Reference · Updated 2026-05-06
Rights by status. Tourist, TR, PR, citizen — what each one unlocks.
Sooner or later everyone asks the same thing in the relocation WhatsApp groups: what does my status actually let me do? Here's the answer, one table per category. Sourced from Migraciones, IPS, BCN, DIMABEL, MOPC, and DINAC.
- Allowed
- Conditional
- Not allowed
Hover or tap a cell for the detail. Conditional means there's a hoop — a fee, a document, or a wait — but the right exists.
Stay & physical presence
How long you can be in Paraguay, and how much of that time you must physically spend here.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stay in the country | Up to 90 days per entry on the visa-free stamp; one 90-day extension via DNM is possible (Gs. 557,510 fee per Decreto 4122/2025). | Continuous, for 2 years; renewable for 2 more before the PR upgrade. | Continuous, for 10 years; the Cédula is reissued at expiry. | Indefinite. No status to renew. |
| Physical-presence rule | No presence rule — but each tourist stamp is capped at 90 days. | You may not be absent more than 365 consecutive days, or your TR lapses. No minimum stay. | Same 365-day absence cap as TR. No minimum stay required. | No presence requirement at all. |
Identity documents
The Cédula is the master key — almost every right below depends on having one.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cédula de Identidad (national ID) | Tourists are not eligible. Passport-only existence. | Issued shortly after TR is granted. Card valid for 2 years. | Cédula valid for 10 years; same physical card style as nationals. | Citizen Cédula, 10-year validity, plus a Paraguayan passport. |
| Paraguayan passport | Foreign passport only. | Cédula travel only within MERCOSUR; foreign passport everywhere else. | Same as TR — passport rights come with citizenship. | Paraguayan passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to ~145 countries (Henley Passport Index 2026 rank #26), including the Schengen Area. |
Work & business
Working legally requires a Cédula and (for most situations) a tax number — RUC or RUC-Cédula.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salaried employment in Paraguay | Working without status is illegal and triggers fines + entry-ban risk on next departure. | Full right to be hired by any employer, with the same labour protections as nationals. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR + access to public-sector employment. |
| Self-employment / freelance | Cannot register a RUC without a Cédula, so cannot legally invoice from Paraguay. | Get a Cédula → RUC at DNIT → invoice clients worldwide. Foreign income remains 0% taxed. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
| Form a Paraguayan company (SA, SRL, EAS) | May be a shareholder, but cannot serve as managing director without local status. Not the recommended track. | Full incorporation rights. EAS (Empresa por Acciones Simplificada) registers in ~3 working days via SUACE. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
| Work across MERCOSUR with a Paraguayan Cédula | Tourist status doesn't trigger the MERCOSUR residency agreement. | TR + Cédula entitles you to work in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile (and via accession Peru, Colombia, Ecuador) under the MERCOSUR Residency Agreement (in force since 2009). Apply at the destination country's migration office. | Identical to TR. | Same MERCOSUR rights, plus the ability to enter on a Paraguayan passport. |
| Hold elected office or serve in public administration | Reserved for citizens. | Reserved for citizens. | Reserved for citizens. | Naturalised citizens may hold most public-sector roles. The presidency, vice-presidency, Senate, Chamber of Deputies and Supreme Court Justice are reserved for natural-born Paraguayans (Constitution Art. 221, 223, 228, 258). |
Banking & finance
Tourists can crack open a starter account; serious banking only opens up at TR, and the full menu lands at PR.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic bank account (cuenta básica) | Banco Atlas and Banco Familiar will open a passport-only basic account with caps on monthly volumes. Most other banks decline. | Cuenta básica is automatic with Cédula + proof of address — same day at most banks. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
| Full transactional account | Beyond Banco Atlas / Familiar, full accounts require Cédula. | Possible with proof of stable income (3+ months of payslips or invoices) and a RUC. Some banks ask for 6 months of TR before upgrading. | Full menu unlocked: multi-currency, debit + credit, online + mobile. | Identical to PR. |
| Credit card | Banks will not extend credit without a Cédula + Paraguayan credit history. | Available after 6–12 months of consistent income flows through a Paraguayan account. | Granted on standard underwriting, same terms as nationals. | Identical to PR. |
