The information on this article is pulled directly from the Official Paraguay Immigration Website on November 16th, 2025. On their website, the information can be converted to english by clicked on the British flag in the right hand corner.
This blog combines official Paraguayan government info with the lived experience of US Citizen Sam Goetz, Fluido Spanish School's founder, who applied for Paraguayan Temporary Residency without hiring an agency or lawyer. This guide compliments and annotates the official government info, in order to assist foreigners through common mistakes and confusions.
There are up to 9 documents needed to apply for Paraguayan Temporary Residency. Some people need less, depending on their marital status, age, and country of origin. All documents from a country foreign to Paraguay must be apostilled, and if they are not originally in Spanish, also have a translated copy made in Spanish an official Paraguayan translator. All original documents will also be copied and notarized by a Paraguayan notary.
The passport serves as the Identity Document. If one does not have a passport, The Identity Document can be fulfilled with a Valid Identity card from their home country, or a Valid National Identity Document. If the passport's main identification page does not have spanish labels, the page must be copied by a Paraguayan translator into Spanish. US passports have Spanish labels on the main page, so they do not need to be translated into Spanish.
The applicant must bring the original passport, and a copy authenticated by a Paraguayan notary. Immigrations does not keep applicants passports; passports are immediately returned the applicants when they apply.
This is not needed for most Western immigrants. If a residency applicant did not need to receive a consular visa to enter Paraguay, they will not need it for apply for residency. If this visa is required for an applicant, they will also need its verification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bring original and authenticated copy.
A birth certificate must be apostilled by the applicants birth country or state. Most governments will issue new, valid birth certificates; one does not need to bring the first one that was given to them at birth. For US citizens, they can usually request and apostilled birth certificate by searching the website of the Secretary of State of the State that they were born in. For fastest delivery, some states allow requestors to request and pickup the document in-person.
Once in Paraguay, the apostilled birth will be copied and notarized. If the documents are not in spanish, and translation must be made by a Paraguayan translator, and then a notarized copy of the translated version must be made.
Any Marriage, Divorce, or Widower certificates must be brought, if applicable. This must be apostilled as well. If one has never been legally married, these are not applicable.
Once in Paraguay, the apostilled birth will be copied and notarized. If the documents are not in spanish, and translation must be made by a Paraguayan translator, and then a notarized copy of the translated version must be made.
This is general a Federal Background Check from the applicants home country. However, the requirements change if the applicant has a been a long term resident of other countrys. For US Nationals, this is the FBI Background Check.
If your residence was in your country of origin: Background Certificate from the country of origin, issued by the competent authority of the issuing country, valid at the national or federal level. Must be apostilled.
If you resided in another country during the last 3 (three) years: Background Certificate of the country of residence, issued by the competent authority of the issuing country, valid at the national or federal level and; document that proves that the interested party resided in said country during the last 3 (three) years.
If the foreigner resides in a country other than their country of origin for a period of more than 1 (one) year during the last 3 (three) years, they must present the Background Certificate of the country of this last residence, duly legalized and/or apostilled, together with another document that proves said residence.
If you have resided in Paraguay for more than 3 (three) years: Certificate of Background issued by the Judicial Branch in force and Sworn Statement before the National Directorate of Migration that you do not have criminal or police records in your country of origin.
This period of stay must be verified in the immigration movement registry by the official receiving the application. If the foreigner is not listed in the immigration movement registry and does not have proof of entry, they must submit a Summary Information from Witnesses issued by the Justice of the Peace Court of their domicile in Paraguay, clarifying that the applicant has lived and resided in the country for more than 3 years.
*For certificates issued by Mexico (for Mexican citizens or foreigners who have resided there for more than one year during the last three years), both the federal and state certificates must be presented, legalized or apostilled. (DNM Resolution No. 1272/2024).
*Foreign adolescents who are nationals of Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, between the ages of 15 and 18 (as applicable), are exempt from presenting the certificate, since these countries do not issue certificates for foreigners of that age according to their legislation. (DNM Resolution No. 858/2024).
*Foreign adolescents from other countries are also exempt if they present a document proving that certificates are not issued for minors between the ages of 15 and 18 in their country of origin or in the country where they have resided for the last three years. (DNM Resolution No. 858/2024).
Applicant must go to Interpol office in Asunción and apply for the check. Officialy, the process takes 1 week to complete, but people have reported receiving the document same-day. Interpol gets crowded around 11am on weekdays, but is much less busy in the early morning or afternoon.
The original document and a notarized copy is required.
Original and an authenticated copy of the Certificate of Background Check for Foreigners, issued by the Information Technology Department of the National Police. Required for applicants 14 years of age an up. This document is issued immediately upon visiting the Asunción Police IT department.
There are two sworn statements that are made at the Immigrations office when the application is made. Nothing needs to be prepared in advance for them. They are:
Passports work here, but also it can be a valid national ID or identity card.
In case of absence of one or both parents, attach; Original and an authenticated copy of the special Power of Attorney, issued by a Public Notary in the country of origin of the document, with which the travel of the minor and the processing of his documentation before the National Directorate of Migration is authorized with the accompaniment of the father or guardian designated for the purpose.
* The special power of attorney must be signed by the absent parent(s).
* If the special power of attorney was issued abroad, it must be visaed and legalized or apostilled.
* The guardian must reside in the country or be a Paraguayan national.
The birth certificate must prove that the identities of the parents are indeed the applicants parents.
The price to apply for Temporary Residency is Gs 3,010,554, or about $427.89.The price is the sum of the two main documents: Gs. 2,787,550 for the actual application, and an extra Gs. 223,004 for Certificate of Residence. This can be paid in cash, or paid with credit card for an extra fee.