Quick Answer
Paraguay Sovereign does not provide visa services. Contact the nearest Paraguayan embassy or consulate yourself and obtain the visa before you plan anything else. Once the visa is issued, we are happy to have a phone call with you: the residency application is filed in Asuncion, it is open to every nationality, and our $2,290 Premium package covers it all-inclusive.
Where you apply for the visa
Applications go to the Paraguayan mission responsible for your country: an embassy, a consulate, or the nearest one abroad if Paraguay has no presence where you live. Every country page in our visa matrix lists the responsible mission with its address, phone, email, and the date we verified it.
If Paraguay has no mission where you live, you apply in a nearby country: that case is so common it has its own section below.
No Paraguay embassy in your country?
This is the most common situation: most nationalities that need a visa have no Paraguayan mission at home, so applying in a nearby country is the norm, not the exception. Here is exactly what to do.
- Find a Paraguay embassy or consulate in a nearby country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the complete mission directory with addresses, phones, and emails at mre.gov.py/embajadas.
- Contact that mission before you apply and confirm it covers your nationality and your country of residence. Jurisdiction varies: some missions serve only residents of certain countries, and applying at the wrong one costs weeks.
- Tell them your intention is to apply for residency and ask for their visa document list. Then follow the rest of this guide: the checklist below, and the residency package once the visa is issued.
Your country page in the visa matrix lists every mission we have verified for your region, but our list is not exhaustive: the official directory is authoritative, and honorary consulates offer limited services, so confirm before you travel.
What to tell the embassy
Tell them your intention is to apply for residency: that is the reason for your visa. Then ask them for their required document list for the visa application. Requirements vary by mission and by visa class, and the embassy itself is the authority on what it wants to see.
Asking costs nothing and prevents the most common mistake visa-required applicants make: preparing the wrong paperwork, or paperwork addressed to the residency filing instead of the visa application. The two lists are different. The visa list comes from the embassy; the residency list is below.
Documents to prepare at home
These are for the residency application, arranged in your home country while the visa processes. Apostilles take weeks, so start early. One warning: the police documents expire, so time them close to your filing trip.
Once your documents reach Paraguay, we coordinate the certified Spanish translations here. The full details, including integrity standards and the rejection patterns to avoid, are in the documents guide.
Once you have the visa: the residency package
With the visa in your passport, the residency process is the same for every nationality. Our Premium package is $2,290, all-inclusive: temporary Paraguay residency plus the national ID card (cedula), with government fees, translations, photos, and every appointment covered. There are no additional fees; the only thing you pay separately is courier delivery of your finished cards.
Your residency card typically arrives 60-90 days after the Trip 1 filing. Pick it up locally or we courier it anywhere in the world; you pay postage. See the full feature list on the residency packages page.
The three-trip schedule
Trip 1: Apply for temporary residency
5 business days in AsuncionYou file the application and complete biometrics. We manage everything: you come to the appointments, we handle the rest.
Trip 2: Maintain your temporary residency
A 2-day visit within 12 months of Trip 1You cannot be outside Paraguay for more than 12 months while temporary. This short visit keeps your status active.
Trip 3: Convert to permanent residency
Months 21 to 24, 5 business daysFiled in Asuncion once you have held temporary residency for two years. Your permanent card is valid 10 years.
After Trip 3 your permanent residency is valid 10 years. Keeping it valid takes one day in Paraguay every 3 years: an entry stamp in your passport is all that is needed. The full timeline and the conversion details have the complete picture.
Citizenship becomes possible after 3 years as a permanent resident, realistically 5-6 years after your first temporary filing. It is a judicial process with a Spanish exam; the citizenship guide covers it.
Visa-first questions
Can you help me get the visa for Paraguay?
No. Paraguay Sovereign does not provide visa services, issue visas, or contact embassies on your behalf. The visa is your first step and yours to obtain from the Paraguayan mission responsible for your country. Once the visa is in your passport, we take over the entire residency process.
Can you write an invitation letter for my visa application?
No, we do not issue invitation letters. Tell the embassy your intention is to apply for residency and ask them directly for their required documents: each mission sets its own list, and asking is free.
Which embassy do I apply at?
The Paraguayan embassy or consulate responsible for your country. Our country matrix lists the responsible mission for each nationality with address, phone, email, and a verified date for every row. Start from your country page.
What if there is no Paraguay embassy in my country?
Then you apply at a Paraguay embassy or consulate in a nearby country. This is the norm, not the exception: most visa-required nationalities have no Paraguayan mission at home. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the complete directory at mre.gov.py/embajadas. Contact the mission before you apply and confirm it covers your nationality and country of residence, tell them your intention is to apply for residency, and ask for their document list.
Can I start preparing my documents now, before the visa?
Yes, and you should: apostilles take weeks. Prepare the birth certificate and any marriage or divorce certificate early. Time the police documents carefully: the background check is only valid 6 months from issue, so do not apostille it too early or it will expire before your filing trip.
Can I apply for residency without entering Paraguay?
No. The temporary-residency application is filed in person with Migraciones in Asuncion, which is why the visa comes first: you need the right to enter the country before you can file. The full sequence is the visa, then the Trip 1 filing visit.
Does getting the visa guarantee residency?
No. The visa is the entry ticket; residency is a separate application with its own documents, filed with Migraciones in Asuncion. That application is what we run for you: document review, filing, monitoring through to decision, and delivery of your card.
How long does the whole process take?
The visa timeline depends on the embassy. After that: your residency card typically follows within 60-90 days of the Trip 1 filing, and permanent residency is available at months 21-24. Citizenship becomes possible after 3 years as a permanent resident, realistically 5-6 years after your first temporary filing.