| Mortgage on a Paraguayan property | No bank will mortgage to a non-resident. | A few private banks finance TRs with a substantial down payment (40–50%) and proof of multi-year local income. Practical limit: most foreigners pay cash on TR. | Standard 20–30% down, 15–20 year terms via BNF, Itaú, GNB, and others. | Identical to PR. |
| International transfers + investment accounts | Limited to the basic-account caps; not a viable channel for serious flows. | Transfers work, but each one over US$ 10,000 triggers SEPRELAD reporting and a source-of-funds review. | Full access. Investment accounts at Itaú, Banco Continental, Sudameris available. | Identical to PR. |
| Crypto on/off ramps via Paraguayan banks | No on-ramps available. | Direct crypto-bank rails are still rare — most flow uses peer-to-peer or international exchanges. SEPRELAD treats crypto inflows as reportable above standard thresholds. | Same workflows as TR but with no flag-on-arrival risk. | Identical to PR. |
Real estate
Foreigners can own land freely — with a 50 km border-zone limit that affects only bordering-country nationals.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy property anywhere outside the border zone | Foreign ownership is open even on a tourist stamp. Title is registered at DGRP. | Same right as tourists, with no restrictions. | Same right. | Same right. |
| Rent your property out for income | Possible only through an intermediary with a RUC; you cannot invoice rent yourself without one. | Get a Cédula → RUC at DNIT → invoice rents directly. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
| Agricultural land in the 50 km border zone | Ley 2532/2005 restricts border-zone rural land only to nationals of a bordering country (Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia). Foreigners from non-bordering countries are not barred; status does not change this. | Same nationality-based rule: barred only for nationals of Brazil, Argentina or Bolivia. | Same nationality-based rule: barred only for nationals of Brazil, Argentina or Bolivia. | Paraguayan citizens — naturalised or natural-born — are not subject to the Ley 2532/2005 bordering-country restriction. |
Healthcare
An ER will treat anyone with an ID, free of charge. Past the emergency room, what you get depends on your status.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency care at MSPBS public hospitals | Free for anyone with an ID — passport is enough. Guaranteed by the 2015–2030 National Health Policy. | Same right. | Same right. | Same right. |
| Routine public-hospital care + vaccinations | Not eligible to register at a local health centre; planned consultations are denied. | Register at the local health centre with Cédula + proof of address; planned care + national vaccination calendar are free. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
| IPS social-security health system | Not eligible. | Eligible only via formal employment — the employer registers you and 9% / 16.5% contributions begin. No co-pays after that, but no individual buy-in. | Same employment trigger as TR. | Citizens can also access IPS via the elderly-pensioner programme regardless of recent employment. |
| Private hospitals + clinics | Pay-as-you-go works. A specialist consultation runs US$ 25–50; a major procedure 30–60% of the US price. International insurance often accepted at Tier-1 networks. | Same access; private insurance becomes affordable (US$ 60–180/mo for an adult). | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
Education
Private and international schools take anyone who can pay. Free public school waits until you have a Cédula, which means TR or better.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public primary + secondary school | MEC enrolment requires a Cédula. | Free, with foreign-transcript validation done at MEC. Bring birth certificate, prior school records, and Cédula. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
| Private + international schools | Open to anyone who pays. Tuition: ~US$ 4–8 k/year for top international schools in Asunción. | Same access. | Same access. | Same access. |
| Public university | Cédula required for enrolment at UNA + other state universities. | Open with Cédula. Most programmes are tuition-free with modest registration fees. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR + priority for state scholarships. |
| State scholarships + grants | Reserved. | A few competitive programmes accept TR holders; most reserve seats for citizens. | Same as TR. | Full eligibility. |
Travel
Your Cédula starts crossing MERCOSUR borders the day you get TR. The visa-free Schengen perk, though, only arrives with the passport.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry to MERCOSUR countries (AR, BR, UY, BO, CL) | Depends entirely on your home passport. | Cédula is accepted as ID at all MERCOSUR land borders + airports — no passport stamp needed. | Same Cédula travel right. | Cédula or Paraguayan passport. |
