Under Law No. 6984/2022, foreigners usually start with temporary residence, which the Dirección General de Migraciones (DGM) grants for up to 2 years, and can then move to permanent residence. The cédula (national ID card) is a separate document, issued by the Identification Department of the National Police.
Paraguay residency at a glance: temporary, permanent and the cédula
Paraguay's process is a sequence of different offices, and each one produces a different document. The DGM decides your residence status. The National Police issue your ID card. The DNIT, the tax authority, registers your RUC (Paraguay's taxpayer ID). Mixing these up is the most common source of confusion for people researching Paraguay as a second residency or plan B.
- Law 6984/2022: the current migration framework, which replaced Law No. 978/1996. It runs from temporary residence (up to 2 years) to permanent residence.
- DGM: the Dirección General de Migraciones handles residence permits.
- National Police Identification Department: issues the cédula de identidad. The DGM does not issue it.
- DNIT and the RUC: the DNIT, created by Law No. 7143/2023, runs the Marangatu tax system, where the RUC is registered.
The legal framework: Law No. 6984/2022 and the agencies involved
Law No. 6984/2022 on Migration governs who may enter, stay and settle in Paraguay. It replaced Law No. 978/1996. For people who want to settle, its core structure is simple: temporary residence first, for up to 2 years, then permanent residence.
The details sit in regulations and in the DGM's own procedures. Those details can change, including which documents are requested and how they must be legalized. Treat any list you read online, this one included, as orientation. Confirm it with the DGM or a licensed professional before you start.
DGM vs. the National Police Identification Department
The DGM grants residence but does not issue the ID card. The cédula de identidad comes from the Departamento de Identificaciones of the National Police.
In practice, this means two files, two sets of requirements and two possible delay points. Your residence status is generally what allows you to apply for the cédula. Inconsistent names or data between your passport, your residence file and your ID application are a classic cause of friction.
Stage 1: Temporary residence (up to 2 years)
Temporary residence is the entry point. Under Law No. 6984/2022 it is granted for up to 2 years. It gives you a legal basis to stay and starts the sequence that leads to the cédula and, later, to permanent status.
Documents commonly requested
Files for foreign applicants commonly include the documents below. Confirm the current list with the DGM or a licensed professional.
- Passport: valid, with data that matches every other document.
- Birth certificate: from your country of origin, apostilled or legalized.
- Criminal record from your country of origin: apostilled or legalized, and recent enough to be accepted.
- Paraguayan police record: obtained in Paraguay.
- Proof of address in Paraguay: commonly a lease agreement, often with an address certificate.
Whether a document needs an apostille or full consular legalization depends on the issuing country and its treaty position. No single rule fits every US, Canadian, British or Australian applicant. Start with the issuing authority in your home country.
Translations into Spanish and getting the home-country paperwork right
Official procedures in Paraguay are conducted in Spanish. Documents issued in another language are commonly expected with a Spanish translation, and translation requirements can be as strict as the apostille itself. Follow this order:
- Obtain the original document.
- Apostille or legalize it.
- Translate it, so the translator works from the final authenticated version.
Before you submit, check the spelling of names, the order of surnames and all dates across every document. Fixing a mismatch after filing is slower than preventing it.
Stage 2: Moving from temporary to permanent residence
Under Law No. 6984/2022 the path leads from temporary to permanent residence, which is the long-term status. Apart from the "up to 2 years" of temporary residence, no fixed processing time can be responsibly promised for the permanent step. It depends on how complete your file is, how long your documents remain valid and the DGM's procedures at the time.
Keep two practical points in mind:
- Document validity: documents that were valid when you started may expire before you reach the next stage, so track their validity.
- Address records: keep your address documentation continuous and consistent across stages.
Stage 3: Getting the cédula de identidad
The cédula is issued by the Identification Department of the National Police. It is your day-to-day Paraguayan ID, used for contracts, banking and administrative procedures. It is not a residence permit and does not replace the DGM's decision. It follows from your residence status.
Because it is a separate office, expect a separate checklist. Bring documents that match your passport and residence file exactly. Identification procedures commonly involve in-person steps.
Stage 4: Registering for a RUC with the DNIT (and why the address matters)
The RUC is Paraguay's taxpayer ID. You register it with the DNIT, which was created by Law No. 7143/2023 through the merger of the former SET and the National Customs Directorate. Registration runs through the Marangatu system.
