From residence to citizenship in Paraguay

Paraguay's immigration system is built as a ladder. Most newcomers start with temporary residence under Law No. 6984/2022, which is granted for up to two years (renewable) and lets the holder live, work and study, obtain the cédula de identidad, and travel in and out of the country. MERCOSUR nationals have a parallel nationality-based version of this step.

Temporary residence is a prerequisite for permanent residence: the change of category should be filed within the three months before the temporary card expires. Some applicants — spouses/children of Paraguayans, foreign family of repatriated nationals, investors through SUACE, and MERCOSUR nationals — can access permanent residence through their own dedicated categories.

Permanent residence is, in turn, the basis for naturalisation. Under Article 148 of the Constitution, a foreigner who has held the required period of residence and meets the age, occupation/income and good-conduct requirements can apply to become a Paraguayan national. Understanding this sequence helps you choose the right first step for your long-term goal.

Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.