Paraguay

Paraguay Investor Pass Overview  Overview

The Paraguay Investor Pass grants direct permanent residency to foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment in Paraguay, bypassing the standard two-year temporary residency stage that applies to other immigration pathways. 

Four investment routes are available starting at US$70,000, covering productive business investment, real estate, financial instruments, and tourism projects. 

Permanent residency requires one visit to Paraguay every three years to remain active. No minimum annual stay applies. 

The main applicant can include a spouse and dependent children.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, hold a clean criminal record, pass Interpol checks, and sign a sworn declaration confirming the lawful origin and traceability of their investment funds. Personal or family-use real estate does not qualify. 

Four routes are available.

Productive Investment Route

• Minimum investment of US$70,000 in tangible business assets such as equipment, infrastructure, or real estate used in the business; operational costs including salaries, rent, and utilities do not count toward the threshold
• A detailed business plan must be submitted and approved through SUACE
• Minimum of five formal jobs created for Paraguayan nationals
• Semiannual reporting on project implementation is required

Real Estate Route

• Minimum investment of US$200,000 in qualifying commercial or income-generating real estate; personal or family-use properties are explicitly excluded
• Two documentation pathways are accepted: a registered property transfer deed, or a notarized private contract with at least 30% of the declared investment value already paid
• No business plan required; no job creation required
• Annual reporting obligation applies

Financial Instruments Route

• Minimum investment of US$200,000 in financial instruments issued by entities regulated by Paraguay’s Central Bank securities authority
• Minimum holding period of two years
• No business plan required; no job creation required
• Annual reporting obligation applies

Tourism Route

• Minimum investment of US$150,000 in a qualifying tourism project
• Business plan required demonstrating the tourism nature and economic impact of the project
• Job creation requirements apply as specified by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for the tourism sector

General Conditions (All Routes)

• Clean criminal record certificate
• Interpol clearance
• Signed sworn declaration confirming the lawful source and traceability of all investment funds, in compliance with Paraguay’s anti-money laundering requirements; supporting financial documents must be issued no earlier than 180 days before the application date
• Three in-person visits to Paraguay required: to submit the application through SUACE, to apply for the Cédula national identity card, and to collect it

Route to Citizenship

The Investor Pass grants permanent residency directly upon approval of the Foreign Investor Certificate and completion of the immigration process at the National Directorate of Migration. Permanent residency must be maintained by visiting Paraguay at least once every three years; failure to do so may result in cancellation of the permit.

After three years of permanent residency, holders become eligible to apply for Paraguayan citizenship by naturalization under the National Constitution of Paraguay. 

During each of those three years, the applicant must not be absent from Paraguay for more than three months. 

Additional requirements include demonstrated ties to the country such as property ownership, a registered local company, continuous fiscal presence, or regular professional activity in Paraguay; Spanish language proficiency at A1 level, assessed through a basic language examination; and a clean criminal record throughout the residency period. 

Paraguay permits dual nationality; applicants are not required to relinquish their prior citizenship.

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

Paraguayan citizens can access approximately 145 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival, including the entire European Union and Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Japan, and all MERCOSUR member states. 

As a full member of MERCOSUR, Paraguay’s citizens and residents benefit from freedom of movement and simplified residency rights across Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and associate states, giving permanent residents significant regional mobility during the residency period. 

Tax

Paraguay operates a strictly territorial tax system. Only income sourced in Paraguay is subject to Paraguayan personal income tax; foreign-source income is entirely exempt regardless of whether it is remitted to Paraguay. This applies to both residents and citizens. 

A person is considered a Paraguayan tax resident if they spend more than 120 days per year in the country; the Investor Pass imposes no minimum stay requirement, so many holders will not qualify as tax residents under this threshold. 

For those who do establish tax residency, personal income tax applies at 10% on income exceeding 120 monthly minimum salaries and at 8% below that threshold. Dividends are subject to a reduced final withholding tax of 8% for investor residents, reduced from the standard 15% rate. 

There is no inheritance tax and no net wealth tax. Capital gains, interest, and royalties are taxed at the standard rate on Paraguay-sourced amounts only.

How to Apply

The program is administered by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and theNational Directorate of Migration through the SUACE platform under Resolution N° 0283/2026. Applications are submitted in person at SUACE offices in Asunción. 

The process typically runs as follows.

• Step 1: Select the applicable investment route and complete or commit to the qualifying investment; gather all required documents, including a valid passport, criminal record certificate, Interpol clearance, sworn declaration of source of funds with supporting financial documentation issued within the previous 180 days, and investment documentation specific to the chosen route such as a business plan, property deed or notarized contract, financial instrument certificates, or tourism project documentation.
• Step 2: Travel to Paraguay and submit the full application in person through SUACE in Asunción; the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reviews the application and issues the Foreign Investor Certificate within five business days if all requirements are met.
• Step 3: Present the Foreign Investor Certificate to the National Directorate of Migration and apply for permanent residency; processing of the residency card typically takes three to six months from this stage.
• Step 4: Return to Paraguay to apply in person for the Cédula national identity card at the relevant authority, and return a third time to collect it at the National Police.
• Step 5: Fulfill ongoing reporting obligations: semiannual reporting for the productive investment route, and annual reporting for the real estate and financial instruments routes; maintain the qualifying investment throughout the residency period.