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Switching to permanent residency in Paraguay: deadlines, documents and proof of income
Short answer
You apply to Migraciones for permanent residency in the 3 months before your temporary residence card expires, or up to 1 month after with a ₲702,462 fine. It costs ₲2,926,925 (about 493 USD), plus ₲234,154 for the certificado de radicación, and requires proof of income under one of Migraciones' 12 categories. The card has no end date and is renewed every 10 years, like the cédula. Migraciones publishes no processing time and the migration law (Ley 6984/22) sets none.
The steps
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Watch your temporary card's expiry date
You apply in the 3 months before your temporary residence card expires, or up to 1 month after with the ₲702,462 fine. After that, only an extension of temporary residency remains possible, up to 6 months after expiry and with the same fine.
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Choose your income category
Migraciones asks for “suitable, sufficient and verifiable” documents showing real income or available resources, under one of the 12 categories detailed below. A degree alone is not enough, and neither is being a student.
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Gather the documents
Each original with 1 copy certified by an escribanía (notary): a valid ID from your country, your Paraguayan cédula and your temporary residence card. From age 14, add 4 certificates: the foreigner background check and the good conduct certificate from the Policía Nacional, a judicial record and an INTERPOL certificate.
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Apostille and translate foreign documents
A document issued abroad needs an apostille, or legalization by the Paraguayan consulate and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A public translator registered in Paraguay can translate it into Spanish. A public translator authorized abroad is also accepted if the translation is apostilled or legalized. Brazilian documents in Portuguese are exempt from translation.
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Apply in person
At the Migraciones head office, Caballero 201 at Eligio Ayala in Asunción, Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 14:30. The procedure is personal; a legal representative can follow up on it. A change to your details (address, occupation) costs ₲234,154 more.
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Receive the card, then the cédula
The permanent card has no end date and is renewed every 10 years for ₲468,308. It gives access to a cédula valid for 10 years, issued by the Policía Nacional, and makes you a tax resident in the eyes of the DNIT.
Official costs
| Procedure | Cash fee | In jornales |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residency, change of category included | ₲2,926,925 (about 493 USD) | 25 |
| Certificado de radicación (proof of residence) | ₲234,154 (about 39 USD) | 2 |
| Change of details, if needed | ₲234,154 (about 39 USD) | 2 |
| Fine for an expired stay, if needed | ₲702,462 (about 118 USD) | 6 |
| Permanent card renewal, every 10 years | ₲468,308 (about 79 USD) | 4 |
| Apostilles, translations, certified copies | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Fees in force since July 1, 2026 (Decreto N° 6225/2026 and Resolución DNM N° 478/2026), set in jornales, the daily minimum wage of ₲117,077. By card, Migraciones adds a 2% to 3% fee plus VAT.
Dollar amounts use the Banco Central del Paraguay reference rate of September 22, 2026 (₲5,935 to 1 USD). Lawyer or agency fees are optional and not included here.
Proving your income: the 12 categories
Migraciones can ask for any additional document depending on the case. Minors form a separate category, exempt from proof of income.
- University graduates or technicians (2 categories): a degree registered and endorsed by the Ministry of Education (MEC), and proof of practice: IPS (social security) registration, an employment contract endorsed by the Ministry of Labor, or VAT (IVA) returns for the last 3 months or the last year's IRP return with the tax compliance certificate.
- Employees: IPS registration or an employment contract endorsed and registered by the Ministry of Labor.
- Self-employed: proof of taxpayer registration, VAT returns for the last 3 months or the last year's IRP return, and the tax compliance certificate.
- Remote workers or digital nomads: an employment certificate showing income and how it is paid, apostilled and translated.
- Property owners: a title registered in the national registry (RUN) within the past 2 years; Migraciones can ask for proof of income from the property.
- Shareholders or partners: company articles registered in the RUN that name you, or the shareholder register; for an EAS (simplified joint-stock company), the certificate from the beneficial ownership office (DGPEJBF).
- Farmers and ranchers: title to productive land, or proof of sale or a registered brand for the production, with the tax compliance certificate.
- Clergy: the congregation's registration with the MEC and a letter from the congregation covering your costs.
- Retirees or pensioners: a pension certificate with the amount and the account that receives it, apostilled.
- Dependents: a supported spouse, parents or grandparents supported by their children or grandchildren, people with disabilities supported by a relative, with proof of the relationship and the cédula or residence card of the person who supports them.
- Students aged 18 and over: proof of enrollment and payments for the 2 years of temporary residency, plus proof of their own income or of support from a relative.
Mercosur citizens
After the 2-year Mercosur temporary residency, you apply for permanent residency starting 90 days before the card expires; otherwise, the right to use the Mercosur agreement is lost. It carries the same fees and the same proof of income.
Mercosur citizens can only get the Paraguayan cédula with permanent residency.