PY · South America

Paraguay

Paraguay: housing, schools, healthcare, transport and maps to help you plan your move.

Capital
Asunción
Official languages
Spanish and Guaraní
Currency
Guaraní · PYG
Cities
19
A new chapter

Could Paraguay be right for you?

Compare cities, costs and residency options for your plans.

How to stay legally

Temporary → permanent residency

Under the general route, you first obtain temporary residency for up to 2 years. You can then apply for permanent residency, with a separate application, documents and proof of financial means.

My route and documents
How many permits were issued

Paraguay · January–June of each year. Residence permits issued:

202516 456
202629 765

These are permits issued, not the total number of people who moved here.

Sources and check date
Dirección Nacional de Migraciones · enero-junio 2026 / 2025

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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29.765 residencias · 16.456
Sources and check date
Migraciones · Residencia Temporal · Ley 6984/2022

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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De hasta 2 (dos) años, prorrogables por igual período.
Migraciones · Cambio de categoría · Ley 6984/2022

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

Read the original excerpt
dentro de los 3 (tres) meses anteriores al vencimiento del carnet de admisión temporaria

Who might Paraguay suit?

Start with the situation closest to yours.

You work remotely

You want to change countries while keeping your job or clients.

  • Whether you can work from Paraguay
  • Internet at the property address
  • Taxes and your monthly budget

If you are 40+

Work, savings or a pension — your budget depends on your source of income and chosen city.

  • The doctors and medicines you need
  • Insurance and treatment costs
  • Budget and everyday travel

You are moving with children

School, housing and daily journeys need to work for the whole family.

  • Teaching language and available places
  • Full school or childcare costs
  • School journey and family budget
Explore cities
Sources and check date
DNIT · Consulta vinculante 828

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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sí lo estarán si son realizados desde Paraguay al exterior
FCDO — Paraguay: Health

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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There are some good private medical facilities, but only in the major cities.

What you may like about Paraguay

A young society

Almost 1 in 4

residents is aged 15–29.

INE · 2025 estimate

A growing economy

+6.6%

Annual growth in the output of goods and services. Earning opportunities depend on your profession and language skills.

BCP · 2025 GDP

If you are 40+

6 of 46 Score: 98.2 out of 100

Planning to live on a pension or passive income? This is Paraguay’s position in a ranking of residency programmes, covering costs, procedures and quality of life.

Global Retirement Index 2026 · Global Citizen Solutions
Sources and check date
Global Citizen Solutions · Global Retirement Index 2026

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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6 th Paraguay Score: 98.20
Banco Central del Paraguay · PIB 2025

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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el crecimiento del PIB 2025 se ubicó en 6,6%.
INE · EPHC 2025 · 18/09/2026

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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aproximadamente 24,7% son jóvenes

Taxes at a glance

Tax on earnings

Income minus expenses

IRP is the personal income tax on work and personal services. Deduct allowable expenses first, then calculate tax on the remaining income.

Example: annual income after deductions is ₲100 million.Tax: ₲8.5 million
How this amount is calculated
  • First ₲50 million: 8% on this portion.
  • Portion from ₲50 to ₲150 million: 9%.
  • Portion above ₲150 million: 10%.

In this example: 50 million × 8% + 50 million × 9% = ₲8.5 million. This taxes income after deductions, not the entire salary at one rate.

IRP on work and services applies once annual income within its scope exceeds ₲80 million before deductions. Special deduction rules apply in the first year; registered taxpayers retain filing obligations. Other taxes are calculated separately.

Income from abroad

Source matters

IRP covers Paraguay-source income. Receiving payment in a foreign bank account does not, by itself, remove the tax.

Remote work

Where do you work?

Services performed from Paraguay for an overseas client may be subject to IRP. The client’s country alone does not decide this.

Sources and check date
DNIT · IRP · Servicios Personales

Publication checked on 19/10/2026

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se aplicará a la porción de renta neta comprendida en cada tramo de la escala, la tasa correspondiente a dicho tramo.
DNIT · Consulta vinculante 828

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

Read the original excerpt
sí lo estarán si son realizados desde Paraguay al exterior

Your route to residency

General route under Law 6984/2022. Some categories follow different rules.

  1. Prepare your documents

    Before you travel

    Passport, birth certificate and required certificates. Foreign certificates are apostilled in the issuing country; legalisation is needed if an apostille does not apply. Lived in another country? “Prepare your documents” explains the police clearance and proof-of-residence requirements.

  2. Temporary residency

    Status valid for up to 2 years

    Apply in person. Once residency is granted, you can apply for a cédula, the Paraguayan identity card.

  3. Permanent residency

    Apply in the final 3 months

    Apply during the last three months of your temporary permit. Documents and proof of financial means are required; the change is not automatic.

“Up to 2 years” is the temporary permit’s validity, not the processing time. Residency and citizenship are separate processes.

My route and documents
Sources and check date
Migraciones · Residencia Temporal · Ley 6984/2022

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

Read the original excerpt
De hasta 2 (dos) años, prorrogables por igual período.
Migraciones · Cambio de categoría · Ley 6984/2022

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

Read the original excerpt
dentro de los 3 (tres) meses anteriores al vencimiento del carnet de admisión temporaria

Moving from the United States?

For U.S. citizens: keep your Paraguay residency and U.S. tax obligations separate.

U.S. tax obligations

Worldwide income

Moving abroad does not end U.S. taxation. Filing requirements still apply; relief depends on your circumstances.

