Understanding Paraguay Visa Types and Application Steps for 2026

(Paraguay) Paraguay’s 2026 entry rules are simpler for many visitors, but they still punish people who arrive unprepared. If you’re flying into Asunción, the biggest change is practical: several nationalities can get a visa-on-arrival at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, pay $160 USD in cash, and walk straight to immigration.

That quick path matters for tourists, business visitors, and people who want to start a residency case in-country. It also creates two common problems: travelers forget the cash requirement, and they assume the airport process applies at land borders. It doesn’t.

Below is a clear, start-to-finish guide to the short-stay visa options and the Independent Means Visa, Paraguay’s best-known residence route for retirees and remote earners with passive income. Check your nationality rules early, and keep a passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay. Plus, carry proof of onward travel.

Fast entry for short stays

Paraguay lets nationals of more than 100 countries enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Most European Union citizens, the UK, Chile, Uruguay, and many others fall in this group. Mercosur citizens can enter with an identity card.

For U.S., Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand passport holders arriving by air, Paraguay offers a visa-on-arrival at Asunción’s airport. The fee is $160 USD cash, and officers issue it on the spot for a 90-day stay. Cards are not accepted.

Other nationalities must plan ahead. India, Russia, and Taiwan are among those who generally need a visa before travel. Some travelers face reciprocity fees listed by Paraguayan authorities, such as Canada $150 and Australia $135.

If you are only transiting, Paraguay allows up to 12 hours without a visa when you keep your onward ticket and remain airside.

Even visa-free travelers should carry:
– Printed hotel bookings
– Proof of funds
– A return or onward ticket

Airlines and border staff often request these during check-in.

Applying through a consulate when required

If your nationality isn’t eligible for visa-free entry or airport issuance, apply at an embassy or consulate. Processing averages 10 business days, so schedule flights accordingly.

Typical consular requirements:
– Passport with at least 6 months validity and blank pages
– Completed application form
– Recent 2×2 inch photo on a white background
– Travel itinerary and accommodation details
– Evidence of funds (bank statements)

Business visitors usually must also provide a company letter on letterhead stating:
– The trip purpose
– Paraguayan contacts
– Dates of travel
– Who pays costs

Fees are commonly paid by money order or cashier’s check. Visa validity is often set for 3 to 6 months.

What happens at the airport or border

At the airport, expect a short document check before the stamp or visa sticker is placed in your passport. Officers may ask for:
– Proof of onward travel
– Where you will stay
– How you will support yourself during the visit

Keep printed copies in case your phone battery dies.

Paraguay treats a digital health declaration as standard travel paperwork. Travelers should complete it about 24 hours before the flight. COVID tests are not required under current consular guidance.

Short-stay visitors do not receive work authorization. If you plan to do paid work, run a local business, or stay beyond 90 days, start a residence process rather than trying to “reset” a tourist stay.

Important: the visa-on-arrival process at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport does not apply at land borders.

The Independent Means Visa: Paraguay’s main long-stay gateway

The Independent Means Visa (often called a retirement visa) grants temporary residence for two years. It’s used by retirees and many non-retirees (remote earners, people with passive income). After temporary residence you can later apply for permanent status and, after additional requirements, citizenship eligibility.

Core concept:
– Show stable foreign income sufficient to support you without Paraguayan wages.
– Accepted income sources include pensions, rental income, and investments.
– Rules focus on self-sufficiency rather than a fixed published minimum.

Required documents and process highlights:
– Apostilled birth certificate with translation
– Apostilled criminal record
– Proof of a Paraguayan address
– Medical certificate
– Other civil documents and proof of income

VisaVerge.com reports the biggest delays stem from missing apostilles and inconsistent translations.

Before you travel, read the Dirección General de Migraciones residency requirements and forms and match each document to its format rules. That preparation can save weeks once you apply.

A realistic timeline for getting temporary residence

Most applicants complete the Independent Means Visa process in 4 to 6 weeks from arrival, assuming documents are ready. Expect multiple office visits in Asunción and treat the first days as paperwork days, not sightseeing days.

Typical steps:
1. Enter Paraguay legally on a tourist stay, visa-free entry, or visa-on-arrival. Keep your entry stamp and copies of your passport photo page.
2. Open a Paraguayan bank account and make the deposit. A recent benchmark used in practice is about $6,000 USD, showing you can support yourself locally.
3. Submit your residence file at Migraciones. Provide documents, declare your local address, and pay government fees (often quoted around $300 plus local charges).
4. Complete biometrics and medical steps. Authorities will take fingerprints, a photo, and a signature, and you’ll provide the required medical certificate.
5. Wait for approval and collect your residence card and cédula. The national ID helps with banking, leases, and daily life.

Bring extra photocopies—offices often keep sets for the file. A local address proof, even a short lease, helps keep your case moving.

Practical residency rule:
– Avoid 12 or more consecutive months outside Paraguay, or you risk problems maintaining your status.

Living in Paraguay after you receive your documents

Temporary residence under the Independent Means Visa lasts two years. During that period:
– The cédula enables opening services, signing rental contracts, and buying property.
– The status supports legal work and business activity.

After two years you can apply to move from temporary to permanent residence. Guidance indicates citizenship eligibility after three years of residence.

Tax considerations:
– Paraguay is often described as a low-tax model.
– Residents who spend 120 or more days per year in the country may qualify for a 10% flat tax on foreign income, according to residency program explanations.

Avoidable mistakes that derail trips and applications

Common problems and how to avoid them:
– Money: Bring $160 USD in cash for visa-on-arrival—cards are not accepted.
– Travel proofs: Have onward tickets, accommodation details, and evidence of funds ready for airlines and border officers.
– Residence filings: Ensure apostilles and translations are correct and match the checklist before submission.
– Overstays: Extensions are handled in-country, but fines are reported as $50 or more per day, and repeated overstays risk removal.

Special notes for business visitors, families, and remote workers

Business visitors:
– Rules largely mirror tourism for up to 90 days.
– Add a company letter for business trips.
– Long projects, local payroll, or opening a branch usually require residence status.

Families:
– Plan early for minors. Consular practice often requires a birth certificate and notarized parental consent for children traveling with one parent or another adult.

Remote workers:
– Paraguay has no dedicated digital nomad visa in this guide.
– Many remote earners use the Independent Means Visa when their income is foreign and steady.