By Ankit Agarwal — independent global mobility advisor (500+ client cases). Published: 6 May 2026 · Last updated: 20 June 2026.
For most single applicants, Paraguay residency costs roughly USD 3,000–4,000 in government, legal, translation and document fees in 2026 (plus your travel) for the standard route — and there is no longer any fixed bank deposit. If you want direct permanent residency as an investor, the cost is set by an investment minimum instead: from USD 70,000 under Paraguay’s new 2026 Investor Pass. Paraguay remains, by a wide margin, the cheapest credible route to a Latin-American permanent residency that can convert to citizenship — but “cheap” and “right for you” are different questions, and that’s what we map on a call.
How much does Paraguay residency cost in 2026?
The standard (non-investor) Paraguay residency costs approximately USD 3,000–4,000 all-in for a single applicant in 2026 — covering government/Migraciones fees, document apostilles, certified Spanish translations, a local lawyer or processor, and your cédula — plus travel to Asunción. There is no fixed bank deposit: the old ~USD 5,000 deposit requirement was eliminated in October 2022 (Law 6984/2022). You now prove solvency through savings, income, or pension documentation instead.
| Cost line | USD (2026) | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| Government / Migraciones fees | 300–450 | No |
| Apostille of birth certificate, criminal record, marriage cert | 100–300 | No |
| Certified Spanish translations | 200–400 | No |
| Local Paraguayan lawyer / processor fee | 800–1,500 | No |
| Cédula card and ID issuance | 50–100 | No |
| Subtotal — fees only (single applicant) | ~3,000–4,000 | No |
| Travel: round-trip to Asunción + accommodation (5–10 days) | 800–1,500 | No |
Adding family: a spouse or dependent child generally adds USD 800–1,500 each in legal, translation and apostille costs. Exact dependent requirements are confirmed case-by-case. If you’re applying from the States, see our guide on applying for Paraguay residency from the USA.
Is there still a USD 5,000 bank deposit for Paraguay residency?
No — Paraguay scrapped the fixed bank deposit in October 2022 under Law 6984/2022. If a guide, agent, or older blog still quotes a “~USD 5,000 refundable deposit,” it is out of date. Under today’s standard route you instead show proof of solvency (savings, income, or a pension) and follow a 2-year temporary → permanent residency path. We see this stale figure constantly when clients arrive with quotes from other firms — it’s one of the first things we correct.
What does the new Investor Pass cost (direct permanent residency)?
If you want to skip the two-year temporary stage and receive permanent residency directly, the cost is an investment minimum, starting at USD 70,000, under Paraguay’s Investor Pass — created by Resolution N° 0283/2026 of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce (signed 21 April 2026, in force from late April 2026) and processed through SUACE, the one-stop investment window. We break the program down in full in the $70,000 investor residency, explained. There are four tracks:
| Investor Pass track | Min. investment (USD) | Direct PR? | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Productive / business (SUACE) | 70,000 | Yes | Business plan + ≥5 formal jobs |
| Real estate | 200,000 | Yes | Excludes personal/family-use property; deed or notarized contract (≥30% paid); no jobs/plan |
| Stock-market / financial | 200,000 | Yes | Min. 2-year hold; no jobs/plan |
| Tourism | 150,000 | Yes | Business plan; progress monitoring |
Which is “cheaper”? For pure out-of-pocket spend that doesn’t sit inside an asset, the standard route (~$3,000–4,000 in fees) is cheapest — your money goes to process costs, not an investment. The Investor Pass costs far more upfront, but the USD 70,000+ stays in your own business or asset and buys you direct permanent residency and speed. Which math is right depends entirely on your goals — covered on the call.
How does Paraguay residency cost compare to other programs?
Compared with the serious alternatives, Paraguay is dramatically cheaper to enter. Panama’s Friendly Nations route now effectively requires USD 200,000+ (we compare them head-to-head in Paraguay vs Panama residency), Portugal’s Golden Visa starts around EUR 250,000+ (its lowest tier is a cultural-heritage donation; the investment-fund route is EUR 500,000), after real estate was removed, and Greece’s Golden Visa runs EUR 250,000–800,000 by region. Paraguay’s standard route costs a few thousand dollars in fees; even its $70,000 Investor Pass undercuts every one of those — which is exactly why it’s the default “cheapest credible Plan-B residency” pick for 2026, and why it features in our roundup of the cheapest second passports in 2026. (Verify each program’s current minimum before relying on it — these change often.)
