Quick Answer
Standard temporary residence starts with 4 core foreign-document categories: valid passport, authenticated birth certificate, authenticated original criminal background check, and passport photos. If married or divorced, you also need an authenticated marriage or divorce certificate. Permanent conversion later adds local records and category-specific economic-solvency evidence. Hague Apostille Convention countries use apostilles; non-Hague countries must use the appropriate consular legalisation process.
Source: Dirección General de Migraciones[1]
Good News: Simplified Requirements
Pre-Travel Readiness: What to Do First
Requesting documents in the wrong order is the most common cause of preventable delays. Follow this sequence to keep everything on track:
| Step | What to Do | When to Start |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birth, marriage, divorce certificates | Immediately (no expiry) |
| 2 | Apostille or legalise all certificates | Week 1 (concurrent with Step 1) |
| 3 | Criminal background check (start LAST) | Week 4-5 (expires in 6 months) |
| 4 | Ship all authenticated originals to Paraguay | Week 5-6 (after all docs in hand) |
Core + Conditional Documents
Standard temporary residence uses 4 core foreign-document categories regardless of nationality, plus marriage or divorce certificates where applicable. Permanent conversion is a separate application with additional requirements, including Resolution 407 solvency evidence.
Must have at least 6 months validity from your application date. Original passport is required.
- * Color copy of bio page needed
- * Some nationalities require visa
Original document, apostilled in your country of birth or legalised if issued in a non-Hague country.
- * Must be apostilled or legalised
- * Will be translated in Paraguay
Original national-level police clearance from your home country, apostilled or legalised if issued in a non-Hague country.
- * Valid 6 months from date of issue
- * Start this document LAST
Recent passport-sized photos on white background.
- * 4 photos typically needed
- * Can be taken in Paraguay
Original or certified copy, apostilled or legalised in the issuing country. Only required if married.
- * Must be apostilled or legalised
- * Will be translated in Paraguay
- * Only if married
Original or certified copy, apostilled or legalised in the issuing country. Only required if divorced.
- * Must be apostilled or legalised
- * Will be translated in Paraguay
- * Only if divorced
Apostille or Legalisation? How to Route Your Documents
Hague Apostille Convention Members
If your document was issued in a country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, you need an apostille from the competent authority in that country.
Includes: US, UK, Canada (since 2024), Germany, Spain, Australia, South Africa, and 120+ other countries.
Non-Hague Countries
If your document was issued in a country that is not a Convention member, you must use consular legalisation through the Paraguayan embassy or consulate in that country.
This process typically takes longer and requires additional steps. Start early.
For detailed apostille procedures by country, see our apostille requirements guide.
Master Checklist
| Document | Who Needs It | Authentication | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valid Passport | Everyone | No | 6+ months remaining |
| Birth Certificate | Everyone | Yes | No expiry |
| Criminal Background Check | Everyone | Yes | 6 months from date of issue |
| Passport Photos | Everyone | No | N/A |
| Marriage Certificate | Married applicants | Yes | No expiry |
| Divorce Certificate | Divorced applicants | Yes | No expiry |
See detailed document guide for specifications and edge cases. Once approved, your cédula (Paraguay national ID) is issued as the final step.
Requirement Categories and Why They Fail
Understanding why each document category exists-and how applications fail-helps you prepare correctly the first time.
1. Identity Verification
Required: Valid passport with 6+ months validity
Common Failure: Passport expires during application process, or bio-page copy is poor quality
Prevention: Verify passport validity before beginning document preparation. Use high-resolution color scanning for copies.
2. Civil Status Verification
Required: Authenticated original birth certificate
Common Failure: Wrong apostille or legalisation authority, photocopies instead of originals, or authentication in the wrong jurisdiction
Prevention: Obtain the original document from the issuing authority, then apostille or legalise it where the document was issued-not where you currently reside.
3. Security Clearance
Required: Authenticated original national-level criminal background check
Common Failure: State-level check instead of national, document expired beyond 6-month validity, or wrong apostille/legalisation authority
Prevention: Request the original national-level check only. Time this document LAST due to the 6-month validity window. Verify the correct apostille or legalisation authority for your specific document type.
4. Identification for Processing
Required: Passport-sized photos (typically 4)
Common Failure: Wrong background color, dimensions, or photo quality
Prevention: Use professional passport photo service or take in Paraguay where specifications are standard.
Country-Specific Document Guide
While the core requirements are the same, document preparation varies significantly by nationality. Expand your country below for specific guidance[1].
UK citizens need an ACRO Police Certificate from acro.police.uk. Apostilles are handled by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Birth certificates must be original documents from GRO (General Register Office).
