Residency by Investment in Paraguay
Paraguay grants permanent residency directly to foreign investors who qualify under the 2026 Investor Pass rules. Compare the routes, see what each one asks of you, and find the one that fits your capital.
The routes to residency by investment
Four routes come from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce's Resolution 0283/2026, the rule behind the Investor Pass. Film production is offered alongside them through the national audiovisual institute (INAP). Each route has its own page with the requirements, the documents and the risks.
Productive business
from USD 70,000 invested in a productive business, with a business plan and at least 5 formal jobs
Invest in an industrial, commercial or service company in Paraguay, with a business plan and formal local jobs.
Active: you run the company and its payroll
Tourism project
from USD 150,000 invested in a tourism project, with a business plan
Build, buy, expand or run a hotel, lodge or other tourism asset in Paraguay under an approved business plan.
Semi-active: project plan and progress reports
Financial instruments
from USD 200,000 in qualifying financial instruments, held for at least 2 years
Hold qualifying Paraguayan financial instruments through an entity authorised by the securities regulator.
Passive: placed through an authorised broker
Real estate
from USD 200,000 in real estate used for an economic activity (not your own home)
Buy property in Paraguay that is used for an economic activity, such as rental or commercial premises.
Passive: the property must earn, not house you
Film production
about USD 40,000 contributed to an INAP-endorsed Paraguayan film production
Back an INAP-endorsed Paraguayan film production: the lowest ticket, and the highest risk of not getting the money back.
Passive: backing a production, high risk
What residency by investment in Paraguay means
The legal basis is MIC Resolution No. 0283/2026, which grants a Foreign Investor Certificate (CIE) giving direct access to permanent residency. SUACE, the ministry's one-stop office for investors, issues the certificate; Migraciones then grants the residency itself. The result is permanent residency with no expiry; the resident card is renewed every 10 years.
Most foreigners reach permanent residency in two steps: temporary residency first, then a second application. A qualifying investor skips the first step. That is why the programme was launched under the name “Paraguay Investor Pass”, and why it is often compared with golden visa programmes elsewhere, although no investment here leads to citizenship on its own.
What is settled, and what still needs confirming
The purpose of the route is settled: direct permanent residency through a qualifying investment. The practical terms of each case still need checking: which investment qualifies, how it must be held, what evidence is accepted and what obligations follow approval. Treat these as questions to answer before a transaction, not paperwork to tidy up afterwards. An advertised minimum, a developer's brochure or a story about someone else's case is not a substitute for reading the rule in force on the day you apply.
How the process works
- Choose a route and make the investment. Under the current rules, the investment may be completed or still in progress, as long as the financial commitment is documented; minimums are in US dollars or the guaraní equivalent at the official rate on the day you apply.
- Apply for the Foreign Investor Certificate (CIE) through SUACE, which issues it within 5 working days of SUACE receiving a complete file, with the clock stopped while any observations or requests for more information are answered.
- Apply to Migraciones for permanent residency with the CIE and your personal documents.
- Receive the resolution and your identity card (cédula). As currently published, the whole process takes a case-specific window confirmed in writing before filing; investment structuring, source-of-funds documents and authority review affect the timing.
Why investors choose Paraguay
- Permanent residency directly, without the temporary stage, and a Paraguayan identity card once it is granted.
- A light presence rule: at least one entry every three years — an unjustified absence of more than 3 consecutive years cancels permanent residency.
- A territorial tax system: foreign-source income is generally outside Paraguayan income tax (Ley 6380/2019 taxes only Paraguay-source income). Whether you become tax resident, and where, depends on your own situation; this is not tax advice.
- A path to citizenship later, for those who want it: naturalisation requires at least 3 years of permanent residency, counted from the date of the permanent residency resolution, and it is decided by the courts, not bought.
