Temporary residency in Paraguay
Temporary residency, also called a temporary resident permit, is the first step to live legally in Paraguay. Mercosur citizens can apply through the Mercosur route or under Migration Law 6.984/2022, and that choice changes what you can do later: ID card, bank account, and driver's license. Legaliza Paraguay guides the preparation and follows the stages of the plan you choose.
Who it is for
For people who want to live, work, study, or start a business in Paraguay and do not have residency yet. Mercosur citizens can choose between two routes. Citizens of other countries follow the general route under Law 6.984/2022.
Mercosur or the new law: which route to choose
Both give temporary residency for up to two years. The difference is in what comes next.
- Mercosur route: costs less and asks for fewer documents (no Interpol record and no photos), but it does not give the right to the Paraguayan ID card, a bank account, or a driver's license. After 21 months it can be renewed to permanent residency, which gives the right to the ID card. It can be done with any of the three plans.
- Law 6.984/2022 route: costs more and asks for more documents, but gives access to the Paraguayan ID card and, with it, a driver's license and opening an account at several banks in Paraguay (the decision always belongs to the bank). It is also the basis for permanent residency.
- To study or simply live on a tight budget, the Mercosur route may be enough. To work, run a business, drive, or open an account, the new law is usually the way.
Documents usually requested
The current list is the one from the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, and it changes with the route and the case. In general:
- A valid physical national ID or a valid passport. For Brazilians, this means a passport, an RG (identity card issued by a Brazilian state) or the new Carteira de Identidade Nacional (CIN). A driver's license (CNH), professional council cards (such as CRM and CREA), work booklets, application receipts and digital versions are not accepted as ID in Paraguay.
- Proof of entry into Paraguay: the entry permit (permiso de ingreso, a white slip) or the stamp in your passport.
- An apostilled birth certificate and, if applicable, an apostilled marriage certificate.
- A criminal record certificate from your home country, apostilled, from age 14.
- Criminal record certificates from the Policía Nacional and, on the new law route, from Interpol, obtained in Paraguay, from age 14.
- An address in Paraguay. If you do not have one yet, a hotel address can be used.
- Sworn statements on respecting the laws, your activity, and your address, generated by the Migraciones system when you file.
- Documents not in Spanish need a translation, except Brazilian documents in Portuguese, according to Migraciones.
The stages, in order
Each stage depends on the one before it, so the order matters:
- In your home country: get the certificates and have them apostilled.
- At the border: ask Migraciones for the entry permit, with your ID or passport. You may be asked for the international yellow fever vaccination certificate.
- In Paraguay: get the criminal record certificates from the Policía Nacional and, on the new law route, from Interpol.
- At the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones: file the application in person and pay the fee. On the new law route, while it is processed you can hold provisional resident status (residente precario), which lets you leave and re-enter the country, study, and work.
- Once residency under the new law is granted, or once you have permanent residency on the Mercosur route: apply for the Paraguayan ID card at the Departamento de Identificaciones of the Policía Nacional.
Official fee and other expenses
The Migraciones fee for temporary residency is Gs. 2,341,540 through the Mercosur route and Gs. 2,926,925 under Law 6.984/2022, for cash payment (electronic payment carries a provider commission), according to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones table checked on 28/10/2026. If you overstayed your permitted stay, there is also a fine of Gs. 702,462. The Policía Nacional certificate and, under Law 6.984/2022, the Interpol certificate have their own fees, and the apostille is paid in your home country. Fees change, so the quote confirms the day's amounts before you hire us.
How long it takes
In general, 90 to 120 days from filing to residency, and 60 to 150 days for the ID card after that. These are averages from our experience, not guaranteed timelines: they depend on the case and on demand at Migraciones. Temporary residency is valid for up to two years. Start the renewal or the change to permanent residency from month 21, because if it expires you have to start the process over.
Where people lose the most time
Old ID documents, a driver's license or professional card brought instead of a national ID or passport, expired documents, a missing apostille, a translation that is not accepted, choosing the wrong route for what the person wants to do, and a trip booked before everything is ready. The document review and trip planning exist to avoid this.
How Legaliza Paraguay helps
- A checklist built for your case.
- Document review before you travel.
- Planning of the in-person stages in Ciudad del Este.
- With VIP In-Person, 1 in-person appointment to file the residency and 1 to file the Paraguayan cédula, in Ciudad del Este.
Official fees are separate and paid by the client. This guidance does not decide the application and does not promise approval or a timeline.
Questions
Can a Mercosur citizen apply for temporary residency in Paraguay?
Yes, through the Mercosur route or under Law 6.984/2022. The best route depends on what you want to do in Paraguay. Current requirements are on the official pages of the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.
Do I need a visa to enter Paraguay?
Mercosur citizens do not need a visa: they enter with a national ID or passport. What you get at the border is the entry permit, which proves your entry. Temporary residency is not a visa: it is an application made afterwards, at Migraciones. For other nationalities, check the Migraciones visa page.
Can I use a Brazilian driver's license or professional card as ID in Paraguay?
No. For Brazilians, Migraciones accepts a passport, an RG issued by a Brazilian state or the Carteira de Identidade Nacional as travel documents, always as the physical original. A driver's license (CNH), professional council cards (such as CRM and CREA), work booklets, application receipts and digital documents are not accepted, either to enter the country or for the residency application. A very old or damaged RG may be refused; if in doubt, bring your passport. The final decision always rests with the Migraciones officer.
Is temporary residency the same as a Paraguay resident permit?
Yes. The temporary resident permit is the temporary residency granted by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, valid for up to two years. It is not an entry visa, and on the Mercosur route it does not give the right to the Paraguayan ID card (cédula).
Does Mercosur residency give access to the ID card?
No. Temporary residency through Mercosur does not give the right to the ID card. After 21 months it can be renewed to permanent residency, and every permanent residency gives the right to the ID card. People who need the ID card sooner usually apply under Law 6.984/2022.
Do children need criminal record certificates?
No. Criminal record certificates are required from age 14. Minors have their own category at Migraciones, which asks for the parents' documents and the guardians' authorization. The children and families guide explains each case.
How much does it cost?
Plan fees start at US$ 99 per adult and are published on the home page. The Migraciones fee, criminal record certificates, apostilles, and other third-party expenses are charged separately and go into the quote presented before you hire us.
Do you guarantee approval?
No. The decision belongs to the competent authority. The work is to prepare the application well to reduce errors and rework.
Check the current rules on the official pages. They can change.
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