Paraguay Family Visa: Residency for Spouses and Children of Paraguayans
If you have a Paraguayan family connection, you may be able to skip the standard 2-year temporary residency requirement entirely. Paraguay has two distinct pathways for family members of citizens, and both lead directly to permanent residency.
This is one of only three ways to bypass the temporary phase (along with SUACE investment and MERCOSUR permanent). If you qualify, it is the fastest and most affordable route to Paraguay permanent residency.
Two Separate Pathways
Paraguay has two family-based residency pathways. They serve different groups and operate under different laws.
Pathway A: Hijos y Conyuges de Paraguayos (Ley 2193/2003)
For foreign children (any age) and spouses of Paraguayan citizens. This has its own dedicated law, separate from the main immigration law.
Pathway B: Familiares de Connacionales Repatriados (Ley 6984/2022, Art. 48)
For extended family members of repatriated Paraguayan nationals - spouse, children, grandchildren (under 18), and spouse of a child of the national.
Both pathways skip the 2-year temporary residency requirement. Both lead directly to permanent status.
Pathway A: Children and Spouses (Ley 2193/2003)
This is the most common family pathway. If you are married to a Paraguayan citizen or are the child of a Paraguayan citizen (regardless of your age), this is your route.
Who qualifies:
The process is different from every other pathway. You do not go directly to Migraciones (immigration). Instead, there is a mandatory 3-step sequence.
Step 1: SEDERREC Certificate
First, obtain a Certificado de Repatriacion from SEDERREC (Secretaria de Desarrollo para Repatriados y Refugiados Connacionales). This is the Secretariat for Repatriated and Refugee Nationals.
This certificate proves your family relationship to a Paraguayan citizen.
Step 2: Cedula from National Police
With your SEDERREC certificate, go to the National Police Identification Department (Departamento de Identificaciones de la Policia Nacional) to obtain your Cedula de Identidad Paraguaya.
Yes, you get the national ID card before your residency card. This is unique to this pathway.
Step 3: Permanent Residency at Migraciones
With your cedula in hand, apply for the Carnet de Admision Permanente (permanent residency card) at Migraciones.
The result: Direct permanent residency, no temporary phase.
Pathway B: Family of Repatriated Nationals (Art. 48)
This pathway is specifically for family members of Paraguayans who have repatriated (returned to Paraguay after living abroad).
Who qualifies:
The process:
This pathway operates under the main immigration law (Ley 6984/2022, Article 48) rather than the separate Ley 2193.
Family members apply through Migraciones with documentation proving their relationship to the repatriated Paraguayan. The repatriation certificate from SEDERREC provides fee exemptions.
The result: Direct permanent residency, no temporary phase.
Required Documents
For Pathway A (Ley 2193 - spouses and children):
For Pathway B (Art. 48 - extended family):
Document requirements can vary based on specific family situations. Complex cases (stepchildren, adoptions, etc.) may need additional documentation.
The 90-Day Deadline
This applies to Pathway A (Ley 2193) only. Once you receive your cedula (Step 2), you have a maximum of 90 days to begin your permanent residency application at Migraciones (Step 3). Miss this window and you face sanctions. This is a hard deadline written into the law.
Timeline example:
Do not delay between Steps 2 and 3. Get your cedula and proceed directly to Migraciones.
Fee Exemptions
The repatriation certificate from SEDERREC provides fee exemptions for many family applicants.
Exempt from residency processing fees:
NOT exempt (must pay standard fees):
This distinction matters for cost planning. If you married your Paraguayan spouse in Paraguay, you pay the standard residency fees. If you married abroad and then came to Paraguay, you may be exempt.
Common Questions
My spouse is Paraguayan but was born abroad. Do they need to repatriate first?
If your spouse was born abroad to Paraguayan parents, they likely need to formalize their own Paraguayan citizenship status first. This may involve registration at SEDERREC. Once they have their Paraguayan cedula, you can proceed as the spouse of a Paraguayan citizen.
I am an adult child of a Paraguayan. Can I still use this pathway?
Yes. There is no age limit. Adult children of Paraguayan citizens qualify for Pathway A (Ley 2193) the same as minor children.
What if my Paraguayan parent passed away?
You can still apply as the child of a Paraguayan citizen. You will need death certificates and documentation proving the parent-child relationship.
Can my own children (grandchildren of the Paraguayan) be included?
Under Pathway B (Art. 48), grandchildren under 18 of the repatriated Paraguayan can obtain direct permanent residency. For Pathway A, your children would need to apply separately, potentially as children of a permanent resident.
How long does the process take?
Faster than the standard pathway since you skip the 2-year temporary period. The actual processing time varies but is typically 2-4 months once all documents are submitted.
Do I need to live in Paraguay?
Once you have permanent residency, maintenance requirements are the same as anyone else - visit once every 3 years.
Ready to Start?
If you have a Paraguayan family connection, you may have the fastest and most affordable route to permanent residency available.
The process has specific steps and a critical deadline, but navigated correctly, it gets you to permanent status without the 2-year wait that other applicants face.
Ready to find out if your family connection qualifies? We will verify your eligibility, map out the correct pathway (Ley 2193 or Art. 48), and guide you through the SEDERREC and Migraciones process. Book Your Free Consultation
*This guide reflects requirements under Ley 2193/2003 and Ley 6984/2022. Immigration rules change. Verify current requirements before making decisions. Plan B Expat provides residency consulting - we are not a law firm.*
