Paraguay, located in the heart of South America, is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for foreigners seeking new opportunities and a peaceful life. This country appeals with its mild climate, low cost of living, friendly population, and favorable conditions for business. Entrepreneurs looking for profitable investment opportunities and low tax burdens, retirees seeking a quiet and affordable life, as well as remote workers and freelancers who can easily obtain a temporary residence permit in Paraguay and enjoy the beauty of this unique country, often move to Paraguay. Each year, Paraguay is becoming a more popular place for those looking for a balance between comfort, safety, and economic benefits.
Who Can Obtain a Temporary Residence Permit in Paraguay?
Although Law 6.984 “De Migraciones” outlines certain categories of foreigners who can obtain a residence permit, in practice there is no clear distribution of grounds for a residence permit. Any foreigner who meets the minimum requirements can apply for a residence permit.
The residence permit in Paraguay may be particularly interesting for the following categories of individuals:
- Freelancers and remote workers
- Entrepreneurs
- Rentiers (people receiving passive income from real estate, land, securities, copyrights, etc.)
- Retirees
- Agribusinessmen (agriculture is supported by the state with benefits and active development of the agricultural sector)
Requirements for Obtaining a Residence Permit in Paraguay
Paraguay stands out favorably from European countries with its simplicity and accessibility of obtaining residence documents. There is no digital nomad visa, entrepreneur visa, or visa for financially secure individuals, which levels the playing field by applying the same requirements to all foreigners.
Requirements for obtaining a residence permit:
- Birth certificate with apostille
- Marriage certificate with apostille, if the applicant is married
- Certificate of no criminal record with apostille. The certificate is required from both the country of citizenship and the country where you have lived for the last 5 years. Children under 14 years old do not need to provide a criminal record certificate.
- Diploma or other documents confirming education and profession
- Medical certificate of physical and psychological health
- Statement of unconditional compliance with the laws of Paraguay
- Proof of financial solvency
The Process of Obtaining a TRP in Paraguay
The process of obtaining a residence permit in Paraguay is relatively simple, but you may still need the help of an immigration lawyer to do everything correctly and not get a refusal.
The whole process can be divided into the following stages:
- Preparation and legalization of documents;
- Obtaining a visa to Paraguay. This is an optional step, and a visa will only be needed if there is a visa regime between your country of citizenship and Paraguay. You can view the list of countries whose citizens can enter Paraguay without a visa here;
- Registration upon arrival within 24 hours;
- Submission of documents for a residence permit;
- Submission of documents for a national ID card – Cedula;
- Submission of documents for tax residency. The whole process takes from 3 to 6 months. The temporary residence permit will be issued for 2 years, after which you can apply for permanent residency in Paraguay.
What Are the Advantages of a Temporary Residence Permit in Paraguay?
A residence permit in Paraguay has many advantages, especially compared to residence permits in European jurisdictions.
- Low taxes. The tax rate in Paraguay for both businesses and individuals is only 10%. In some cases, the rate can be reduced, and if you receive income outside of Paraguay, such as a rentier, the income tax rate will be 0%.
- Simplicity of obtaining documents. To obtain a residence permit in Paraguay, you do not need to show large sums in accounts, own real estate, or have a business. Any foreigner who meets the minimum requirements can obtain a residence permit.
- Unrestricted movement. After obtaining a national ID card – Cedula, you will be able to travel to all Mercosur countries without needing a visa. In addition to Paraguay, Mercosur members are Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Bolivia is awaiting its turn to join the union. This expands the horizons for travel and business in Latin America.
- No residency requirements. This is another undeniable advantage compared to European jurisdictions, where there are requirements to reside for at least 6 months to extend the residence permit. In Paraguay, it is enough to visit once a year for at least one day to maintain the residence permit. If you have obtained permanent residency, you need to visit the country at least once every 3 years to retain your status. From this point of view, a residence permit in Paraguay can serve as a backup option in case of crisis situations.
- Quick path to Spanish citizenship. After obtaining Paraguayan citizenship, you will have the opportunity to obtain a residence permit and Spanish citizenship through a simplified procedure as a citizen of a former Spanish colony.
Conclusion
In this article, we have tried to briefly and clearly explain the temporary residence permit in Paraguay, who it is suitable for, the process of obtaining documents, and the benefits that a temporary residence permit in Paraguay provides. Paraguay is a wonderful, friendly country without unnecessary bureaucracy, where new guests are always welcome.
You can find more about immigration to Paraguay here.
If you are interested in obtaining a residence permit in Paraguay, leave a request on our website or contact us in any convenient way. We will be happy to help you quickly and reliably obtain your documents!
