Answer First
Yes, in practice, you can hold dual citizenship with Paraguay. Article 149 of the Constitution admits multiple nationality by reciprocity treaty; only Spain (treaty since 1960) and Italy (Law 6479/2019) qualify. In practice Paraguay does not verify or enforce the oath's renunciation, so naturalized Paraguayans keep their original passport wherever their home country allows it. Confirm your position with qualified counsel before applying.
Spain has a bilateral dual nationality treaty with Paraguay (in force since 1960). Italy signed a bilateral agreement (Law 6479) in 2019. Paraguay's side is well-documented, but Italy's implementation status should be verified with counsel. See our Italy Treaty guide for the full analysis.
Does Paraguay allow dual citizenship?
Officially, Paraguay recognizes dual nationality only by constitutional reciprocity or international treaty. Spain has such a treaty (in force since 1960); Italy is sometimes cited, but its current implementation status should be verified. In practice, naturalized Paraguayans are typically not required to demonstrate renunciation of their prior citizenship, and most applicants keep both passports. Your home country's rules decide whether you keep your original citizenship. Confirm with qualified counsel before applying.
The Official Rule: Article 149
Constitution Article 149: Dual Nationality
"Multiple nationality may be admitted through an international treaty establishing reciprocity of constitutional rank between the state of origin and the state of adoption."
In plain language: Paraguay admits multiple nationality through an international treaty establishing reciprocity of constitutional rank between the state of origin and the state of adoption. Spain has a confirmed treaty (in force since 1960). Italy signed a bilateral agreement (Law 6479) in 2019, but its implementation status should be verified with counsel.
Countries WITH Treaties
- Spain: Confirmed treaty in force
- Italy: Treaty approved by Law 6479/2019, Paraguay side in force · Full guide
Countries WITHOUT Treaties
No other country has a reciprocity treaty with Paraguay in force. For every other nationality, keeping your original passport depends on your home country's own rules, not on Paraguay's.
Note: Treaty and reciprocity status is most often cited for Spain and Italy; for other countries, the practical effect depends on your home country's rules. This page reflects what our practitioners observe and is not legal advice. Verify with qualified counsel.
Sources & References
- Constitución de la República del Paraguay - Artículo 149: Nacionalidad Múltiple - Multiple nationality may be admitted through an international treaty establishing reciprocity of constitutional rank between the state of origin and the state of adoption.
- Spain-Paraguay Dual Nationality Treaty (BOE-A-1960-5626) - Bilateral reciprocity treaty, in force since 1960 (ratifications exchanged in Asunción on 10 March 1960). Confirms dual citizenship between Spain and Paraguay.
- Ley N.6479/2019 - Italy-Paraguay agreement on dual nationality (SILPy) - Ley 6479/2019 approves the Paraguay-Italy Notas Reversales agreement on dual nationality (2019). The Paraguay side is well-documented; Italian implementation status should be verified with counsel.
- Ley 7052/2023 - Nacionalidad paraguaya múltiple (BACN) - Promulgated 12 January 2023. Protects natural-born Paraguayans from involuntary loss of nationality (Art. 8) and admits multiple nationality (Art. 10); does not amend Articles 148/150 for naturalized citizens.
Dual-citizenship recognition depends on your home country's law and any reciprocity treaty. This page reflects practitioner observations and is not legal advice; verify with qualified counsel before applying.
The Practical Reality: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
While the law requires renunciation, Paraguay doesn't actually enforce it. Here's what the law says versus what actually happens:
| Legal Requirement | What We Observe in Practice |
|---|---|
| Renounce previous citizenship in oath | Verbal declaration, generally not independently verified by Paraguay |
| Only Spain/Italy have reciprocity | No systematic verification of nationality status |
| Should surrender old passport | Generally not demanded or collected |
| Other country should be notified | Paraguay generally does not notify other countries |
Practitioner Observations (Not Legal Advice)
- Paraguayan practitioners we work with commonly report that applicants are not asked to provide proof of actual renunciation of their prior citizenship.
- Day-to-day interactions with Migraciones generally do not involve verification of other nationalities held by the applicant.
- Statutory text and observed enforcement can diverge. This page reflects what our practitioners observe; it is not legal advice and is subject to change.
Does Paraguay Allow Dual Citizenship with Your Country?
Paraguay's answer is the same for every nationality: yes, if your home country allows it. The renunciation in Paraguay's naturalization oath has no legal effect on a foreign nationality, and Paraguay takes no step to enforce it. Whether you keep your original citizenship is decided entirely by your home country's own law.
Can you hold both passports?
Yes, both passports at once, whenever your home country permits dual citizenship. Three practical notes that apply to most dual citizens:
- • Many countries require you to enter and leave them on their own passport.
