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Immigration to Paraguay: residence categories, the Investor Pass, Mercosur residence, fees and employer duties

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

Paraguay's 2022 migration law (Ley 6984) gives foreigners temporary residence of up to 2 years, with the right to work from the day they file, and permanent residence after that; investors with a Foreign Investor Certificate skip the temporary step through the Investor Pass, from US$70,000 of productive investment with 5 jobs or US$150,000 to US$200,000 in tourism, real estate or securities. Nationals of Argentina, Brazil and the other Mercosur partners use a simpler 2 year Mercosur residence. Official fees are set in daily minimum wages, about US$400 to US$501 per residence step from July 2026, permanent residence now needs documented income under Resolución DNM 407/2026, and employers face fines of about US$3,003 per foreign worker without a residence card.

USD figures use PYG 5,847.90 per US dollar, the Banco Central del Paraguay reference quotation for 27 October 2026 (latest published planilla on the verification date). Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Maximum transitory (visitor) stay, extendable once	90 daysLey 6984/2022 art. 42, as of 2022-10-18 · in force
Temporary residence term, extendable for an equal period	2 yearsLey 6984/2022 art. 46, as of 2022-10-18 · in force
Provisional (precaria) residence card validity, allows work	90 daysLey 6984/2022 art. 57, as of 2022-10-18 · in force
Unjustified absence after which permanent residence is lost	3 yearsLey 6984/2022 art. 54, as of 2022-10-18 · in force
DNM fee for permanent residence, cash, including change of category	2926925 PYGLey 6984/2022 art. 100; Res. DNM 478/2026, as of 2026-07-01 · in force
DNM fee for temporary residence under Ley 6984, cash, including provisional card and change of category	2926925 PYGLey 6984/2022 art. 100; Res. DNM 478/2026, as of 2026-07-01 · in force
DNM fee for Mercosur temporary residence, cash	2341540 PYGRes. DNM 478/2026; Ley 3578/2008, as of 2026-07-01 · in force
Jornal (daily minimum wage) used to compute migration fees and fines	117077 PYGDecreto 6225/2026; Res. DNM 478/2026, as of 2026-07-01 · in force
Fine for overstaying the authorized transitory stay (6 jornales)	702462 PYGLey 6984/2022 art. 87, as of 2026-07-01 · in force
Fine per foreign worker hired without a residence card (150 jornales)	17561550 PYGLey 6984/2022 art. 88 num. 8, as of 2026-07-01 · in force
Investor Pass minimum, productive investment (plus 5 formal jobs)	70000 USDRes. MIC 0283/2026 Annex I art. 1 g), as of 2026-04-21 · in force
Investor Pass minimum, tourism investment	150000 USDRes. MIC 0283/2026 Annex I art. 1 g), as of 2026-04-21 · in force
Investor Pass minimum, real estate for economic use	200000 USDRes. MIC 0283/2026 Annex I art. 1 g), as of 2026-04-21 · in force
Investor Pass minimum, financial instruments held at least 2 years	200000 USDRes. MIC 0283/2026 Annex I art. 1 d) and g), as of 2026-04-21 · in force
Maximum time to issue the Foreign Investor Certificate after a complete file	5 business daysRes. MIC 0283/2026 art. 4, as of 2026-04-21 · in force
Residences granted January to June 2026 (23,833 temporary, 5,932 permanent)	29765 residencesDNM report of 29 July 2026, as of 2026-06-30 · in force

The rule

1. Entering as a visitor. Foreigners are admitted either for a transitory stay (tourist, transit, border traffic, medical treatment or special cases) or as residents. A transitory stay lasts up to 90 calendar days according to the purpose of entry and can be extended once, at the request of the visitor, for no longer than the period first granted; the extension or a change of category must be requested before the stay expires, and once it expires the visitor must leave or apply for residence. Overstaying the authorized transitory stay is fined up to 6 daily minimum wages (jornales) at the border, and the same 6 jornales apply when there is no entry record. Whether a visa is needed depends on nationality: the migration office's visa table shows that Mercosur members and associates (for example Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) need no visa either to visit or to reside, while United States and Canadian citizens need no visa for stays of up to 90 days under Ley 7314 of 13 August 2024 (valid until 13 August 2027) but still need a visa for an extension of stay, residence or paid activity.
Cost to do it: Extension of stay (prórroga de permanencia): 5 jornales, PYG 585,385 (about US$100) in cash. Overstay fine: 6 jornales, PYG 702,462 (about US$120). Card payments add a provider commission of 2 to 3 percent plus IVA.
Example: A visitor who stays past the authorized 90 days and only notices at departure pays PYG 702,462 at the control post; requesting the extension before expiry would have cost PYG 585,385. / About US$120 fine for overstaying against about US$100 for a timely extension.Ley Nº 6984/2022 De Migraciones, Art. 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 87, 2022-10-17 official text · verified 2026-10-28

