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Paraguay has no direct citizenship-by-investment program. The route runs through residency: invest from USD 70,000 under the SUACE productive track of the Investor Pass framework (Resolution 0283/2026), hold permanent residency for 3 years, then naturalize through the Supreme Court. It is one of the fastest, lowest-cost paths to a second passport in South America.

Does Paraguay Offer Citizenship by Investment?

Not in the literal sense. Paraguay does not run a program where a payment buys a passport. What it offers is a residency-by-investment route that leads to citizenship through naturalization. An investor first obtains permanent residency by investing in the economy, then applies for citizenship after holding that residency for 3 years.

The distinction matters because the timeline and the obligations differ from a Caribbean cash-for-passport model. The capital is invested in a qualifying asset or business rather than donated, and you build genuine ties to the country along the way. For investors who accept that structure, Paraguay is among the most affordable and efficient paths to a second nationality in the region, second only to Argentina's investment route once that program becomes operational.

How Does the Investment Route to Citizenship Work?

The path runs in three stages, and the investment opens the first one. Each stage has to be completed before the next begins.

• Secure permanent residency. Invest through one of the Investor Pass tracks under Resolution 0283/2026 to obtain permanent residency directly, with no temporary phase.
• Maintain permanent residency for 3 years. Keep genuine ties to Paraguay (arraigo), such as a local company, property, or fiscal presence, and avoid long absences. The 3-year clock runs from the date the cedula is issued.
• Apply for naturalization. After 3 years you become eligible to petition the Supreme Court of Justice for a Carta de Nacionalizacion under .

SUACE is the Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas, Paraguay's one-stop platform for company formation and investment registration, run by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. It issues the Foreign Investor Certificate (CIE) that supports the direct permanent-residency application.

What Changed Under the 2022 Migration Law and the 2026 Investor Pass?

Two reforms define the current landscape. Law 6984 of 2022 rebuilt the residency system, and Resolution 0283 of 2026 restructured the investor route on top of it.

Under , the old shortcut, a bank deposit of roughly USD 5,000 that delivered permanent residency almost immediately, was eliminated. Standard applicants must now hold temporary residency for 2 years before converting to permanent status. The investor routes are the exception: they grant permanent residency directly, without the two-year wait.

On April 17, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and National Migration launched the Paraguay Investor Pass, formalized in Resolution 0283/2026, which came into force at the end of April 2026. It restructures the investor route into four tracks, each with its own threshold and obligations, and issues the Foreign Investor Certificate that supports direct permanent residency. The existing USD 70,000 productive SUACE route remains available alongside the newer, higher-threshold real estate, financial, and tourism tracks.

What Are the Investment Options and Thresholds?

There are four qualifying tracks under Resolution 0283/2026, and the right one depends on how much you want to invest and whether you want to operate a business or hold a passive asset.

The productive SUACE investment can be deployed as a lump sum or staged over a structured business plan, and acceptable uses include incorporating a new company or expanding an existing Paraguayan business. Real estate on the USD 200,000 track can be reached by aggregating several qualifying properties, and each property must meet the regulation's economic-purpose criteria rather than being held for personal use.

What Does Paraguay Citizenship by Investment Cost?

The headline number is the investment itself, from USD 70,000 through SUACE, but that is capital placed in a qualifying asset or business, not a fee. The real out-of-pocket cost is the surrounding spend, and it varies by track and provider.

• Government filing and migration fees, which are modest by regional standards.
• Company incorporation and SUACE or CIE registration costs.
• The cedula (national identity card) and residence card fees.
• Apostille or legalization, plus certified Spanish translation of every foreign document.
• Professional and legal fees, which depend on the scope of help.

Because fee schedules change and depend on how the investment is structured, treat any all-in figure you see quoted as indicative and confirm current government fees with the and SUACE before committing. The investment threshold is the qualifying minimum, not a ceiling.

What Are the Requirements and Documents?

The document set is standard for the region but unforgiving on formality, since errors in legalization are the most common cause of delay. As of 2026, Resolution DNM 407/2026 also tightened proof of economic solvency, so real income and apostilled records now carry more weight than a diploma alone.

• Valid passport, plus the legal entry record into Paraguay.
• Birth certificate, and marriage or divorce certificate where relevant.
• Criminal record certificate from your country of origin and from any country lived in over the preceding 5 years, plus an Interpol clearance.
• Medical certificate of good health.
• Proof of economic solvency and, for investors, the Foreign Investor Certificate issued through SUACE.
• Sworn declaration of commitment to respect Paraguayan law.

Every foreign document must be apostilled or consular-legalized, and anything not in Spanish must be translated by a certified translator in Paraguay. The residency file is submitted to the National Migration Directorate in Asuncion, and the process generally involves attending in person to file, to apply for the cedula, and to collect it.

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

Paraguay offers one of the shortest routes to naturalization in South America, but the passport is the end of a multi-year sequence, not a quick purchase. The investor path compresses the front end because permanent residency is granted directly.

During the 3 qualifying years, applicants are expected to keep real ties and limit absences. Naturalization is a judicial process: the Supreme Court orders fresh Interpol, police, and migration reports, requires basic Spanish or Guarani, and sets a written civics exam of 30 questions on history, geography, and the Constitution, with a pass mark of 21 correct.

