Latin America Plan B · Paraguay · Last updated April 2026
With the April 2026 launch of the Investor Pass alongside the established SUACE program, foreign investors can now access permanent residency directly — no temporary visa phase, no job creation requirement.
Minimum Investment
$70K (SUACE) · $150K–200K (Investor Pass)
Processing Time
60–90 days (temporary) · up to 6 months (SUACE)
Visa-Free Countries
140+, incl. the EU, UK, Japan, Canada
Physical Presence
Once every 3 years (Investor Pass)
Paraguay is not where most people think of first. That's precisely the point. While the rest of Latin America tightens its immigration requirements, Paraguay is actively opening its doors to foreign investment.
The government processed over 47,000 new residency applications in 2025 — up from 28,000 in 2024 — and is projecting over 80,000 in 2026. This is a country that has decided to compete.
Three distinct residency pathways. The right choice depends on your investment profile, timeline, and whether you need immediate permanent status.
Temporary Residency
Independent Means
Best for — Budget-conscious, income-based applicants.
SUACE Program
Business Investment
Best for — Entrepreneurs and business investors.
Investor Pass
Real Estate · Securities · Tourism
Best for — Real estate buyers, passive & securities investors.
Paraguay's temporary residency program is the most accessible entry point. It requires no investment — only proof that you can support yourself financially in the country.
Under Law 6984/22, all standard applicants must first hold temporary residency for 2 years before converting to permanent residency — the default route unless you qualify for the SUACE or Investor Pass exceptions.
A valid passport, an apostilled and translated birth certificate, a clean criminal record from your home country (and any country of residence in the past 3 years), a medical certificate, proof of income or economic solvency, and passport photos. All foreign documents must be apostilled under the Hague Convention and translated into Spanish by a certified translator in Paraguay.
Temporary residency is granted for 2 years and is renewable. There is no strict minimum stay requirement during this phase, but you should not be continuously absent for more than 12 months. You can work, open bank accounts, and sign contracts under temporary residency.
Processing timeline: 60–90 days from submission.
For investors who want to skip the 2-year temporary phase entirely, Paraguay offers two direct routes to permanent residency — both grant immediate permanent status with no interim waiting period.
SUACE (Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas) is a one-stop-shop for business registration and investor residency since 2013. Through a single institutional process, you register a company, obtain an Investor Certificate (Constancia de Inversionista) from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and apply for permanent residency simultaneously.
A minimum commitment of USD 70,000, deployed over a 10-year period (~$7,000/year), via a business plan — not an upfront lump sum. The investment must be real and traceable through banking records. You must also establish a Paraguayan company (SRL, SA or EAS) via notary incorporation, Registro Público registration, a RUC (tax number), and a corporate bank account. A local authorised representative can manage this by power of attorney.
Job creation: SUACE requires at least 5 local jobs through your business — the key obligation that distinguishes it from the newer Investor Pass, and often impractical for passive investors purchasing real estate.
Processing time: 90 days to 6 months. What you get: immediate permanent residency, a 10-year renewable card, a Cédula, the right to live, work and operate a business, and citizenship eligibility after 3 years.
Alternative Route
Film & Creative Industry Investment ($40,000). The SUACE framework includes a lower-threshold option for Paraguay's audiovisual sector, via a special derogation from the standard $70,000 minimum.
Applicants invest USD 40,000 into an approved Paraguayan film production and must demonstrate USD 80,000 in available funds. Only the main applicant receives immediate permanent residency — family members receive 2-year temporary residency. Processing takes ~2 months. Best understood as a cost of residency, not a capital allocation with expected returns.
On April 17, 2026, the Paraguayan Government launched the Investor Pass — a direct pathway to permanent residency through investment, with no temporary residency phase and no local employment obligation. It was announced by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Marco Riquelme, and the Director of National Migration, Jorge Kronawetter, in São Paulo — designed in direct response to investors for whom SUACE's 5-employee requirement was impractical, particularly real estate buyers.
Presence: holders maintain residency by entering Paraguay just once every 3 years, over a 10-year period — one of the most flexible presence requirements of any RBI program globally.
Tax benefits: the same fiscal benefits as any Paraguayan resident, including a reduction in the dividend and utilities tax (IDU) from 15% to 8%, in addition to Paraguay's 0% territorial tax on foreign-sourced income.
The process is not instantaneous: applicants still present full documentation, pass Interpol checks, and complete standard requirements through the SUACE and Migraciones pipeline. In 2025 Paraguay processed 47,000 new residency applications (~30,000 from Brazilian nationals); the government projects 100,000+ new residents in 2026. The existing SUACE program remains available alongside the Investor Pass.
SUACE
Best for — Entrepreneurs who want to actually operate a business in Paraguay.
Investor Pass
Best for — Passive investors and real estate buyers wanting no operational obligations.
Not sure which route fits your strategy?
We'll help you decide whether Paraguay sits alongside a European Golden Visa or a Caribbean passport.
Paraguay's tax system is the primary reason most international clients pursue residency here. Territorial taxation means you pay tax only on income generated within Paraguay — all foreign-sourced income is taxed at 0%.
Important — Tax Residency
Paraguay does not impose a strict 183-day physical presence requirement for tax residency, but manage your presence across jurisdictions carefully — spending 183+ days elsewhere may trigger tax obligations there. Maintaining an active RUC with regular filings (even nil filings) helps establish your Paraguayan tax residency paper trail.
Under Article 146 of the Paraguayan Constitution, foreign permanent residents can apply for citizenship by naturalisation after 3 years — one of the fastest naturalisation timelines in Latin America (only Argentina offers a comparable pathway).
Citizenship applications are handled by the Supreme Court of Justice; processing can take several months to over a year depending on caseload.