2. Temporary residence (residencia temporal). The migration office (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, DNM) grants temporary residence to foreigners who come to settle and carry on a lawful activity, for up to 2 years, extendable for an equal period, and it is the normal prerequisite for permanent residence. The file requires identity document, consular visa where needed, proof of entry, birth and civil status certificates, criminal record certificates from the country of origin or of residence in the last 3 years, Interpol and Paraguayan police certificates for foreigners (from age 14), sworn statements on compliance with the law, activity and address, and payment of the fee; foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. While the file is processed the applicant holds a provisional (precaria) residence card, issued once and valid for 90 calendar days, which allows the holder to stay, leave and re enter, work and study. Temporary residents receive a Paraguayan identity card (cédula) valid for the same period. Temporary residence can be cancelled after more than 1 year of unjustified absence.
Cost to do it: DNM fee for temporary residence, including the provisional card and the later change of category: 25 jornales, PYG 2,926,925 (about US$501) in cash from 1 July 2026; certificate of residence (certificado de radicación) 2 jornales, PYG 234,154 (about US$40). Extension of temporary residence: 11 jornales, PYG 1,287,847 (about US$220). Apostilles, sworn translations and notarized copies are extra and not set by the migration law.
Example: A Spanish engineer hired by a Paraguayan S.A. files for temporary residence on arrival, pays PYG 2,926,925 and can start work immediately on the 90 day provisional card. / About US$501 in DNM fees for two years of residence, plus about US$40 for the residence certificate.Ley Nº 6984/2022 De Migraciones, Art. 44, 46, 50, 55 num. 2, 57, 58, 62 and 63, 2022-10-17 official text · verified 2026-10-28

3. Permanent residence and the new proof of income rule. Permanent residence allows a foreigner to live in Paraguay indefinitely and is granted after the temporary residence period. The DNM requires the change of category to be filed within the 3 months before the temporary card expires; up to 1 month after expiry it can still be filed with the overstay fine, and after that only an extension of temporary residence is possible. Requirements include the temporary card, Paraguayan cédula, local police, judicial and Interpol certificates and proof of the means of living. Resolución DNM Nº 407/2026, for files entered from 6 July 2026, unified that proof for the Ley 6984 and Mercosur routes in 12 solvency categories (professionals, technicians, employees, independent workers, remote workers or digital nomads, property owners, shareholders, farmers and ranchers, religious workers, retirees, dependents and students), each with specific evidence such as IPS (social security) registration, a registered employment contract, IVA or IRP returns with tax compliance certificate, a registered property title held at least 2 years, or a pension statement. The permanent card is renewed every 10 years; permanent residence is lost after more than 3 years of unjustified absence, and permanent residents with more than 10 years' residence, a Paraguayan spouse or Paraguayan born children may be spared expulsion.
Cost to do it: Permanent residence fee: 25 jornales, PYG 2,926,925 (about US$501), plus residence certificate PYG 234,154 (about US$40) and, if data changed, change of information PYG 234,154. Renewal of the permanent card every 10 years: 4 jornales, PYG 468,308 (about US$80).
Example: A remote worker who entered on temporary residence in November 2024 must file for permanent residence between August and November 2026 with an employer certificate showing income and how it is paid; DNM fees total PYG 3,161,079 with the residence certificate. / About US$541 in DNM fees for permanent residence and the certificate; a title alone or a degree alone is not accepted as proof of income.Ley Nº 6984/2022 De Migraciones; Resolución DNM Nº 407/2026, Ley 6984 art. 47, 52, 54, 55, 59 and 69; Res. DNM 407/2026 annex of solvency categories, 2022-10-17 official text · verified 2026-10-28 · changed: From 6 July 2026 (files entered from that date) Resolución DNM Nº 407/2026 requires documented, verifiable income or resources under 12 categories for permanent residence under both Ley 6984/2022 and the Mercosur Residence Agreement, replacing different document sets for each route.

