Paraguay SUACE Investor Visa: Direct Path to Permanent Residency
Most people pursuing Paraguay residency follow the standard 2-year temporary path. But if you have $70,000 to invest and want permanent residency now, the SUACE Investor program is the only legitimate fast-track that exists under current law.
This is not the old bank deposit shortcut. That was eliminated in 2022. SUACE is a business investment program - real money into a real company structure with actual reporting requirements.
Here is exactly how it works, what it costs, and who it makes sense for.
What is SUACE?
SUACE stands for Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas - the Unified System for Opening and Closing Businesses. It is Paraguay's streamlined business registration system, and it includes an investor residency pathway.
Under Ley 6984/2022, SUACE investors are one of only three categories that can skip the 2-year temporary residency requirement and go directly to permanent status. The others are immediate family of Paraguayan citizens and family of repatriated nationals.
The program requires forming a Paraguay company, declaring an investment plan, and actually deploying capital into business activities. This is not a passive deposit that sits in a bank account.
Investment Requirements
Minimum investment $70,000 USD
How the investment works:
You declare a 10-year business plan with total projected investment of at least $70,000. The investment can be deployed over time - you do not need $70,000 in cash on day one. However, the government expects to see real business activity consistent with your declared plan.
Eligible investment types:
What does NOT qualify:
The government has increased scrutiny on SUACE applications. Your declared investment, your funding, and your actual business activity must be consistent. Paper companies with no real operations are getting rejected.
What You Actually Get
Permanent residency - Not temporary. You skip the 2-year provisional period entirely.
Cedula de Identidad Paraguaya - The national ID card that allows you to bank, sign contracts, buy property, and access services.
10-year residency card - Your carnet de admision permanente is valid for 10 years. After 10 years, you renew the card but your permanent status continues indefinitely.
Path to citizenship - After 3 years of permanent residency (with physical presence requirements), you become eligible to apply for Paraguayan citizenship and passport.
Territorial tax benefits - Foreign-sourced income is not taxed. Your Paraguay company pays 10% corporate tax on Paraguay-sourced income only.
Timeline and Process
Total timeline 45-90 days from complete document submission to permanent residency card.
Step 1: Document Preparation (2-4 weeks)
Gather and apostille your home country documents - passport, birth certificate, criminal background check. The criminal check must be less than 6 months old at time of submission.
Step 2: Paraguay Company Formation (1-2 weeks)
Register your company through the SUACE system. This includes reserving a company name, filing articles of incorporation, registering with tax authorities (SET), and obtaining your RUC (tax ID).
Step 3: Bank Account Opening (during your visit)
Open a corporate bank account in Paraguay. This requires your physical presence. The account will hold your investment capital.
Step 4: Investment Declaration
File your investment declaration through SUACE, outlining your 10-year business plan and capital commitment.
Step 5: Residency Application
Submit your permanent residency application at Migraciones with all supporting documentation, including proof of company formation and investment declaration.
Step 6: Processing and Approval (4-8 weeks)
Immigration processes your application. Background checks are conducted. Upon approval, you receive your permanent residency card and can apply for your cedula.
Required Documents
From your home country (must be apostilled):
Obtained in Paraguay:
For SUACE specifically:
Important note on copies: SUACE applications require original plus TWO authenticated copies of most documents (not one copy like other residency categories). This is a detail that trips people up at the window.
How We Handle SUACE Differently
Most consultants working with Paraguay fall into two categories: law firms that charge full legal rates for every step, or consultants without residency who must outsource everything to lawyers. We operate differently. As a Paraguay permanent resident with cedula, I can handle company name registration and SUACE filings directly - steps that non-resident consultants cannot legally perform. This is not a workaround; residents are permitted to file on behalf of businesses they are involved with. Legal counsel is brought in for document review and immigration submissions where required by law. This hybrid approach means you are not paying lawyer rates for administrative tasks that do not require a lawyer. The result is typically faster processing and lower total costs compared to full-service law firm pricing.
SUACE vs Standard Path Comparison
| Feature | SUACE Investor | Standard 2-Year Path |
|---|---|---|
| Investment required | $70,000 | None |
| Time to permanent | 45-90 days | 2+ years |
| Trips to Paraguay | 1 | 2 (initial + conversion) |
| Company required | Yes | No |
| Ongoing obligations | Annual company filings | None |
When SUACE makes sense You value time over money, you want permanent status immediately, or you have legitimate business interests in Paraguay.
When standard makes sense Budget is the priority, you are comfortable waiting 2 years, or you have no interest in operating a Paraguay company.
Who This Makes Sense For
Good fit:
Not a good fit:
The honest math: SUACE requires significantly more capital than the standard path when you factor in investment, company formation, and ongoing maintenance. If permanent residency 2 years sooner is worth the premium to you, SUACE makes sense. If not, the standard path is the better value.
Common Mistakes
Thinking this is the old deposit system. The $5,000-6,000 bank deposit pathway was eliminated by Law 6984/2022. If someone offers you "fast-track residency" with a small deposit, they are either misinformed or running a scam.
Underfunding the business plan. Your declared investment must be credible. A $70,000 declaration with $5,000 in actual activity will trigger scrutiny and potential rejection.
Ignoring ongoing obligations. Your Paraguay company has annual filing requirements with SET (tax authority). Failure to maintain compliance can jeopardize your residency status.
Choosing the wrong company structure. SRL (limited liability) vs SA (corporation) have different requirements and costs. Get advice before filing.
Not planning for the bank account opening. You must be physically present in Paraguay to open the corporate bank account. This cannot be done remotely or by power of attorney for the initial opening.
Maintaining Your Residency
Once you have permanent residency through SUACE, the maintenance requirements are the same as any permanent resident:
Visit requirement Once every 3 years minimum. You do not need to live in Paraguay.
Company maintenance Annual tax filings with SET, even if the company has minimal activity.
Card renewal Your permanent residency card is valid for 10 years. After 10 years, renew the card. Your permanent status itself does not expire.
Path to citizenship After 3 years of permanent residency, you can apply for naturalization. This requires approximately 183 days/year physical presence during those 3 years - a much higher bar than the residency maintenance requirement.
Ready to Move Forward?
The SUACE program is the only legitimate fast-track to Paraguay permanent residency under current law. It requires real investment into a real business structure, but in return you skip the 2-year wait entirely.
If you have the capital and want permanent status now, this is the path.
Ready to discuss whether SUACE is the right fit for your situation? A free 30-minute consultation focuses on your specific goals - not sales pitches. Book Your Free Consultation
*This guide reflects requirements under Ley 6984/2022 and current SUACE procedures. Immigration rules change. Verify current requirements before making decisions. Plan B Expat provides residency consulting - we are not a law firm.*