What Are the Benefits of a Paraguayan Passport?

The appeal is a mix of mobility, tax treatment, and regional rights that punch above the country's profile.

• Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to , including the Schengen Area and most of South America. The United States and Canada still require a visa.
• Mercosur rights, meaning the ability to live and work across member states such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
• A territorial tax system, under which foreign-source income is generally not taxed in Paraguay.
• Dual citizenship on a reciprocity basis, so naturalizing does not require renouncing your current nationality in practice, subject to Article 149 and your home country's rules.
• One of the lowest costs of living in South America, with Asuncion well below major Western cities.

For families seeking a long-term base, the combination of a fast naturalization track and low ongoing cost is the core of the value. Our guide to Paraguay residency and citizenship covers the lifestyle and settlement side in more depth, and Paraguay tax residency covers the territorial system.

How Does Paraguay Compare to Other Latin American Routes?

Paraguay competes on price and speed rather than passport power. The table sets it beside three regional alternatives.

For the detail on each, see our guides to the Argentina citizenship by investment route, Uruguay residency, and Chile residency by investment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most problems on the Paraguay route are avoidable with planning.

• Expecting an instant passport. Citizenship comes only after 3 years of permanent residency, not at the point of investment.
• Assuming the old USD 5,000 deposit still works. Law 6984 of 2022 removed it.
• Confusing the tracks. The USD 70,000 figure is the productive SUACE route with a 5-job commitment, not the no-obligation real estate track, which is USD 200,000.
• Buying property for personal use and expecting it to qualify. Real estate must meet the regulation's economic-purpose criteria and cannot be for personal or family use.
• Submitting documents without apostille or certified Spanish translation, which stalls the file.
• Letting absences pile up. Long periods outside Paraguay can undermine the residency and naturalization requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Buy Paraguayan Citizenship Directly?

No. Paraguay does not sell citizenship. The route is investment to permanent residency to naturalization, and citizenship becomes available only after holding permanent residency for 3 years and meeting integration and presence requirements. The structure is set out in the Constitution and the 2022 Migration Law, and naturalization is decided judicially by the Supreme Court.

How Much Do I Need to Invest for Paraguay Residency?

The lowest track is USD 70,000 in a Paraguayan business under the productive SUACE route, which carries a 5-job commitment. The Investor Pass also offers USD 150,000 for tourism projects and USD 200,000 for real estate or regulated financial instruments. The capital is invested in a qualifying asset, not donated. Confirm current thresholds with SUACE.

How Long Until I Can Apply for Citizenship?

You can apply for naturalization after holding permanent residency for 3 years, the standard set under the Constitution and the 2022 Migration Law. Counting document preparation, residency processing, the three-year hold, and the court stage, the total from investment to passport is usually about 3.5 to 5 years, depending on presence and court caseload.

What Is the Paraguay Investor Pass?

The Investor Pass is the framework launched on April 17, 2026 and formalized in Resolution 0283/2026 that grants permanent residency directly through investment. It restructures the investor route into four tracks (USD 70,000 productive, USD 150,000 tourism, USD 200,000 real estate, and USD 200,000 financial instruments), issued through the Foreign Investor Certificate by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Is Real Estate Enough to Qualify for Paraguay Residency?

Yes, under the dedicated real estate track of Resolution 0283/2026, a qualifying property investment of USD 200,000 grants direct permanent residency with no business plan and no job creation. The property cannot be for personal or family use, must meet the regulation's economic-purpose criteria, and the threshold can be reached by aggregating several qualifying properties.

Does Paraguay Tax My Foreign Income?

Generally no. Paraguay uses a territorial tax system, so income earned outside the country is typically not taxed locally, while Paraguay-source income is. This makes it attractive for entrepreneurs and remote earners. Tax residence is a separate question from citizenship, so confirm your position with a qualified tax adviser before relying on any treatment.

Does Paraguay Allow Dual Citizenship?

On a reciprocity basis. Under Article 149 of the Constitution, dual citizenship is recognized where a treaty allows it, with Spain and Italy as formal partners, while other nationalities are tolerated in practice. Whether your home country permits it is a separate matter, since some states withdraw nationality when a citizen naturalizes elsewhere. Confirm both sides before applying.

How Strong Is the Paraguayan Passport?

The Paraguayan passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 145 destinations, including the Schengen Area and most of South America, though the United States and Canada require a visa. As a Mercosur member, Paraguay also gives citizens the right to live and work across member states such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.

How Â鶹ԭ´´ Helps

Â鶹ԭ´´ advisors map the Paraguay route end to end: choosing among the productive SUACE, real estate, financial, and tourism tracks of the Investor Pass, then structuring the investment so it qualifies. The team assembles and legalizes the document set, coordinates the SUACE and Foreign Investor Certificate registration and the National Migration filing, and sequences the three-year residency so the naturalization petition is ready when the holder becomes eligible, rather than starting from scratch at year three.

Sergey Voinich, Founder and Managing Partner at Â鶹ԭ´´, notes: "The mistake we see most is people anchoring on the USD 70,000 headline without reading the obligations under it. That number is the productive track with a five-job commitment, and for a passive investor the clean route is the real estate track. We pick the track to the client's actual plan before a single document is apostilled, because switching tracks after filing costs months."