Key Advantages
- ACRO certificate processing: typically 10 working days
- FCDO apostille well-established
- Standard Hague apostille country
Considerations
- ACRO certificate is different from DBS check - only ACRO is accepted
- FCDO apostille can take 2-4 weeks by post
- Certified copies from solicitors not accepted - must be GRO-issued
German citizens need a Führungszeugnis (certificate of conduct) from the Bundesamt für Justiz (Federal Office of Justice). Apostilles are issued by the Landesjustizverwaltung (state justice authority) of the relevant federal state. Birth certificates (Geburtsurkunde) from the local Standesamt.
Key Advantages
- Standard Hague apostille country
- Well-documented apostille process
- Führungszeugnis processing: typically 1-2 weeks
Considerations
- Führungszeugnis must be applied for at the local Meldebehörde (registration office)
- Apostille authority varies by federal state
- Documents must be recent (within 6 months)
Spanish citizens need a certificado de antecedentes penales from the Ministerio de Justicia. Apostilles are issued by the Oficina Central de Atención al Ciudadano of the Ministry of Justice. Birth certificates (certificado literal de nacimiento) from the Registro Civil.
Key Advantages
- Standard Hague apostille country
- Online application for antecedentes penales available
- Registro Civil birth certs can be requested online
Considerations
- Ministerio de Justicia apostille can take 2-3 weeks
- Time the antecedentes certificate carefully because Paraguay applies a 6-month validity window from date of issue
- Some Registro Civil offices slower than others
Brazilian citizens apply under the MERCOSUR pathway, which simplifies documentation: use your RG instead of a passport, and Portuguese documents need no translation. The Interpol check is still required, as for any nationality, and the timeline is the same. Need the ATPF-certificado (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais) from the federal police or state secretariat. Birth certificates (certidão de nascimento) from the cartório.
Key Advantages
- Use RG (national ID) instead of a passport
- Portuguese documents exempt from translation
- Same 60-120 day timeline as any nationality
Considerations
- ATPF must be from federal level, not just state
- Some cartório documents need additional authentication before apostille
- Portuguese documents translated in Paraguay - no home-country translation needed
Canadian citizens need an RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check. Canada now issues apostilles under the Hague Apostille Convention. Birth certificates come from provincial vital statistics offices.
Key Advantages
- RCMP check processing: typically 1-3 weeks
- Hague apostille process available
Considerations
- Confirm whether Global Affairs Canada or a provincial authority handles the apostille for your specific document
- Provincial birth certificate requirements vary
Australian citizens need an AFP National Police Check from the Australian Federal Police. Apostilles are issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Birth certificates from the state/territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Key Advantages
- Standard Hague apostille country
- AFP National Police Check: typically 1-2 weeks
- DFAT apostille well-established
Considerations
- State-level police checks not accepted - must be AFP (federal)
- Birth certificate must be apostilled by DFAT, not state authority
- DFAT apostille processing: 1-2 weeks by post
South African citizens need a SAPS clearance certificate from the South African Police Service. Since South Africa is a Hague Convention member, apostilles are issued by the DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) or the High Court. Birth certificates from the Department of Home Affairs.
Key Advantages
- Hague Convention member - apostille available
- SAPS clearance processing: typically 2-4 weeks
Considerations
- DIRCO apostille can take 4-6 weeks - start early
- Some DIRCO offices have significant backlogs
- Unabridged birth certificate recommended over abridged version
- Police clearance valid for 6 months - time carefully
Personal Status Edge Cases
- • Dual citizens: Background check must come from country of residence, not just citizenship
- • Multi-country residents: May require police checks from each country of residence
- • Married applicants: Authenticated marriage certificate required to establish civil status
- • Divorced applicants: Authenticated divorce decree required to prove current civil status
- • Minor children: Included in parents' applications with birth certificates showing parentage
Document Authority Edge Cases
- • Issuing jurisdiction: Civil-status documents must be authenticated where they were issued, not where you currently live
- • National documents: National-level background checks must be authenticated by the competent national authority
- • Intermediate certifications: Some local documents require an extra certification step before apostille or legalisation
- • Non-Hague countries: Documents must be legalised through the appropriate consular process instead of apostilled
- • Authority mismatch: Documents authenticated by the wrong office are rejected even if the document itself is valid
Readiness Validation (Service-Led)
Professional readiness validation prevents the most common cause of residency delays: document rejection. Our validation process reviews every document against current immigration requirements before you travel.
Document Completeness Review
- • Verify all 4 core documents are present and properly formatted
- • Confirm apostille or legalisation authenticity and issuing authority correctness
- • Check document validity periods and expiration dates
- • Validate photo specifications meet Paraguayan standards
Authority Verification
- • Confirm correct apostille or legalisation authority for your specific document type and country
- • Verify federal vs. state authority requirements
- • Check for required intermediate certifications (e.g., County Clerk)
- • Validate consular legalisation requirements for non-Hague countries
Consistency Analysis
- • Cross-check name spellings across all documents
- • Verify birth dates match across documents
- • Confirm document sequences make logical sense
- • Identify any discrepancies that require explanation
✅ Our Validation Process
We review all documents against current Dirección General de Migraciones requirements before you travel. If we identify any issues, we provide specific guidance to correct them-preventing costly last-minute rework or travel delays.