What’s the timeline, and what does “10 years” actually mean?
Standard route: you apply for temporary residency first, then convert to permanent, with citizenship eligibility generally after ~3 years of residence — see our full Paraguay citizenship timeline. Investor Pass: SUACE targets issuing the investor certificate (CIE) within ~5 business days of a complete file, with the PR card typically following in ~3–6 months — a published target, not a guaranteed outcome. The PR permit is definitive and the card is renewed every 10 years; that 10 years is the card’s renewal cycle, not a requirement to keep investing for a decade (a common myth). To keep residency active, you must enter Paraguay at least once every three years.
Will Paraguay residency change my taxes?
Paraguay residency does not, by itself, end your home-country tax obligations — tax residency is decided separately by each country. Paraguay itself runs a territorial tax system, so foreign-source income generally falls outside Paraguayan tax. But whether that helps you depends on actually shifting your tax residency (living there enough months, having a genuine home there), your home country’s exit rules, and — for US citizens — citizenship-based taxation, which a Paraguayan passport or residency does NOT remove; only renouncing US citizenship does. This page is general information, not personal tax advice; we map your specific position on the strategy call.
Honest trade-offs and risks
- It buys residency, not an instant passport. Citizenship eligibility comes after years and is never guaranteed.
- The Investor Pass is new. At the time of writing, the online portal isn’t fully live and filings are made in person at SUACE; implementation practice is still settling.
- The 5-business-day window is for complete files. Missing or wrong documents pause the clock.
- Real-estate track excludes a home you live in — personal/family-use property does not qualify.
- You must visit at least once every three years to keep residency valid.
- US citizens stay US-taxed. A second residency is Plan-B insurance, not a US tax fix.
- Tax benefits aren’t automatic — they depend on genuinely changing where you’re tax-resident.
Get your exact Paraguay number — and an honest yes/no
Online cost ranges are a starting point, not a plan. On a $100 strategy call I’ll map your real all-in cost, tell you whether the standard route or the Investor Pass fits your goals, and flag whether Paraguay is even the right Plan-B for your situation — even if the honest answer is that it isn’t us.
- Book a $100 strategy call — 30 minutes, honest fit assessment, fee credited if we work together.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Paraguay residency cost in 2026?
For the standard route, roughly USD 3,000–4,000 in government, legal, translation and document fees for a single applicant, plus travel. There is no fixed bank deposit since 2022. The investor route is priced by an investment minimum starting at USD 70,000.
Is there still a USD 5,000 deposit for Paraguay residency?
No. The fixed ~USD 5,000 bank deposit was eliminated in October 2022 (Law 6984/2022). You now prove solvency via savings, income, or pension instead.
What is the cheapest way to get Paraguay residency?
The standard non-investor route is cheapest in pure fees (~$3,000–4,000). The cheapest direct-PR investor route is the productive/business Investor Pass track at USD 70,000, which also requires a business plan and 5 formal jobs.
Does the USD 70,000 have to be spread over 10 years?
No. USD 70,000 is the one-time qualifying investment; the “10 years” is only the PR card’s renewal cycle, not an investment schedule.
How long does Paraguay residency take?
The Investor Pass targets a SUACE certificate in ~5 business days for a complete file, with the PR card typically in ~3–6 months — a published target, not a promise. The standard route runs temporary → permanent, with citizenship eligibility generally after ~3 years.
Does Paraguay residency lower my taxes?
Paraguay is territorial, so foreign income generally isn’t taxed there — but your real outcome depends on actually shifting tax residency and on your home country’s rules. US citizens remain taxed by the US regardless of a second residency. We assess your case on the call.
Can I include my spouse and children?
Generally yes, with costs scaling roughly USD 800–1,500 per dependent in legal, translation and apostille fees. Exact requirements are confirmed case-by-case.
Sources (official; date checked 8 June 2026)
- Ministry of Industry & Commerce (MIC) — Paraguay Investor Pass announcement: mic.gov.py
- MIC — per-track investment minimums: mic.gov.py
- Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — investor PR via SUACE & 10-year card renewal: migraciones.gov.py
- REDIEX (gov) — investment-attraction detail: rediex.gov.py
- Law 6984/2022 — eliminated the fixed bank deposit (cite official Gaceta reference).
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice, and does not guarantee any approval or timeline. Program rules and fees change — verify current figures with the official Paraguayan authorities before acting.