| Visa-free Schengen access | Depends on your home passport. | TR/PR Cédula is not Schengen-recognised. Continue using your home passport. | Same — Cédula is not a passport. | Paraguayan passport gives 90 days visa-free in the Schengen Area. |
| Re-entering Paraguay without a fresh visa | If your home country has a Paraguayan visa requirement, every re-entry needs one. | Cédula = automatic re-entry. | Same. | Same. |
Taxes
The territorial system applies the moment you become a tax resident — TR or PR, doesn't matter.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Become a Paraguayan tax resident | Without a Cédula you cannot register a RUC, so you cannot formalise tax residency. Paraguay sets no statutory day-count for tax residency. | Get a Cédula, then a RUC at DNIT to register as a taxpayer. There is no minimum-days test; 120 days is only a civil-law domicile presumption (Ley 125/91 Art. 152), not a tax-residency requirement. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR. |
| 0% tax on foreign-source income | Not applicable — you're not a Paraguayan tax resident. | Salary, freelance, dividends, capital gains, crypto — anything earned outside Paraguay is exempt under the territorial system. | Same. | Same. |
| Tax on income earned inside Paraguay | Tourists cannot legally earn local income in the first place. | IRP at 8–10% above the annual exempt threshold. IRE at 10% on company profits. VAT 10%. | Same rates. | Same rates. |
| Resident 8% dividend (IDU) rate | Tourists are non-residents — 15% IDU withholding applies. | Once tax-resident (RUC + 120-day domicile), Ley 6380/2019 sets IDU at 8% for resident shareholders. The 'Investor Pass 8% dividend' marketed as a perk is in fact this same standard resident rate. | Same 8% resident rate. | Same 8% resident rate. |
| Wealth + inheritance tax on foreign assets | Not applicable. | Paraguay does not levy a wealth tax. Inheritance of foreign assets is not taxed locally. | Same. | Same. |
Family & reunification
Spouses and minor children come along; kids born in Paraguay are citizens by birth.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bring spouse + minor children on the same application | No reunification track from a tourist stamp. | Spouse + minors included as dependents on the TR file. | Same. | Same — marriage to a Paraguayan citizen lets the foreign spouse skip TR and apply directly for PR; the 3-year clock to citizenship still starts at PR (Constitution Art. 148). |
| Child born in Paraguay = Paraguayan citizen | Jus soli is unconditional — any child born on Paraguayan soil is a citizen by birth, regardless of parents' status. | Same. | Same. | Same. |
| Marry a Paraguayan + fast-track to PR | The marriage itself is open to anyone. | If you already hold TR, the marriage doesn't accelerate it — finish the standard PR upgrade. | Spouses of Paraguayan citizens can apply directly for PR, skipping the TR stage. | Already a citizen. |
Political rights
Almost nothing here opens before citizenship. The vote, an embassy that answers your call, and the draft notice all arrive together.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote in elections | Reserved for citizens. | Reserved for citizens. | Reserved for citizens. | Voting is mandatory for citizens 18–75. |
| Run for elected office | Citizens only. | Citizens only. | Citizens only. | Naturalised citizens may run for most municipal and departmental posts. The presidency (Art. 228), Senate (Art. 223) and Chamber of Deputies (Art. 221) all require natural Paraguayan nationality. |
| Compulsory military service | Not subject. | Not subject. | Not subject. | Compulsory for male citizens 18–50; many opt for the alternative civic-service track. |
| Paraguayan consular protection abroad | Reserved for citizens. | Reserved for citizens. | Reserved for citizens. | Full consular protection at every Paraguayan embassy + consulate worldwide. |
Citizenship & naturalisation
The clock starts at PR — TR years do not count.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply for citizenship | No track. | TR time does not count toward naturalisation. Convert to PR first. | Eligible to file for naturalisation 3 years after PR was granted. | Already a citizen. |
| Physical presence required for naturalisation | — | — | Court practice expects roughly 6 months (183 days) of physical presence per year over the 3-year qualifying period. Some Supreme Court rapporteurs ask for 9+ months — be conservative. | Already a citizen. |
| Spanish-language requirement | — | — | Basic Spanish exam at the Supreme Court of Justice. Reading, writing, and conversation at A2 level. | Already passed. |
| Dual citizenship retained | — | — | Paraguay recognises dual citizenship by treaty with Spain and Italy (Constitution Art. 149 + Ley 7052/2023) and tolerates it for other origin countries on a reciprocity-in-practice basis. Whether your home country revokes is a separate question — check your home rules. | Already established. |
Firearms
Two layers: tenencia (ownership for home / sport) opens at TR, portación (carry) opens at PR.