4. Direct permanent residence for investors (Paraguay Investor Pass). The migration law exempts foreigners who prove investments in Paraguay under the SUACE law (Ley 4986/2013) from the temporary residence step, so they can apply for permanent residence directly through the DNM office inside the SUACE one stop shop. The evidence is the Foreign Investor Certificate (Constancia de Inversionista Extranjero, CIE) issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce under Resolución MIC Nº 0283 of 21 April 2026, issued only to individuals, with four investment types and minimums in US dollars or the guaraní equivalent at the official rate: productive investment in industry, commerce or services from US$70,000 with a business plan and at least 5 formal jobs; financial instruments from US$200,000 kept for at least 2 years with annual reporting and no business plan or jobs required; real estate for economic use from US$200,000, excluding purely personal or family use; and tourism projects from US$150,000 with a business plan. The investment may be completed or in progress. Rent, salaries, utilities and recurring administrative costs do not count as investment. Applicants also file criminal record and Interpol certificates and a sworn statement on the origin of funds under anti money laundering rules (SEPRELAD), and productive investors report progress every six months. SUACE must issue the CIE within 5 business days of a complete file, a period suspended while observations are pending.
Cost to do it: Minimum investment PYG 409,353,000 (US$70,000) productive, PYG 877,185,000 (US$150,000) tourism, PYG 1,169,580,000 (US$200,000) financial or real estate at PYG 5,847.90. DNM permanent residence fee PYG 2,926,925 (about US$501) plus residence certificate PYG 234,154. No CIE fee was found in the resolution.
Example: A founder who puts PYG 409,353,000 into equipment and fit out for a services company with 5 formal hires can obtain the CIE and apply straight for permanent residence, paying PYG 3,161,079 in DNM fees. / US$70,000 of productive investment with 5 formal jobs, or US$200,000 in securities held for 2 years, opens direct permanent residence for about US$541 in DNM fees.Ley Nº 6984/2022 De Migraciones; Resolución MIC Nº 0283/2026, Ley 6984 art. 46 last paragraph and art. 52 num. 9; Res. MIC 0283/2026 art. 1 to 7 and Annex I art. 1 and 2, 2026-04-21 official text · verified 2026-10-28 · changed: Resolución MIC Nº 0283 of 21 April 2026 repealed Resolución MIC Nº 1052 of 11 September 2025 and created four investment types with separate minimums (US$70,000 productive, US$150,000 tourism, US$200,000 financial or real estate), launched as the Paraguay Investor Pass on 17 April 2026.

5. Mercosur residence. Under the Mercosur Residence Agreement, approved by Paraguay through Ley Nº 3578/2008, nationals of the parties can obtain temporary residence of up to 2 years by proving nationality and a clean record, whatever their status on entry and without fines, and may convert it to permanent residence by applying within the 90 days before it expires and proving lawful means of living; residents have the right to work as employees or on their own account under the same conditions as nationals and to equal treatment in labor law and social security. The DNM applies this route to citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador; the temporary card lasts 2 years and cannot be extended, and missing the 90 day window loses the right to process residence under the agreement. Argentine citizens can therefore use this route; the Argentine side of residence rules is covered in The Argentine Thread guide.
Cost to do it: Mercosur temporary residence: 20 jornales, PYG 2,341,540 (about US$400) in cash; permanent residence Mercosur: PYG 2,926,925 (about US$501) plus residence certificate PYG 234,154.
Example: A Brazilian manager transferred to Ciudad del Este pays PYG 2,341,540 for 2 year Mercosur residence and PYG 2,926,925 for permanent residence, PYG 5,268,465 in total, filing the second step in the 90 days before the card expires. / About US$901 in DNM fees over two years for a Mercosur national to reach permanent residence.Ley Nº 3578/2008 approving the Acuerdo sobre Residencia para Nacionales de los Estados Partes del MERCOSUR, Bolivia y Chile (Brasilia, 6 December 2002), Agreement art. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, 2008-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-28

6. Fees are set in daily minimum wages. The migration law lists the fees in jornales (daily minimum wages): permanent residence 15, temporary 10, spontaneous or occasional 8, provisional 5, extension of temporary residence 11, extension of stay 5, card replacement 5, permanent card renewal 4, change of category 10, change of information 2 and certificates 2. The DNM schedule in force from 1 July 2026 (Resolución DNM Nº 478/2026, based on the jornal of PYG 117,077 under Decreto Nº 6225/2026) charges 25 jornales for permanent residence (including change of category), 25 for temporary residence under Ley 6984 (including the provisional card and change of category), 20 for Mercosur temporary residence and 8 for spontaneous or occasional residence of up to 90 days. Fees therefore rise automatically with each minimum wage decree. Cash is accepted only in guaraníes; card payments carry a 2 to 3 percent commission plus IVA. Foreign spouses, children and grandchildren of repatriated Paraguayans are exempt.
Cost to do it: See the fee table on this page; all amounts in cash at PYG 117,077 per jornal.
Example: Temporary residence then permanent residence under Ley 6984 costs PYG 5,853,850 in DNM fees (2 x PYG 2,926,925) before certificates. / About US$1,001 in DNM fees for the full two step route, against about US$501 for direct permanent residence through the Investor Pass.Ley Nº 6984/2022 De Migraciones; Resolución DNM Nº 478/2026 fee schedule, Ley 6984 art. 99, 100 and 101, 2022-10-17 official text · verified 2026-10-28 · changed: From 1 July 2026 every DNM fee rose about 5 percent with the minimum daily wage (jornal) of PYG 117,077 set under Decreto Nº 6225/2026; permanent and temporary residence went from PYG 2,787,550 to PYG 2,926,925 and Mercosur temporary residence from PYG 2,230,040 to PYG 2,341,540.

