Paraguay Temporary Residency: The Standard 2-Year Path to Permanent
Most foreigners who obtain Paraguay residency use this pathway. It requires no investment, no special qualifications, and leads to permanent residency after two years. If you are not in a rush and want to minimize costs, this is the route.
Under the current law (Ley 6984/2022), temporary residency is the mandatory first step for most applicants. Only three categories skip it entirely: SUACE investors, immediate family of Paraguayan citizens, and family of repatriated nationals. Everyone else starts here.
How Temporary Residency Works
Temporary residency (Residencia Temporal) is the authorization granted by Paraguay's immigration authority for foreigners who enter the country intending to settle and carry out any lawful activity.
Duration Up to 2 years, extendable for an additional 2-year period if needed.
Key point This is a prerequisite for permanent residency. You cannot skip it unless you qualify for one of the three exception categories (SUACE investor, family of citizen, family of repatriated national).
The pathway is straightforward: apply for temporary, hold it for approximately 21 months, then apply to convert to permanent before your temporary card expires.
What You Get
Precario status during processing
While your application is being processed, you receive "precario" (precarious resident) status. This is important because it allows you to enter and exit Paraguay, work, and study during the processing period. You are not stuck waiting in limbo.
Cedula de Identidad Paraguaya
Temporary residents now receive Paraguay's national ID card. This was a major change under Ley 6984/2022 - previously only permanent residents could get one. The cedula is essential for banking, signing contracts, buying property, and accessing public services.
Legal right to work
You can work for Paraguayan employers or operate your own business. There are no restrictions on employment type.
Path to permanent residency
After approximately 21 months, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency. Once permanent, you only need to visit Paraguay once every 3 years to maintain your status.
Path to citizenship
After 3 years of permanent residency (with physical presence requirements), you become eligible for Paraguayan citizenship.
Required Documents
From your home country (must be apostilled):
Obtained in Paraguay:
Proof of solvency (one of the following based on your situation):
The specific solvency documentation depends on how you declare your profession or activity. Retirees declare as "Jubilado" and submit pension documentation. Employees submit employment contracts. Business owners submit company registration.
The Process
Step 1: Document preparation (2-4 weeks before travel)
Gather all documents from your home country. Get apostilles. Criminal background checks must be recent - less than 6 months old when you submit in Paraguay.
Step 2: Travel to Paraguay
You must be physically present in Paraguay to submit your application. Plan for 3-5 business days minimum.
Step 3: Obtain local documents
Get your INTERPOL certificate and Paraguay police background check. Complete sworn declarations with a local notary.
Step 4: Submit application at Migraciones
Your application is submitted to the immigration authority. You receive precario status, which allows you to leave the country while processing continues.
Step 5: Processing (4-8 weeks)
Immigration reviews your application and conducts background checks.
Step 6: Receive temporary residency card
Upon approval, you receive your temporary residency card (carnet de admision temporal) valid for 2 years. You can then apply for your cedula.
Converting to Permanent
This is where timing matters. You have specific windows to convert from temporary to permanent residency.
Ideal window: 3 months before your temporary card expires. Apply during this period and you convert cleanly with no penalties.
Late window: Up to 1 month after expiration. You can still convert, but you must pay an overstay fine.
Extension only: 1-6 months after expiration. You cannot convert to permanent during this period. You can only extend your temporary residency for an equal period, plus pay the fine.
After 6 months past expiration. Your residency status is effectively lost. You would need to restart the entire process.
Requirements for conversion:
Maintaining Your Status
During temporary residency:
You cannot be absent from Paraguay for continuous periods exceeding 1 year. Short trips are fine, but do not stay away for 12+ consecutive months or you risk losing your status.
After converting to permanent:
You only need to visit Paraguay once every 3 years. This is one of the most flexible maintenance requirements of any residency program. You can live anywhere in the world and simply visit Paraguay briefly every three years.
Who This Path is For
Good fit:
Not ideal if:
The trade-off: Lower cost, but longer timeline. The standard path costs significantly less than the SUACE investor route, but requires patience and a second trip to Paraguay for the permanent conversion.
Common Mistakes
Missing the conversion window. The most common mistake. People forget to apply for permanent residency before their temporary card expires, or they miss the deadline while traveling. Set calendar reminders starting 4 months before expiration.
Staying away too long. If you are absent for more than 12 consecutive months during the temporary period, you risk losing your status. Track your travel carefully.
Outdated criminal background check. Your home country criminal check must be less than 6 months old when you submit in Paraguay. If you get it too early, it expires before you can use it.
Not getting documents apostilled. All foreign documents must be apostilled (or legalized if your country is not part of the Hague Convention). This step is often forgotten until the last minute.
Assuming a degree is required. This is outdated information from the old law. You do not need a university degree for temporary residency under Ley 6984/2022.
Ready to Start?
The standard temporary residency path is the most accessible route to Paraguay permanent residency. No investment required, no special qualifications needed, just proper documentation and patience.
The key is getting your documents right the first time and understanding the conversion timeline so you do not miss your window.
Ready to explore whether Paraguay temporary residency fits your goals? We will assess your specific situation, confirm this is the right pathway, and walk you through the exact documents needed for your nationality. Book Your Free Consultation
*This guide reflects requirements under Ley 6984/2022. Immigration rules change. Verify current requirements before making decisions. Plan B Expat provides residency consulting - we are not a law firm.*