Regulated by Ley 4036/2010 + Ley 7411/2024 (in force since January 2025). Tenencia is registered at DIMABEL; portación needs a separate Police permit. A mandatory safety course (~4 hrs, ~Gs. 55,000) is required on first issuance.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenencia — own a firearm at home / sport / hunt | DIMABEL does not issue licences without a Cédula. | Eligible with Cédula, Vida y Residencia certificate, and clean Antecedentes Policiales. Class 1–2 (handguns ≤9 mm, .22 / .38 revolvers, shotguns, .22 rifles) from age 18; Class 3 (>9 mm, .223, .308, semi-auto rifles) from age 25. | Identical to TR; some PR holders skip duplicate background checks. | Identical to PR. |
| Portación — carry concealed in public | Forbidden. | Theoretically possible after tenencia, but DIMABEL practice favours PR holders. Minimum age 22. | Full right with separate Policía Nacional permit. | Full right, identical to PR. |
| Import a personal firearm from abroad | Forbidden. | Allowed with a valid tenencia licence + export permit from country of origin + import permit from DIMABEL. Process is paperwork-heavy and slow. | Same. | Same. |
| Mandatory safety course | — | DIMABEL course required on first licence (~4 hrs, ~Gs. 55,000). | Same — once-only. | Same. |
Vehicles, boats & aircraft
A tourist can legally drive for 90 days on a foreign licence. Boats, aircraft, and putting a vehicle in your own name all wait for the Cédula.
| Right | Tourist No status · ≤90 days | TR Residencia Temporal · 2 yrs | PR Residencia Permanente · 10 yrs | Citizen Naturalised · indefinite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive a car / motorcycle (categories A, B) | Allowed for the first 90 days using your foreign licence + IDP (or notarised Spanish translation). Past day 90, you must hold a Paraguayan licence. | Exchange your foreign licence at the municipality (no theory or practical exam, original required) or take the standard test from scratch. Licence valid 5 years. | Identical to TR. | Identical to TR + access to professional categories C, D, E (trucks, buses). |
| Get a local driver's licence | Cédula is required. | Cédula + Vida y Residencia. Cost ~Gs. 200–400 k. 5-year validity. | Same. | Same + access to all professional categories. |
| Buy + register a vehicle in your name | Purchase is open; titulación at the Municipalidad needs a Cédula or a Cédula-holder acting under power of attorney. | Register on Cédula + RUC. | Same. | Same. |
| Operate a motor boat / yacht | Possible on a recognised foreign licence (e.g. ICC) plus a temporary navigation permit from MOPC for the vessel. | Local boat licence issued by MOPC for most powered vessels. Vessel can be registered in your name. | Same. | Same. |
| Pilot a private aircraft | Foreign-registered aircraft + ICAO-recognised foreign licence may operate, with DINAC approval. Tightly controlled. | To get a Paraguayan PPL you need DNM clearance + DINAC training. Doable, but rare. | Full PPL pipeline. Aircraft can be Paraguayan-registered in your name. | Full PPL + commercial licences (CPL, ATPL). National-airline hiring priority. |
Quick summary
Four take-aways.
- Tourist
The thin end of the wedge. You can buy property and crack open a starter bank account at Banco Atlas or Familiar — and that's about where it ends. No working, no state schooling, no public healthcare past the ER. Driving is fine for 90 days on a foreign licence + IDP. Firearms are off-limits.
- TR
The working status for most relocators. Unlocks employment, business, banking, education, healthcare. Local driver's licence and tenencia firearm licence become available. TR years do not count toward citizenship — convert to PR to start the clock. Tax treatment is identical to PR.
- PR
Everything TR gives you, plus a 3-year clock to citizenship, plus the full banking menu, plus 10 years of stability. Investor Pass goes straight to PR, skipping TR entirely. Portación firearm carry, pilot's licence, and own-name vessel registration all open here.
- Citizen
The ceiling. Voting, consular protection, visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to ~145 countries (incl. Schengen Area), and the right to live + work in any MERCOSUR country. The one thing it adds on the obligations side: military service for males 18–50. Every driver-licence category, professional ones included, opens up too.
Next step
Not sure which status to aim for?
The 90-second residency quiz factors in nationality, income type, and budget to suggest the right track. From there, the full guide walks you through filing.
Sources
Verify with official sources
Every fact on this page links to a Paraguayan government authority or accepted third-party data source.
- DNM — Dirección Nacional de Migraciones migraciones.gov.py ↗
Issuing authority for residency. MigraMóvil schedule + Law 6984/2022 procedures.
- Policía Nacional policianacional.gov.py ↗
Issues the local Antecedentes Policiales certificate (Asunción).
- Poder Judicial — Corte Suprema pj.gov.py ↗
Issues the Antecedentes Penales (judiciary record) certificate.
- MRE — Foreign Ministry mre.gov.py ↗
Apostille and document legalization for foreign certificates.
- BACN — National Legal Database bacn.gov.py ↗
Searchable text of Law 6984/2022 and DNM regulations.
- Gaceta Oficial gacetaoficial.gov.py ↗
Official gazette where Law 6984/2022 was published.