A RUC is what you use to:
- Issue invoices.
- Operate a company such as an EAS (Empresa por Acciones Simplificada, Law No. 6480/2020), which allows a single shareholder and digital incorporation via SUACE.
- Comply with local tax rules.
Registration involves declaring an address, so address documentation matters. For more on how the RUC and address documentation interact, see our guide to the RUC and address documentation.
Proof of address in practice: lease agreement vs. utility bills
Many newcomers assume they need an electricity or water bill in their own name. For rentals in Paraguay, that is generally not how it works. Utility bills (ANDE and Essap) for rented apartments are usually in the name of the owner or the management company. It is not customary for them to be in the tenant's name, and in practice the RUC is obtained without them.
What is commonly used instead is a lease agreement plus a signed address certificate. People use this combination as proof of address for the residency file, the RUC, and bank or fintech KYC, in Paraguay or abroad. Each entity decides on acceptance, so no document can be promised to work everywhere.
Timeline table: who issues what and what each stage unlocks
The only legal duration in this table is the "up to 2 years" for temporary residence under Law No. 6984/2022. Other timings vary by file and by office.
| Stage | Issuing body | Main output | What it unlocks | Common delay factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Temporary residence | DGM | Temporary residence (up to 2 years under Law 6984/2022) | Legal stay, start of the cédula process | Missing apostille or legalization, outdated criminal record |
| 2) Permanent residence | DGM | Permanent residence | Long-term status | Incomplete file, document validity |
| 3) Cédula | National Police Identification Department | Paraguayan ID card | Day-to-day ID, banking, contracts | Name or data mismatches between documents |
| 4) RUC | DNIT (Marangatu) | Tax ID | Invoicing, company (EAS), tax compliance | Address documentation |
What typically delays the process
- Expired or non-apostilled documents: a criminal record or birth certificate that is too old, or that lacks the required apostille or legalization.
- Name mismatches: different spellings or surname order across passport, birth certificate and application forms.
- Translation problems: translations done before authentication, or translations that do not match the original.
- Incomplete files: a single missing document can stall an entire stage.
- Address documentation: an unclear or undocumented address creates friction at the DGM, at the RUC stage and at banks.
Residency is not tax residency: notes for US, Canadian, UK and Australian citizens
Paraguayan residence is an immigration status. It does not automatically make you a Paraguayan tax resident, and it does not erase your tax position elsewhere.
As a general rule, Paraguay applies a territorial principle to income tax under Law No. 6380/2019, which means Paraguayan-source income is taxed. This is not absolute. Certain foreign-source capital income may receive specific treatment under the personal income tax (IRP), so territoriality should never be read as "zero tax."
- United States: US citizens remain taxed on citizenship, so Paraguayan residency does not end US filing obligations. Regimes such as the FEIE, FBAR and FATCA reporting may still be relevant.
- Canada: check your residential ties and the departure rules before assuming you have stopped being a Canadian tax resident.
- United Kingdom: the statutory residence test determines UK tax residence, and your move date and days spent in the UK matter.
- Australia: Australian residency tests apply independently of your Paraguayan status.
Get advice in your home country before you move. For the Paraguayan side, see our guide to Paraguay tax residency. For market context, see our note on Paraguay's investment-grade rating and real estate.
Is it legit? Banking and Spanish-language paperwork
The process rests on a published statute, Law No. 6984/2022, with a named agency responsible for each document. In practice, the risk lies in execution: wrong apostilles, mismatched names and incomplete files.
On banking, a cédula, a RUC and a documented address make onboarding easier, but each bank or fintech decides on its own, in Paraguay and abroad. On language, the paperwork is in Spanish. Plan for translations, and if you do not read Spanish, have someone review what you sign.
Getting professional help with your residency file
Residence is a documentary process, and the quality of the file drives the outcome. For tailored support, we work with collaborating lawyers and notaries on residency matters under custom quotation. You can start with the qualification form on our services page.
The address piece is separate and simpler. Our service provides a real lease agreement for a unit in Asunción's Eje Corporativo, assigned by us, plus a signed address certificate. Both are issued remotely, typically within about 48 hours. They are commonly used for the residency file, the RUC and bank or fintech KYC, with each entity deciding on acceptance. The service does not include residential use, keys or utility bills in your name. See the plans on our pricing section.
This content is informational and does not constitute legal or tax advice; consult a licensed professional in Paraguay and in your home country.