguayan cédula, the full passport, the apostilled birth certificate and the DNM permanent residence card; the DNM certificate of residence; Paraguayan police and judicial certificates; the apostilled criminal record certificate of the country of origin; evidence of activity (an employer certificate with IPS employer number and the company's RUC for workers, a business licence, RUC and two business references for traders, a study certificate for students, or the qualifying degree for professionals); a CV; a sworn statement signed in person at the Court; the court fee; and a petition signed by a lawyer with a procedural address in Asunción. Documents not in Spanish need a translator registered with the Supreme Court.
Cost to do it: Tasa judicial PYG 43,051 (about US$7); bank counter payments carry a commission of up to PYG 4,400 including IVA, home banking is free.
Example: A Brazilian trader files a business licence, RUC and letters from two supplier companies as evidence of commercial conduct. / About US$7 in court fees plus lawyer, translator and apostille costs.Acordada Nº 464/2007; Supreme Court naturalization procedure page, Acordada 464/2007 art. 38, 39 and 40, 2007-06-26 official text · verified 2026-10-28

4. Exam, decision and oath. Before the letter of naturalization is granted, the applicant takes an oral or written exam on elementary knowledge of one of the official languages (Spanish or Guaraní), Paraguayan history and geography and the constitutional rules on loss of nationality. The file then goes to the Attorney General's office, which must give its opinion within 5 days; the full Court decides within a maximum of 30 days and, if it grants the request, sets a hearing where the applicant swears allegiance and receives the diploma. The decision is communicated to the Executive, the migration office, the police and the Foreign Ministry, which informs the country of the previous nationality.
Cost to do it: No separate exam fee is listed.
Example: An applicant who speaks Spanish prepares for questions on the 1992 Constitution's rules on losing nationality. / No extra cost beyond preparation.Acordada Nº 464/2007, Art. 46, 47, 48 and 49, 2007-06-26 official text · verified 2026-10-28

5. Multiple nationality, citizenship and loss. Multiple nationality may be admitted by international treaty or by reciprocity of constitutional rank between the state of origin and Paraguay. Naturalized Paraguayans become citizens (with political rights) 2 years after naturalization. Naturalized Paraguayans lose the nationality through unjustified absence from the Republic of more than 3 years declared by a court, or through voluntary acquisition of another nationality; the exercise of citizenship is suspended by adopting another nationality, save international reciprocity. Naturalized Paraguayans who must be away longer for work or study should inform the Court. Natural Paraguayans cannot be deprived of their nationality.
Cost to do it: No fee to keep the nationality; the risk is losing it.
Example: A naturalized Paraguayan who moves to Canada for 4 years without informing the Court risks a judicial declaration of loss. / Not a fee question; plan long absences with counsel.Constitución Nacional de la República del Paraguay; Acordada Nº 464/2007, Constitution art. 147, 149, 150, 152 and 153; Acordada art. 53, 1992-06-20 official text · verified 2026-10-28

Stage	Typical timing	Rule	Official fee
Temporary residence	Year 0	Ley 6984 art. 46	PYG 2,926,925 (US$499)
Permanent residence	Year 2	Ley 6984 art. 47	PYG 2,926,925 (US$499) plus certificate PYG 234,154
Direct permanent (Investor Pass, Uruguayans, family of Paraguayans)	Year 0	Ley 6984 art. 46 and 48; Ley 6774/2021; Ley 2193/2003	Fee or free depending on route
Naturalization application	3 years after permanent residence	Constitution art. 148; Acordada 464/2007 art. 42	Tasa judicial PYG 43,051 (US$7)
Citizenship (political rights)	2 years after naturalization	Constitution art. 152	None

From arrival to naturalization (Ley 6984/2022, Constitution art. 148 and 152, Acordada 464/2007; DNM and court fees at 28 October 2026; USD at PYG 5,868.31)

Worked example

A Spanish entrepreneur obtains direct permanent residence through the Investor Pass in May 2026.
Keeping absences under 3 months a year, the entrepreneur can apply for naturalization from May 2029 with a DNM certificate of residence showing 3 years of permanent residence, the company's RUC and IPS registration as evidence of activity, and Paraguayan and Spanish criminal record certificates.
Official cost: the tasa judicial of PYG 43,051 and the DNM certificate of PYG 234,154; the lawyer's fee is extra.
After the exam and the Court's resolution, the entrepreneur takes the oath and becomes a Paraguayan citizen with political rights 2 years later (Constitution art. 152).
Whether the Spanish nationality can be kept depends on a treaty or constitutional reciprocity under art. 149; voluntarily acquiring another nationality after naturalization causes loss under art. 150.

Step by step

Obtain permanent residence; the 3 year clock starts with it.
Keep a real home in Paraguay and limit absences to 3 months a year in each of the 3 years.
Build evidence of regular activity: employment with IPS, RUC and business licence, studies or a qualifying degree.
Collect the DNM certificate of residence, Paraguayan police and judicial certificates and the apostilled foreign criminal record.
Instruct a lawyer to file the petition at the Supreme Court's Secretaría Judicial II and sign the sworn statement in person.
Prepare for the exam on language, history, geography and the rules on loss of nationality.
Attend the oath hearing to swear allegiance and receive the letter of naturalization.

Common traps

Temporary residence years do not count; the Court counts from permanent residence.
More than 3 months abroad in any of the 3 years blocks the application, a far stricter test than the 3 year absence rule for permanent residence.
A business premises in Paraguay with a home abroad is not residence.
Multiple nationality is admitted only by treaty or constitutional reciprocity (art. 149); check the position for the country of origin before applying.
After naturalization, more than 3 years of unjustified absence can lead to a judicial declaration of loss.

Sources

← Paraguay migration fees, fines, cancellation and appeals: the full DNM schedule and how it movesImporting and exporting in Paraguay: customs, brokers, taxes at the border and special regimes →

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