7. Employer duties and fines. A foreign resident authorized by the DNM may not be discriminated against for lawful work, and work already done while irregular keeps its labor rights. The employer must inform the DNM when it employs an immigrant and must meet all labor law obligations whatever the worker's migration status. The law fines the hiring of foreigners without a residence card at 150 jornales per irregular worker (listed in art. 88 num. 8, within the sanctions chapter); repeat offences raise fines by up to 50 percent; fines are imposed by the DNM after an administrative proceeding, are payable within 30 calendar days of notice, are enforceable in court once final and prescribe after 2 years. Expulsion carries a re entry ban of at least 5 years.
Cost to do it: 150 jornales per irregular worker: PYG 17,561,550 (about US$3,003); up to PYG 26,342,325 (about US$4,505) with the 50 percent repeat offence increase.
Example: A company that puts three foreign technicians to work before they file for residence risks PYG 52,684,650 in fines; filing first and working on the provisional card avoids it. / About US$9,009 in potential fines for three irregular hires against about US$1,502 in temporary residence fees.Ley Nº 6984/2022 De Migraciones, Art. 7, 66, 88 num. 8, 89, 90, 93, 94 and 95, 2022-10-17 official text · verified 2026-10-28

8. Tax link: residents and dividends. Foreign residents who earn income in Paraguay must pay the applicable taxes. Personal income tax (IRP) applies to resident individuals, Paraguayan or foreign. The dividend tax (IDU) is 8 percent when the recipient is resident in the country and 15 percent when the recipient is non resident, which is why the Investor Pass launch highlighted the lower 8 percent rate for residents. Paraguay has no comprehensive double tax treaty with Argentina.
Cost to do it: IDU of 8 percent on dividends paid to a resident shareholder against 15 percent to a non resident.
Example: On a dividend of PYG 584,790,000, IDU is PYG 46,783,200 for a resident shareholder and PYG 87,718,500 for a non resident. / On a US$100,000 dividend, IDU is US$8,000 for a resident against US$15,000 for a non resident.Ley Nº 6380/2019 De modernización y simplificación del sistema tributario nacional; Ley Nº 6984/2022, Ley 6380 art. 43 and 49; Ley 6984 art. 18, 2019-09-25 official text · verified 2026-10-28

Route	Who	Term	Can work	DNM fee	Path to permanent
Transitory stay (visitor)	Any foreigner, visa depending on nationality	Up to 90 days, one extension	No residence; paid activity needs residence	Extension PYG 585,385 (US$100)	Apply for residence before the stay expires
Temporary residence, Ley 6984	Any nationality settling for a lawful activity	Up to 2 years, extendable	Yes, from the 90 day provisional card	PYG 2,926,925 (US$501)	Change of category in the 3 months before expiry
Mercosur temporary residence	Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador	2 years, not extendable	Yes, same as nationals	PYG 2,341,540 (US$400)	Apply in the 90 days before expiry or lose the Mercosur route
Direct permanent residence, Investor Pass	Individual investors with a Foreign Investor Certificate	Indefinite, card renewed every 10 years	Yes	PYG 2,926,925 (US$501)	Direct, no temporary step
Spontaneous or occasional residence	Seasonal or invited workers, artists, professionals	Up to 90 days, extendable once in the year	Yes, for the occasional activity	PYG 936,616 (US$160)	Not a step toward temporary residence

Main residence routes for business people (Ley 6984/2022, Ley 3578/2008, Res. MIC 0283/2026, DNM fee schedule from 1 July 2026; cash fees at PYG 117,077 per jornal, USD at PYG 5,847.90; read on 28 October 2026)

Item	Jornales	PYG	USD approx.
Permanent residence (incl. change of category)	25	2,926,925	501
Temporary residence Ley 6984 (incl. provisional card and change of category)	25	2,926,925	501
Mercosur temporary residence	20	2,341,540	400
Spontaneous or occasional residence	8	936,616	160
Extension of temporary residence	11	1,287,847	220
Extension of stay	5	585,385	100
Permanent card renewal (every 10 years)	4	468,308	80
Certificate of residence	2	234,154	40
Overstay fine	6	702,462	120
Employer fine per irregular worker (art. 88 num. 8)	150	17,561,550	3,003

