Day-by-day residency timeline. From landing to cédula in hand.

Phase 1 · Before you fly

Pre-arrival (4–6 weeks).

These three documents have to be apostilled in your home country and translated by a Paraguayan sworn translator. Most failures here are translation deadlines, not government delays.

1. Birth certificate

   Apostilled (or legalized via Paraguay consulate if your country isn't in the Hague Convention) within the last 3 years.

   US$ 30–80 + apostille fee in your country · 1–4 weeks

2. Criminal record (FBI / EU equivalent / police certificate)

   Country-wide criminal record. US: FBI identity history summary (use a channeler — 24-hour turnaround). EU: per-country (Bundeszentralregister, casier judiciaire, etc.).

   US$ 18–80 · 1–3 weeks

3. Marriage / divorce certificates if applicable

   Apostilled. Required if family is included.

   US$ 20–50 · 1–2 weeks

Tip: order all three at the same time. Don't wait for one before requesting another. The bottleneck is shipping originals to Paraguay, not government processing.

Phase 2 · First two weeks in Paraguay

Arrival (Days 1–14).

You can do all of these in a week with a working car or US$ 50/day in Bolt rides. Most are concentrated in central Asunción.

1. Day 1–2: Translate apostilled documents

   Sworn translator (traductor público matriculado) on the MEC list. Birth certificate + criminal record + marriage cert into Spanish.

   US$ 30–80 per document · 3–5 business days

2. Day 3: Medical certificate

   Any IPS-licensed doctor or major private hospital. Standard form — no real exam, just signatures.

   US$ 25–50 · Same day

3. Day 4: Interpol clearance

   Departamento de Identificaciones (Interpol Asunción). Fingerprints + photo. The certificate prints in 1–3 days.

   Gs. 80,000 (~US$ 11) · 1–3 days

4. Day 5: Antecedentes Penales (CSJ judiciary)

   Poder Judicial / Corte Suprema de Justicia. Local Paraguay record check. Issued same day if you go before noon.

   Gs. 50,000 (~US$ 7) · Same day

5. Day 6–7: Open the file at DNM

   Submit everything at Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, central office. They review on the spot, accept or send back to fix.

   Gs. 2,787,550 (~US$ 385) government fee · 30 min review at counter

Most foreign residents use a despachante (filing agent) for the DNM appointment — costs US$ 200–400 but saves 1–2 fixing trips. A Paraguay-experienced lawyer is US$ 500–1,500 and adds review of paperwork.

Phase 3 · The wait

DNM processing (4–8 weeks Standard, 1–2 weeks Investor Pass).

Nothing to do here except track the case number. DNM does not email; check the online tracker once a week.

• Standard: 6–8 weeks for the residency certificate. With MigraMóvil mobile sessions, 5–10 days.
• SUACE: 8–10 weeks (parallel paperwork via the SUACE single-window).
• Investor Pass: 10–15 working days from a complete file.
• Things that delay it: missing translation page, expired criminal record (>3 months), wrong photo size, unpaid government fee receipt.
• You can leave Paraguay during this wait. Re-entry as a tourist is fine; just keep your DNM file number.

Phase 4 · Residency certificate

Receive the certificate.

DNM emails once. Pick up in person at the central office. Bring your passport.

• The certificate is a single A4 sheet with photo, file number, and category (temporary or permanent).
• Standard: temporary 2-year certificate. After 22 months you apply to convert to permanent (file at month 22 to avoid lapse).
• SUACE / Investor Pass: permanent immediately.
• Make 5 copies; you'll use them for bank account, RUC, school enrollment, and lease.

Phase 5 · Cédula appointment

Get the cédula (national ID).

Identificaciones Policiales handles cédula issuance. Walk-in is possible; appointment via web is better.

• DocumentsResidency certificate (original + copy), passport (original + copy), 2 ID-size photos, proof of address.
• CostGs. 75,000 (~US$ 10) standard. Express in 48 hours: Gs. 320,000 (~US$ 44).
• WaitStandard: 30–45 days. Express: 48–72 hours. MigraMóvil: same day.
• PickupIn person, with the receipt. Cédula is plastic card with chip — passport-style ID.

Phase 6 · After cédula

What to do once you have it.

• Open a Paraguay bank account (see /banking/) — Itaú, Continental, or Sudameris.
• Apply for a RUC if you'll have any Paraguay-source income — DNIT, takes 2 days, free.
• If you'll drive, exchange your foreign license at the municipality (see /driver-license/) — 1–2 hours, US$ 45.
• Schedule annual tax filing — even at 0% on foreign income, you file the IRP form (DNIT). Due May 31 each year.
• If using the Standard path: calendar a reminder for month 22 — you must file the conversion to permanent before month 24.

Investor Pass fast track

10–15 days, end-to-end.

If you qualify (US$ 70k SUACE / 150k tourism / 200k stocks or commercial real estate), you skip the temporary stage.

• Day 0: Complete document set submitted via the Investor Pass digital portal.
• Day 3–5: SET/DNIT review of investment documentation.
• Day 7–10: DNM issues permanent residency certificate.
• Day 10–15: Cédula in hand via express track.
• Three of the four tracks have no job-creation requirement — your money doesn't need to hire.

Total cost

Cost summary.

• Government fees (Standard)US$ 415
• Translations (1 person, 3 docs)US$ 90–240
• Medical + Interpol + CSJUS$ 43–68
• Despachante (optional)US$ 200–400
• Lawyer (optional)US$ 500–1,500
• Standard path total (DIY, 1 person)US$ 550–730
• Standard path total (lawyer + family of 3)US$ 2,500–3,800
• Investor Pass legal fees (typical)US$ 4,000–8,000

Fees as of May 2026. Most expat 'horror stories' come from agents charging US$ 5,000+ for the standard path. The base service cost is real but bounded.