Updated 2026 · Issued by your municipality · Cédula required
Paraguay driver's license. Most expats walk in and walk out the same day.
If you already have a valid home-country license, Paraguay normally exchanges it without theory or driving exams — about 1–2 hours and ~318,000 PYG (roughly US$ 45) all in. The catch: you need a Paraguayan cédula first, plus a Vida y Residencia certificate from the National Police.
The rules everyone needs to know
What you need to know first.
Your municipality issues the license
Paraguay has no national licensing authority. The Municipalidad of your registered cédula address issues the card. Procedure and price vary slightly by city, but the structure is the same.
Cédula de Identidad is mandatory
No foreigner can obtain a Paraguayan license without a Paraguayan ID card (cédula). It's the document that proves resident status — get it first.
Validity: up to 5 years
Once issued, your Paraguayan license is normally valid for up to 5 years, depending on your residency type.
Russians, Ukrainians, EU and US citizens
The procedure depends on whether you already have a license.
If you have a valid foreign license: exchange (Canje)
Paraguay accepts most foreign licenses and typically exchanges them without theory or driving exams. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended — it acts as the official translation of your license at roadside checks and rental counters. Get the IDP in your home country before flying.
Step-by-step exchange procedure
- 01
Gather your documents
Cédula de Identidad (original + copy); Certificado de Vida y Residencia from the Paraguayan National Police (issued for the same municipality where you'll apply); blood-type test (Grupo Sanguíneo) from a clinic or Red Cross; medical certificate (vision, hearing, general health) — often available at the municipality for ~60,000 PYG; original of your foreign license + copy.
- 02
Visit the municipality (Tránsito / Licencias)
Go to the licensing office in the municipality where your cédula is registered. Asunción documents the procedure and requirements at asuncion.gov.py/trafico. Make sure your Vida y Residencia was issued for that exact municipality.
- 03
Pay the fee
Municipal fee is approximately 258,000 PYG (~ US$ 30). Cash is the standard payment method.
- 04
Photo and pickup
Photo is taken on site. The license is normally issued the same day, often within 1–2 hours.
With a valid foreign license (and ideally an IDP), expect ~258,000 PYG fee + medical certificate, no exams, license in hand within 1–2 hours.
If you don't have a foreign license: from scratch
If you've never held a license, you'll need to follow Paraguay's full process — slightly more involved and Spanish-only.
Step-by-step
- 01
Gather your documents
Cédula, Vida y Residencia, blood-type test, two photos, and a fee receipt.
- 02
Take a course (recommended)
Strongly suggested: enroll in a local autoescuela (driving school). They prepare you for theory and practice; exams are conducted in Spanish.
- 03
Pass the theory exam
Written exam on traffic rules and safety. Questions are in Spanish.
- 04
Pass the practical exam
On-road driving test with an inspector.
Stricter than the exchange. Two exams, all communication in Spanish, plan 1–4 weeks plus driving-school costs.
Country-specific notes
Edge cases for MERCOSUR, China, US/Canada.
MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile)
Maximum simplification. Your national license is recognized for short-term driving without an IDP. After getting your residency and cédula, the exchange is identical to the general procedure but often faster and with fewer documents.
China
China is not party to the Vienna Convention, so you can't get a standard IDP. Workaround: a notarized translation of your Chinese license into Spanish substitutes for the IDP at the municipality. If you don't have a Chinese license at all, follow the from-scratch procedure.
United States & Canada
Procedure is identical to the EU/RU/UA flow above. Get your IDP at home before flying — AAA in the US (US$ 20, aaa.com), CAA in Canada (CAD 32, caa.ca). Holding a local license can also lower your Paraguayan car-insurance premium.
Side-by-side comparison
Every case at a glance.
| Your situation | Procedure | Exams? | Special documents | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU/UA/EU/US/Canada (have license) | Canje at municipality | No (typically) | Cédula, Vida y Residencia, medical, IDP | ~318,000 PYG | 1–2 hours |
| MERCOSUR (have license) | Canje at municipality | No | Cédula, Vida y Residencia, national license | ~318,000 PYG | 1–2 hours |
| China (have license) | Canje at municipality | No (typically) | Cédula, Vida y Residencia, notarized Spanish translation of license | ~318,000 PYG + translation | 1–2 hours |
| Any expat (no license) | From-scratch | Yes (theory + practical) | Cédula, Vida y Residencia, medical | ~318,000 PYG + driving school | 1–4 weeks |
Useful contacts
Where to go.
- Municipality of Asunción (Tránsito) asuncion.gov.py/trafico/requisitos-para-obtencion-de-licencias-de-conducir/
- National Police (Vida y Residencia) policianacional.gov.py/requisitos-para-solicitar-vida-y-residencia-para-adultos/
- Medical clinics Sanatorio San Roque, Sanatorio Migone, or local Red Cross for blood-type and medical certificates
- Driving schools Search Google Maps for "autoescuela" in your city; pick by reviews
Plan your move
Need help with the paperwork?
Book a consultation and we'll prep your IDP, Vida y Residencia, and medical certificate before your municipal appointment.