Selected DNM fees and fines from 1 July 2026 (Ley 6984/2022 art. 87 and 100; Res. DNM 478/2026; cash, card payments add 2 to 3 percent plus IVA)

Worked example

A US software founder wants to live in Asunción and run a Paraguayan EAS. Entry needs no visa for a visit of up to 90 days under Ley 7314/2024, but residence and paid activity require residence status (DNM visa table).
Route A, Investor Pass: the founder invests US$70,000 (PYG 409,353,000) in equipment and fit out, hires 5 formal employees and files a business plan; SUACE issues the Foreign Investor Certificate within 5 business days of a complete file (Res. MIC 0283/2026 art. 4). The founder then applies directly for permanent residence and pays PYG 2,926,925 plus PYG 234,154 for the residence certificate: PYG 3,161,079, about US$541.
Route B, ordinary: the founder applies for temporary residence (PYG 2,926,925), works on the 90 day provisional card, and about two years later files for permanent residence (another PYG 2,926,925) with proof of income under Res. DNM 407/2026, such as IVA or IRP returns and a tax compliance certificate: PYG 5,853,850 in DNM fees, about US$1,001, plus a second set of police, judicial and Interpol certificates.
Either way, a later dividend from the EAS to the founder as a resident bears IDU of 8 percent instead of 15 percent for a non resident: on US$100,000, US$8,000 instead of US$15,000 (Ley 6380 art. 43).
An Argentine sales director joining the same company uses Mercosur residence instead: PYG 2,341,540 (about US$400) for 2 years, then permanent residence in the 90 days before expiry (Ley 3578/2008, agreement art. 4 and 5).

Step by step

Check the visa rule for the applicant's nationality in the DNM visa table before travel; Mercosur nationals enter and reside with an identity document.
Gather documents in the home country: birth and civil status certificates and a national or federal criminal record certificate (from the country of residence in the last 3 years if different), all apostilled or legalized, and sworn Spanish translations (Ley 6984 art. 50).
Investors: apply first to SUACE for the Foreign Investor Certificate with the form, identity and entry proof, criminal record, Interpol certificate, origin of funds declaration and investment evidence (Res. MIC 0283/2026 Annex I art. 2); bank or securities evidence for the financial route must be no older than 180 days.
In Paraguay, obtain the Interpol certificate and the police certificate for foreigners, then file in person at the DNM (Asunción head office, regional admission offices or the SUACE desk) and pay the fee in guaraníes.
Start work only once the residence application is filed and the provisional card issued, and register the hire with IPS and the Labor Ministry like any employee; the employer must also inform the DNM (Ley 6984 art. 7).
With the residence resolution, apply for the Paraguayan cédula at the Police identification department (Ley 6984 art. 62).
Diary the permanent residence window: the 3 months before the temporary card expires (Ley 6984 route) or the 90 days before expiry (Mercosur route), and collect proof of income in the right Res. DNM 407/2026 category in advance.
Investor Pass holders: keep the investment in place and file the half yearly progress reports for productive and tourism plans, and annual reports for the financial route.

Common traps

The law lists permanent residence at 15 jornales, but the DNM schedule charges 25 jornales (PYG 2,926,925) because it bundles the change of category; budget from the DNM table, not the law text.
Missing the 90 day window before a Mercosur temporary card expires loses the right to process residence under the Mercosur agreement; that card cannot be extended.
Since 6 July 2026 a degree or a property title alone is not proof of income for permanent residence; property must have been registered for at least 2 years and professionals must show IPS registration, a registered contract or tax returns with activity.
Hiring a foreigner who has not filed for residence exposes the employer to 150 jornales (PYG 17,561,550) per worker, up to 50 percent more for repeat offences.
Investor Pass real estate must be for economic use; a home for personal or family use does not qualify, and rent, salaries and recurring expenses are not counted as investment in a business plan.
Temporary residence can be cancelled after more than 1 year of unjustified absence and permanent residence lost after more than 3 years; long stays abroad need DNM authorization.
Fees are tied to the minimum wage and rise with each wage decree (last on 1 July 2026); card payments add 2 to 3 percent plus IVA.
Criminal record certificates must cover the country of residence of the last 3 years; Mexican certificates must include both the federal and state certificate (Res. DNM 1272/2024).

Sources

← Employing people in Paraguay: contracts, minimum wage, IPS contributions, leave, dismissal and the ten year stability rule