Foreign earned income exclusion

Up to $132,900

2026 maximum per qualifying person, reduced for a partial qualifying year. For eligible earnings from work, not pensions or investment income. Claim it on your tax return.

Foreign accounts · FBAR

Over $10,000

Generally required if your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any time in the year. Covers financial interests and signature authority; filed separately with FinCEN.

FEIE: tax home abroad + one qualifying test

Bona fide residence

Genuine residence abroad for an uninterrupted period including a whole tax year. The IRS assesses your circumstances; a permit, cédula or RUC alone is not enough.

Or: 330 full days

Physical presence in foreign countries during a consecutive 12-month period. Days in international waters or airspace do not count.

FEIE does not remove U.S. self-employment tax or Paraguay tax. Review your eligibility with a U.S. expat tax adviser.

Sources and check date
IRS · Foreign earned income exclusion

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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The excluded amount will reduce your regular income tax but will not reduce your self-employment tax.
IRS · FEIE limit for 2026

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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For tax year 2026, the maximum exclusion is $132,900 per person.
IRS · Bona fide residence test

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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You do not automatically acquire bona fide resident status merely by living in a foreign country or countries for one year.
IRS · Earned and unearned income

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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Dividends Interest Capital Gains Gambling winnings Alimony Social security benefits Pensions Annuities
FinCEN · Foreign bank and financial accounts

Publication checked on 18/10/2026

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exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year

Settle into your new home, step by step

Start with documents, everyday needs and getting to know your city.

We help you compare living conditions and moving requirements so you can decide whether Paraguay is right for you.

Overview

Climate

Hot and humid, with occasional cold spells. It gets drier towards the Chaco in the west. Conditions vary by city and season.

Everyday safety

Keep belongings secure on public transport. Avoid deserted, poorly lit places at night. Visit the neighbourhood and your usual routes before renting. FCDO also warns about violent robberies; this is travel advice, not a neighbourhood ranking.

Getting medical care

Private clinics are concentrated in larger cities and may ask for payment upfront. For ongoing treatment, find the right doctor, medicines and insurance. IPS is the social insurance system: access depends on registration and contributions, not residency alone.

Communication and document translation

Spanish is useful when visiting institutions. Ask which languages they speak and arrange an interpreter if needed. Below: checking a translator’s registration and translation requirements for residency.

First days

Moving here

Six steps, from preparing your trip to permanent residence. Separate rules apply to families of Paraguayan citizens, investors and the MERCOSUR residence scheme.

  1. Step 1

    Check entry requirements

    Enter your passport and reason for travel to check visa requirements and how long you may stay.

    Enter passport and travel purpose
    More details

    Tourism and relocation may require different visas. If a visa is required, arrange it through the consulate before travelling.

    Official requirements

    Publication checked on 23/10/2026

  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Prepare your passport, birth certificate and police clearance (usually from age 14). Add family documents if applicable. Get foreign certificates apostilled in the issuing country, or legalised if an apostille does not apply. Arrange a Spanish translation where required. Lived abroad for over a year within the last three years? Prepare police clearance from that country and proof that you lived there.

    More details

    Police clearance is generally required from age 14. If you lived in your country of origin, obtain its certificate. For residence abroad described above, use the country of your most recent such residence. National or federal coverage is required; Mexico requires both federal and state certificates. See the official list for teenage exceptions. Ask immigration which proof of previous residence it accepts: there is no single document for every country. This proves residence, not new citizenship. Bring the original passport and a certified copy. Depending on your situation, family documents include a marriage certificate, divorce decree or spouse’s death certificate. Use an authorised translator. Translations made outside Paraguay also need an apostille or legalisation. Portuguese-language documents issued in Brazil do not need translation. Check the separate requirements for children. With one parent, notarised permission from the other for the child to live in Paraguay or a court order is required; if a parent has died, provide the death certificate.

    Official requirements

    Publication checked on 23/10/2026

  3. Step 3

    Keep your entry record

    At the border, keep your passport entry stamp or the immigration entry slip you receive.

    (Constancia de ingreso)
    More details

    You will need this record for the residence application. Check the date until which you are authorised to stay.

    Official requirements

    Publication checked on 23/10/2026

  4. Step 4

    Apply for temporary residence

    Collect the local certificates and apply in person at the immigration authority. The permit is valid for up to two years.

    (Residencia Temporal · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones)
    More details

    A provisional status allows work and study while the application is processed. Applying does not guarantee approval. Find the office in your city guide.

    Official requirements

    Publication checked on 23/10/2026

  5. Step 5

    Get your local ID card

    Once you have temporary residence, apply separately for a Paraguayan identity card.

    (Cédula de Identidad · Departamento de Identificaciones)
    More details

    Apply at the police identity documents department. The card expires with your temporary residence permit. Request a residence certificate separately only if it is needed.

    Official requirements

    Publication checked on 23/10/2026

  6. Step 6

    Apply for permanent residence

    Submit a new application for permanent residence during the final three months of your temporary permit.

    (Residencia Permanente)
    More details

    The change is not automatic. You need documents and proof of financial means for your circumstances. If the permit has expired, check the official procedure promptly: eligibility and penalties depend on the delay.

    Official requirements

    Publication checked on 23/10/2026

Open my plan
Detailed rules for your passport

Entry and residence conditions depend on your passport and circumstances. These are general rules; enter your details in the app to check your situation.

My conditions