- • Countries that tax citizens worldwide keep doing so regardless of the second passport; naturalizing in Paraguay does not change your home-country tax obligations.
- • Paraguay does not notify your home country of your naturalization.
Verify with qualified counsel for your specific situation; this is guidance, not legal advice.
What Happens at the Paraguay Naturalization Oath Ceremony
What You Do
- 1Appear before a judge at the Supreme Court
- 2Recite the citizenship oath in Spanish
- 3Verbally renounce previous citizenship
- 4Receive naturalization certificate
- 5Apply for your Paraguay passport
What Paraguay Does NOT Do
- Demand proof of renunciation
- Contact your home country
- Confiscate your old passport
- Verify you've followed through
- Maintain any enforcement mechanism
Keeping Both Passports: One Rule Decides It
Paraguay's nationality law contains no list of "compatible" countries. The naturalization path is identical for every nationality: three years of permanent residency lived in Paraguay, then the Supreme Court's exam. So the rule that decides whether you keep your original passport is not Paraguay's at all. It is your home country's own citizenship law.
If your country allows dual citizenship
Any passport holder from a country that allows dual citizenship can naturalize in Paraguay and keep both passports. Paraguay does not ask for proof of renunciation, does not confiscate your original passport, and does not notify your home country. The verbal renunciation in the naturalization oath has no enforcement behind it.
If your country does not allow dual citizenship
Then follow the rules of your home passport. The restriction lives in your home country's law, not in Paraguay's: Paraguay will still naturalize you, and what you may lose, under your own country's law, is your original citizenship.
- • Some countries automatically withdraw citizenship the moment you voluntarily naturalize elsewhere.
- • Others offer a retention permit you must apply for and receive before naturalizing in Paraguay.
- • Apply for that permit at your home country's embassy or consulate well in advance.
- • Consult qualified counsel in your home country before you apply. This page is guidance, not legal advice.
Spain and Italy: the two treaty countries (Article 149)
Article 149 of the Constitution admits multiple Paraguayan nationality through a reciprocity treaty. Exactly two are in force.
| Country | Treaty basis | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | Reciprocity treaty in force since 1960 (BOE-A-1960-5626) | Treaty |
| Italy | Law 6479/2019 approves the agreement; Paraguay's side is in force, Italian implementation to verify with counsel | Treaty (Paraguay side) |
No other country has a reciprocity treaty with Paraguay in force. For the Italian agreement: see our Italy Treaty guide for the full analysis of Law 6479/2019.
Risks to Consider
Your Home Country May Object
Some countries have strict rules about dual citizenship. Just because Paraguay doesn't enforce renunciation doesn't mean your home country won't object.
Action: Always check your home country's citizenship laws before naturalizing anywhere.
Laws Could Change
Paraguay's current permissive enforcement could change. A new government or policy shift could tighten rules.
Action: Don't rely solely on the "don't ask, don't tell" approach for long-term planning. See the legislative radar below for the specific bill now in committee.
Loss of Paraguayan Citizenship
Under Article 150, naturalized citizens may lose Paraguayan citizenship for:
- • "Voluntary acquisition of a foreign citizenship" (ironic given current enforcement)
- • "Unjustified absence from the country for more than three years (declared by a court)"
Action: Maintain presence in Paraguay and avoid acquiring additional citizenships after naturalization.
Bottom Line
Ley 7052/2023 and the Naturalization Bill to Watch
What Ley 7052/2023 actually settled
Ley 7052/2023 (in force since January 2023) regulates Articles 146, 147, and 149 of the Constitution and openly admits multiple nationality. Its protection is for natural-born Paraguayans: under Article 8, a natural-born Paraguayan cannot lose nationality except by express voluntary renunciation before the Supreme Court, and Article 10 accepts multiple nationality, including citizenship obtained by naturalizing abroad.
What the law does not touch are Articles 148 (naturalization) and 150 (loss of naturalized citizenship). Naturalized Paraguayans still sit in the gap this page describes: multiple nationality in practice, not yet spelled out in statute.
The legislative radar: Proyecto D-2586152
A naturalization bill presented in August 2025 by diputada Gloria María Johanna Vega Insfrán (ANR-Central) would regulate Articles 148 and 150 directly: a judicial procedure before civil courts with Fiscalía involvement, statutory deadlines, and revocation grounds under Article 150. The bill itself notes that the current gap is filled only by Acordada 464/07, the Supreme Court's administrative framework for naturalization.
Status: in the Chamber of Deputies' Comisión de Asuntos Migratorios y Desarrollo as of May 2026, with no committee report yet. Nothing changes for applicants while it sits. If it advances, this page gets updated.