Paraguay permanent residence: the card you earn at month 21
Most Americans get it by converting a two-year temporary card. Here's what the switch costs, what goes in the file, and the three-month window you can't miss.
A Paraguayan permanent card has no end date. You renew the card every 10 years, and it opens the door to a Paraguayan cédula, the national ID card banks and landlords ask for. Once you hold it, you can spend up to three years at a stretch outside the country without losing it.
Where your money comes from decides the route
Living on a pension
Temporary card first. At conversion, a pension letter showing the amount and the account it's paid into. DNM names no minimum amount.
Paid from abroad
Temporary card first. At conversion, an employment letter showing your income and how you're paid, apostilled and translated.
Investing USD 70,000
Investors registered under SUACE can go straight to permanent residence with an Investor Certificate from the Vice Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Married to a Paraguayan
Spouses and children of Paraguayans can get permanent residence without holding a temporary card first.
Month 21 is the date that matters
Temporary residence runs up to two years. You file the switch in the three months before that card expires. Miss it by a month and you can still file, paying a Gs. 702,462 fine (about $120). Any later, and all DNM offers is an extension of the temporary card.
What DNM charges, September 2026
Gs. 2,926,925
Permanent residence fee
About $500
About $1,000
DNM fees for both stages, per person
Temporary plus permanent
Gs. 234,154
Residence certificate
About $40
$18
FBI record check
Needed for the temporary stage
Permanent Residence Visa
Permanent residency is available to foreign nationals who wish to live in Paraguay indefinitely and contribute to the country's development. The residency card must be renewed every 10 years. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to Paraguay, such as through investment, professional activity, or family ties.
- Government cost
- $160
- Processing time
- ~60 days
- Timeline
- Indefinite (ID card renewal every 10 years)
- Difficulty
- Hard
About that data card
We've hidden the requirements list. DNM's own list has no "Medical certificate," and "Proof of contribution to Paraguay's development" is really proof of solvency under one of DNM's categories. The cost is also out of date: DNM charges Gs. 2,926,925 (about $500) for this step, and the same again for the temporary card. Relocation firms report 3 to 6 months for approval.
What goes in the month-21 file
You file in person. Foreign documents need an apostille and a Spanish translation by a sworn translator registered in Paraguay (or an apostilled foreign one).
- Your passport, Paraguayan cédula and temporary residence card
- Paraguayan record checks: police record for foreigners, good conduct, judicial and INTERPOL
- Proof of solvency under one DNM category, such as a pension or employment letter
- Paperwork for any change in your civil status, name or occupation
People who work on Paraguay moves
BKM Internacionmal Sociedad
Paraguay Relocation and Real Estate
Relocation and real estate support on the ground in Paraguay, from the housing search to a property purchase.
Christine Reynolds
Paraguay Local Guide, Malaysia Local Guide
A local guide for newcomers in Paraguay, for the day-to-day questions no application form covers.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad.
Keeping the card, and what comes after
Time away
Permanent residence can be canceled after more than three consecutive years of unjustified absence. On the temporary card, the limit is one year. You can ask DNM for authorization before a long stretch away.
A Paraguayan passport
The Supreme Court counts three years of permanent residence before you can apply, and its fee is Gs. 43,051 (about $7). Article 149 of the constitution admits dual nationality only by treaty or reciprocity, so get a lawyer's read before you count on keeping both passports.
Questions Americans ask about this card
Can Americans apply directly for permanent residence in Paraguay?
Usually not. Under Migration Law 6984/2022, temporary residence (up to two years) comes first, and you convert it to permanent residence near the end. The exceptions are investors registered under SUACE and spouses or children of Paraguayan citizens, who can apply for permanent residence directly.
How long can I stay outside Paraguay without losing my residence?
Paraguay's migration office can cancel permanent residence after more than three consecutive years of unjustified absence, and temporary residence after more than one year. If you plan a long stretch away, you can request authorization from the migration office before you go.
When do I apply to switch from temporary to permanent residence?
In the three months before your temporary card expires. You can still file up to one month after it expires if you pay the Gs. 702,462 overstay fine (about $120). After that, you can only extend the temporary card, again with the fine.
How long does Paraguay permanent residence take?
The migration office doesn't publish a processing time. Relocation firms report 3 to 6 months for permanent residence approval, and they reported waits of more than three months for the Paraguayan ID card (cédula) in early 2026.
How much does Paraguay permanent residence cost?
The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones charges Gs. 2,926,925 for permanent residence, about $500 at the central bank's September 2026 rate, plus Gs. 234,154 (about $40) for the residence certificate. The temporary card that comes first carries the same Gs. 2,926,925 fee. Translations, apostilles and lawyer fees come on top; one relocation firm budgets $2,300 to $4,700 for the temporary stage alone.
Does Paraguay tax my U.S. pension?
Paraguay's personal income tax applies to Paraguayan-source income, so money earned outside Paraguay generally falls outside it. Confirm your own situation with a tax professional, and keep filing U.S. returns, since the U.S. taxes its citizens wherever they live.
Is there a minimum income for retirees?
DNM doesn't publish one. At conversion, retirees prove solvency with a pension or retirement certificate that shows the amount received and the account it's paid into, legalized or apostilled. DNM can ask for more documents case by case.
Can a permanent resident of Paraguay become a citizen?
Yes. The Supreme Court counts three years of permanent residence before you can apply, and the constitution also asks for regular work or a profession in the country and good conduct. The court fee is Gs. 43,051 (about $7). Article 149 of the constitution admits dual nationality only by treaty or reciprocity, so Americans should get legal advice on keeping U.S. citizenship before applying.
Is Paraguay's slow route worth it for you?
Talk to an Expatsi advisor about your income, your timeline and where you want to live.
Why not you?