Comparing the routes
| Route | Minimum, as published | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Productive business | from USD 70,000 invested in a productive business, with a business plan and at least 5 formal jobs | Active: you run the company and its payroll |
| Tourism project | from USD 150,000 invested in a tourism project, with a business plan | Semi-active: project plan and progress reports |
| Financial instruments | from USD 200,000 in qualifying financial instruments, held for at least 2 years | Passive: placed through an authorised broker |
| Real estate | from USD 200,000 in real estate used for an economic activity (not your own home) | Passive: the property must earn, not house you |
| Film production | about USD 40,000 contributed to an INAP-endorsed Paraguayan film production | Passive: backing a production, high risk |
The right route depends on how much capital you have, whether you want it to work for you or simply sit somewhere safe, and whether you want a tangible asset. Not sure? Take the route finder, read the requirements, or see how the Pass compares with standard residency.
Before you commit any money
Residency by investment is a legal process and an investment decision at the same time. The rules are new and still being clarified, the authorities decide every application, and any investment can lose value. Nothing on this page is an offer of any asset or investment advice. Before you move money, we tell you in writing which route fits, what it will cost in total, how long it should take and how you can get out again.
Your case, step by step
Prepare your case
You provide identity and source-of-funds documents. We review the investment structure and confirm the scope before funds move or anything is filed.
Timing: Depends on document collection, legalisation and translation; we agree the sequence with you.
File and attend appointments
We prepare and handle the filing in Asunción. You attend the appointments required for your case.
Timing: Appointment availability and document readiness determine the schedule; confirmed before you travel.
Authority review
The authority reviews and decides your application. We follow the case and tell you if further documents or appointments are needed.
Timing: a case-specific window confirmed in writing before filing; investment structuring, source-of-funds documents and authority review affect the timing
Cédula after residency approval
Once residency is approved, we prepare the cédula application and you attend the required appointment.
Timing: an official 60 working days for a first-time foreign-resident cédula, often longer in 2026
Frequently asked
- What is the cheapest residency by investment route in Paraguay?
- Among the four routes in the 2026 resolution, the productive business route has the lowest published minimum, but it requires a business plan and formal local jobs. Film production asks for less money still, but the money backs a film rather than buying an asset you own, so it carries the highest risk. The minimums are listed on each route page with their source.
- Is this a golden visa?
- People often call it that. Legally it is permanent residency granted to a foreign investor, not a visa and not citizenship. No investment in Paraguay buys a passport; citizenship is a separate court process after years of permanent residence.
- Do I go straight to permanent residency?
- Yes, that is the point of the Investor Pass. A qualifying investor obtains a Foreign Investor Certificate (CIE) through SUACE and applies to Migraciones for permanent residency directly, without the temporary residency stage that other applicants go through first.
- Do I have to live in Paraguay?
- No. Permanent residents do not have to live in Paraguay full time, but they must not stay away for too long without returning. The exact presence rule is set out on this page with its source.
- Can my family be included?
- In general a spouse and dependent children can apply with the main investor, each with their own file. We confirm what your family needs in writing before anything is filed.
- Can I combine two routes to reach a minimum?
- Generally no: each route is assessed as its own qualifying investment. If your capital sits across two categories, we tell you in writing which single route makes the cleaner application.
- Is my investment or approval guaranteed?
- No. Approval is decided by the Paraguayan authorities, and every investment can lose value. We check your file before it is submitted and tell you in writing what could go wrong, but nobody can honestly guarantee an outcome.
What happens next
You write to us
On WhatsApp or the form: your nationality, where you live now and what you want to do.
We answer in writing
The route that fits, the documents you need and the fee, before you commit to anything.
You decide
Nothing starts until you say yes in writing. If it is not a fit, we say so.
- Who replies
- A person on our team reads your message and answers it, not a bot.
- How fast
- We answer in writing as soon as we can, and tell you if it will take longer.
Tell us what you are working with
Capital, timeline, and what you want the residency to do for you. Nothing is filed until you have seen the full cost, timeline and exit options in writing.
Your case is handled by Anton Marklund, Yanina Alvarez and Diana Davalos, the team that files residency, cédula and tax cases in Asunción. You attend the appointments; we handle the filing.