The Paraguayan passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 140+ countries, including the EU and Schengen Area, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all of South America. Paraguay also maintains an E-2 Treaty with the United States.
Dual Nationality
Article 149 of the Constitution states naturalisation entails loss of your nationality of origin, unless a bilateral treaty exists — Paraguay currently holds formal dual-nationality agreements only with Spain and Italy. In practice this is not enforced, and many naturalised citizens hold both nationalities without issue; the legal position, however, remains as stated, and implications also depend on your country of origin's laws.
Timeline summary — SUACE / Investor Pass: investment → immediate permanent residency → 3 years → citizenship application → passport (≈4 years total). Temporary residency route: ≈6 years total.
Paraguay is one of the most affordable residency-by-investment programs globally. Here is what to budget, excluding the investment capital itself.
Government & admin fees (all pathways)
Application fee ~$350–400 · Certificate of Registration ~$30–35 · Apostille & legalisation $100–500 · Certified translation $100–300 · Interpol/police certificates $50–150
SUACE additional costs
Company incorporation (SRL/SA/EAS) $1,500–3,000 · business plan preparation typically included in legal fees
Legal & professional fees
$3,000–10,000, depending on complexity, pathway, and family members included
Total estimated budget (excl. investment capital)
Temporary Residency: $1,500–3,000 DIY / $4,000–7,000 managed · SUACE: $5,000–10,000 · Investor Pass: TBC, similar to SUACE minus incorporation
Initial Consultation with Lincoln Global Partners
We discuss your objectives, timeline, and family circumstances, and how Paraguay fits your broader residency strategy. We recommend the most suitable route and provide a clear fee proposal.
Document Preparation
Gather your passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), police clearance, and proof of income or investment capacity. Apostilles must be applied to originals, not copies, and documents are translated by a certified Spanish translator.
Application Submission
Visit the Immigration Office in Asunción (SUACE office for investment routes). We handle all filings, pay fees on your behalf, and manage biometric fingerprinting. Investment documentation is submitted simultaneously.
Processing & Approval
Typically 3–6 months depending on the pathway. You receive a provisional card allowing legal stay while your application processes; we track status and manage communication with Migraciones.
Cédula & Post-Approval
Complete the Cédula (national ID) at the Federal Police within 180 days — mandatory. With your Cédula you can open bank accounts, obtain a RUC, and access full resident rights.
"Our founder has lived in the Southern Cone for over five years. We know Paraguay — not from a brochure, but from the ground."
Your money goes further in Paraguay than in most countries. Couples live comfortably on $1,500–$2,000 monthly, with two-bedroom apartments in Asunción renting for $400–$700. Dining out costs $5–15 for a good meal; utilities and internet average $100–150 monthly.
Healthcare is affordable and accessible: private insurance runs $50–$100 monthly, with routine doctor visits $20–40. Major hospitals in Asunción offer modern facilities with English-speaking doctors.
Popular expat locations include Asunción (the largest expat community and best infrastructure, especially Villa Morra and Carmelitas), Encarnación (beaches on the Paraná River, a growing expat scene), and Ciudad del Este (business opportunities near the Brazilian border).
The climate is subtropical — hot summers December–February (32°C+) and mild winters June–August (~24°C), with a rainy season October to April.
Processing Delays
Government offices work at their own pace and official timeframes can stretch by weeks. Professional management significantly reduces delays.
Rules Can Shift
Document requirements sometimes change without notice. Local representation ensures your application meets current requirements.
Language
Spanish and Guaraní are the official languages; most government workers speak limited English, and all forms are in Spanish.
Banking
Opening a bank account has become more rigorous — in 2026, banks require your physical Cédula, a RUC, and a local address.
A valid passport, an apostilled and translated birth certificate, clean criminal records (home country and Interpol), a medical certificate, proof of income or economic solvency, a completed migration form, and passport photos. All foreign documents must be apostilled and officially translated into Spanish.
SUACE (Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas) is a streamlined residency and business-setup program. It lets you skip the 2-year temporary phase and obtain immediate permanent residency by investing $70,000 over 10 years in a Paraguayan business and creating 5 local jobs.
Launched in April 2026, the Investor Pass is a direct pathway to permanent residency through investment in tourism ($150K), real estate ($200K), or securities ($200K). Unlike SUACE, it requires no job creation and no company formation. Investment types can be combined, and residency is maintained with one visit every 3 years.
SUACE requires a $70K business investment and 5 employees. The Investor Pass requires $150K–$200K but with no job creation, no business plan, and no company formation. SUACE suits active entrepreneurs; the Investor Pass suits passive investors and real estate buyers.
After 3 years of permanent residency (with at least 183 days/year of physical presence), you can apply for citizenship by naturalisation. You must demonstrate Spanish or Guaraní language ability and pass a basic knowledge interview. Processing times vary.
Paraguay uses territorial taxation. Only income earned within Paraguay is taxed (10% personal income tax). Foreign-sourced income — employment, dividends, capital gains, pensions — is taxed at 0%. There is no wealth tax and no inheritance tax.
Over 140 countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival, including the European Union, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, and all of South America. Paraguay is also an E-2 treaty country with the United States.
Article 149 of the Constitution states naturalisation entails loss of your nationality of origin, unless a bilateral treaty exists — Paraguay currently holds formal dual-nationality agreements only with Spain and Italy. In practice this provision is not enforced, and many naturalised citizens hold both nationalities without issue; the legal position, however, remains as stated in the Constitution.
Apply with Lincoln Global Partners
We operate on the ground in Asunción and have helped clients structure Paraguayan residency as part of broader sovereignty strategies spanning Europe, Latin America and global citizenship.