Schedule document review →Document Timing Strategy
Requesting documents in the wrong order is the most common cause of preventable delays. Here is the optimal sequence[1]:
Start: Birth Certificate (Week 1)
No expiry. Request early - apostille or legalisation timelines vary by jurisdiction. Marriage and divorce certificates can be requested concurrently.
Concurrent: Apostilles or Legalisation (Weeks 1-3)
Send birth cert, marriage/divorce cert for apostille or legalisation as soon as received. Processing varies depending on jurisdiction.
Last: Police Background Check (Week 4-5)
Request this LAST. Valid 6 months from the date of issue. If you request it too early, it may expire before your Migraciones appointment. Time it so it arrives just before you ship documents to Paraguay.
Ship Everything Together (Week 5-6)
Once all authenticated documents are in hand, courier them to Paraguay for translation and application preparation. Use tracked shipping - these are irreplaceable originals.
Document Expiry Risk
Name Mismatches and Translation Issues
Name inconsistencies across documents are a leading cause of application delays. Paraguayan authorities expect exact name matches - even minor discrepancies can trigger additional verification.
Middle Names
Passport and civil registry naming formats vary by country, and Paraguay's naming conventions may differ from yours. If your birth certificate shows a middle name but your police check omits it (or vice versa), this creates a mismatch. Ensure all documents use the same name format.
Married Name vs Maiden Name
If you changed your name after marriage, ensure consistency: your police check should match the name on your passport. If documents show different names, your authenticated marriage certificate bridges the gap - but only if you remember to bring it.
Non-Latin Script Names
For applicants with names in Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, or other non-Latin scripts: the transliteration must be consistent across all documents. Different transliteration standards between your country's documents and the Paraguayan translation can create discrepancies. Professional readiness validation catches these before they become problems.
Before You Travel Checklist
Use this checklist in the week before your trip to Asunción to make sure nothing is missing:
Documents
- ✓ All apostilled or legalised originals in hand
- ✓ Passport valid 6+ months from travel date
- ✓ Color copies of passport bio page
- ✓ Digital scans of all documents saved to cloud
- ✓ Marriage/divorce cert (if applicable)
Logistics
- ✓ Flexible/refundable flight booked
- ✓ Accommodation in Asunción (Villa Morra or Carmelitas area)
- ✓ USD cash + ATM card (guaraníes from airport or ATM)
- ✓ Phone with international roaming or local SIM plan
- ✓ Confirm appointment schedule with your service provider
What You DON'T Need
Paraguay has simplified residency requirements compared to other countries. The following are NOT required for your application:
This page vs the documents guide: This page covers which documents you need and why. For detailed specifications, validity rules, integrity standards, and common rejection patterns, see the residency documents guide.
Alternative Pathways
The requirements above are for ordinary residency (temporary → permanent). Paraguay also offers two investor pathways that skip the temporary phase entirely:
Ordinary Residency
Free
The pathway described on this page. Temporary residency (2 years), then permanent.
- • 4 core documents + civil status docs
- • No investment required
- • Service: $2,290-$5,490
- • Timeline: 16-32 weeks
SUACE Investor
$70K + 5 Jobs
Direct permanent residency through business investment. Fully operational.
- • Same core documents
- • Business plan + proof of investment
- • Direct permanent (no temp phase)
- • SUACE vs Ordinary
Investor Pass
$150-200K
New program (May 2026). Tourism, real estate, or stock market investment.
- • Same core documents
- • Investment proof + source of funds
- • Direct permanent + 8% dividend tax
- • Investor Pass details
All three pathways require the same core documents (passport, birth cert, police check, photos). The difference is what you file with those documents - nothing for ordinary, a business plan for SUACE, or investment proof for the Investor Pass. Not sure which pathway? Book a free call.
Nationality-Specific Guides
While the core requirements are the same, document preparation varies significantly by nationality:
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
ACRO Police Certificate, FCDO apostille authority
🇩🇪 Germany
Führungszeugnis from Bundesamt für Justiz, Landesjustizverwaltung apostille
🇧🇷 🇦🇷 MERCOSUR Nations
National ID accepted, Interpol check still required, same timeline
🇨🇦 Canada
RCMP check, apostille authority varies by document and province
🇦🇺 Australia
AFP National Police Check, DFAT apostille, state birth certificates
Not Sure About Your Requirements?
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Prepare
Your Documents?
Book a free strategy call to review your document checklist, confirm the right apostille authorities, and plan your timeline before you travel to Asuncion.
Related Pages
Sources and References
- [1] Dirección General de Migraciones - Official Paraguay immigration authority and requirements
- [2] CAJPy - Paraguay Bar Association - Legal framework and requirements reference
- [3] Hague Conference on Private International Law - Apostille convention member countries and authorities