Paraguay Investor Residency: $70K SUACE or $150K Investor Pass?
Most people pursuing Paraguay residency follow the standard 2-year temporary path. But if you have capital to invest and want permanent residency now, two fast-track routes exist under current law: the SUACE investor program at $70,000, and the newer Investor Pass launched in April 2026 at $150,000–$200,000.
This is not the old bank deposit shortcut. That was eliminated in 2022. Both programs require real money into real structures with actual reporting requirements.
Here is exactly how each works, what each costs, and which one fits your situation.
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 that has been operational since 2013.
Under Ley 6984/2022, SUACE investors are one of only a few categories that can skip the 2-year temporary residency requirement and go directly to permanent status.
The program requires forming a Paraguay company, declaring an investment plan, and actually deploying capital into business activities. This is not a passive deposit sitting 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. 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.
SUACE vs. Investor Pass: Which Route Is Right for You?
In April 2026, Paraguay launched the Investor Pass under Resolution 0283/2026. It sits alongside SUACE — not replacing it — and adds three new qualifying tracks at higher investment thresholds but with far fewer operational requirements.
The core difference is this: SUACE is the entrepreneur route. The Investor Pass is the capital route. Choosing between them comes down to what you actually want to do with your money in Paraguay.
| Feature | SUACE ($70K) | Investor Pass ($150K–$200K) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $70,000 | $150,000 (tourism) / $200,000 (real estate or stock market) |
| Company required | Yes | No |
| Jobs required | 5 employees | None |
| Business plan required | Yes | No |
| Investment type | Business operations | Real estate, tourism projects, or BVPASA stock market |
| Residency type | Direct permanent | Direct permanent |
| Processing time | 45–90 days | 5 days for investor certificate, then 3–6 months for residency card |
| Program maturity | Established since 2013 | Launched April 2026, procedures still rolling out |
| Ongoing obligations | Annual company filings with SET | Annual reporting on investment; 2-year minimum hold |
Choose SUACE if: You are actually relocating a business to Paraguay, you plan to hire local staff, or you want the lowest capital entry point for direct permanent residency.
Choose the Investor Pass if: You want passive residency without running a company, you have $150K–$200K to allocate to real estate or financial instruments, or you want to avoid the employee-creation requirement entirely.
A note on timing: SUACE has a 13-year track record. The Investor Pass launched in April 2026 and the procedural details are still being published by Migraciones. If speed and certainty matter, SUACE is the proven path right now.
The right question is not which is cheaper. It is which matches your actual plan. If you have no interest in running a Paraguayan business, SUACE's obligations will feel like a burden. If you cannot deploy $150K into real estate or the stock market, the Investor Pass is out of reach regardless.
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
| 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 for SUACE:
Good fit for the Investor Pass:
Neither is a good fit if:
The honest math: Both investor routes require significantly more capital than the standard path. If permanent residency 2 years sooner is worth the premium, one of these makes sense. If the 2-year wait is acceptable, standard residency costs far less.
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 either investor route, 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.
SUACE company maintenance: Annual tax filings with SET, even if the company has minimal activity.
Investor Pass holding period: Real estate and financial instruments must be held for at least 2 years from the date your residency is granted.
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 per year of physical presence during those 3 years — a higher bar than the residency maintenance requirement.
Ready to Move Forward?
Two investor routes now exist for direct permanent residency in Paraguay. SUACE at $70K suits the person building something here. The Investor Pass at $150K–$200K suits the person deploying capital without wanting operational obligations. Both skip the 2-year wait. Which one fits your situation is a 30-minute conversation.
> [!TEAL] Not sure which route matches your goals? A free consultation focuses on your specific situation — not a sales pitch. Book Your Consultation
See All Paraguay Residency Options | Compare: Paraguay vs Panama
This guide reflects requirements under Ley 6984/2022 and Resolution 0283/2026. Immigration rules change. Verify current requirements before making decisions. Plan B Expat provides residency consulting — we are not a law firm.
Michael L.
Canadian founder of Plan B Expat. Permanent resident of both Panama and Paraguay. MBA in International Business, trilingual (English, French, Spanish), and two decades of real estate brokerage experience in Quebec and Ontario. Writes from direct experience navigating the immigration, banking, and relocation systems of both countries.
