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South America · New for 2026
Paraguay Investor Pass
A new fast track to Paraguayan residency built for investors, entrepreneurs, and globally mobile families. Launched 17 April 2026 under Resolución MIC N.º 1052/2025. Ninety day decision target, ten year residency card, no employment quota.
Why this country, why now
South America’s quietest territorial tax jurisdiction, finally with a serious investor route
Paraguay sat outside the residency by investment conversation for years. Low cost of living, territorial taxation, Mercosur access, and one of the youngest populations in the region, but no formal investor programme to anchor strategy around. The Investor Pass closes that gap.
18,071
Residency applications, Q1 2026
+85%
YoY growth in applicants
10%
Flat corporate income tax (IRE)
8%
Dividend tax (IDU), residents
The programme, explained
What the Investor Pass actually is
The Paraguay Investor Pass is a new residency category created under Law N.º 6984/22 and operationalised by Resolución MIC N.º 1052/2025. It sits alongside the existing SUACE business residency and the temporary residency route, and it targets a different applicant: investors who want a clean, capital backed path with no employment quota and no obligation to operate a Paraguayan company day to day.
Three qualifying tracks are available. Each can stand alone.
What you get
- Residency card valid for ten years.
- Only one entry into Paraguay every three years required to keep the card active.
- Mercosur mobility benefits within the bloc.
- The right to work, open companies, and own real estate without restrictions.
- A pathway to naturalisation under Article 148 of the Constitution, after three years of legal residency, subject to physical presence and language conditions.
- Family inclusion: spouse, dependent children, and economically dependent parents.
Who the programme suits
- Latin American entrepreneurs seeking Mercosur mobility and a stable base outside Argentina, Brazil, or Chile.
- Globally mobile professionals wanting a low cost residency anchor with a credible territorial tax regime.
- Capital allocators who want optionality on a future second citizenship without the price tag of a Caribbean CBI.
What it is not
The Investor Pass is not a passport programme. Citizenship is conditional, not automatic. It is also not a substitute for tax residency: holding a card does not by itself trigger Paraguayan tax residency. That is a separate planning question, and we will be straight with you on both points before any capital moves.
Three qualifying routes
Choose your investment track
Each track meets the Investor Pass capital threshold on its own. Combinations are possible and increasingly common in structured applications.
01
Tourism
US$150,000
Capital deployed into a qualifying tourism asset or operating venture in Paraguay.
- Lowest entry threshold of the three routes
- Suited to hospitality, lodges, eco tourism projects
- Aligned with government tourism strategy
02
Real Estate
US$200,000
Direct property acquisition meeting the qualifying value threshold.
- Asset is yours; rental income permitted
- Asunción and Ciudad del Este are the deepest markets
- No restrictions on foreign ownership
03
Securities
US$200,000
Investment into authorised Paraguayan capital markets instruments.
- Lower operational footprint than property or tourism
- Suited to passive allocators
- Custody and transfer rules require careful structuring
From first call to residency card
The application process
A streamlined five stage path. Most files reach decision inside the 90 day target when documents are clean and capital is ready to deploy.
1
Discovery
Private 45 minute call. We map your goals, jurisdiction fit, and timeline.
2
Structuring
Track selection, capital pathway, family inclusion plan, tax preview.
3
Documents
Police clearance, Interpol certificate, apostilles, sworn translations, financial proofs.
4
Filing
Application lodged with Migraciones and MIC. Capital deployed into the qualifying asset.
5
Card Issued
Residency granted. Ten year card collected in country.
Indicative cost structure
Costs, in plain numbers
Side by side comparison of Paraguay’s three residency routes. Figures reflect current third party costs only. Professional fees are quoted privately and tailored to each file.
| Item | Temporary Residency | SUACE Business | Investor Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not required | US$70,000 + 5 employees | US$150,000 to US$200,000 |
| Government & filing fees | US$350 to 400 | US$350 to 400 | US$350 to 400 |
| Document apostille | US$200 to 800 | US$200 to 800 | US$200 to 800 |
| Interpol certificate | US$50 to 150 | US$50 to 150 | US$50 to 150 |
| Status granted | Temporary (2 years) | Permanent | Permanent · 10 year card |
| Physical presence | 1 day / year | 1 day every 2 years | 1 day every 3 years |
Third party costs (government fees, apostille, Interpol) vary by applicant’s home country. Real estate purchases carry transaction taxes additional to the qualifying capital. Each file receives a written quote before engagement.
Why investors care
Paraguayan taxation, simplified
Paraguay operates a territorial tax system under Law N.º 6380/19. As a general rule, only income sourced inside Paraguay is taxed. Foreign sourced income earned by Paraguayan tax residents is, in most cases, outside the scope of Paraguayan tax.
Territorial principle
Foreign sourced income is generally not subject to Paraguayan income tax under the territorial regime set out in Law N.º 6380/19.
10% flat corporate tax (IRE)
One of the most competitive corporate income tax rates in the Americas, applied as a single flat rate.
8% dividend tax for residents
IDU applies at 8% on dividends distributed to Paraguayan tax residents, and at 15% on distributions to non residents.
No wealth or inheritance tax
Paraguay levies neither a wealth tax nor an inheritance tax, which simplifies multi generational planning.
Tax residency is a separate legal question from immigration residency. We model your specific cross border situation with a qualified tax adviser before any structuring assumption is made. No part of this page is tax advice.
The longer game
From residency to Paraguayan citizenship
Article 148 of the Paraguayan Constitution allows naturalisation after three years of legal residency, with practical conditions worth weighing honestly.
The conditions, in plain English
- Three years of legal residency from the grant date.
- Sustained physical presence during that window. In practice, most practitioners advise aiming for roughly 183 days per year on average. This is the condition that catches most international applicants off guard.
- Demonstration of livelihood in Paraguay (employment, business, capital).
- Spanish or Guaraní language ability and basic civic knowledge.
- Good standing: no serious criminal record, clean tax behaviour.
If the physical presence threshold is incompatible with your life, the Investor Pass is still useful as a residency anchor and a Mercosur mobility tool, but treat citizenship as a possibility rather than a certainty. We say so plainly because some advisors do not.
Compare your options
Investor Pass vs. SUACE vs. Temporary Residency
Three legal routes into Paraguayan residency, three different applicant profiles. Quick read of the trade offs.
| Feature | Temporary Residency | SUACE Business | Investor Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital required | None | US$70,000 | From US$150,000 |
| Employment quota | None | 5 Paraguayan staff | None |
| Status granted | Temporary, 2 years | Permanent | Permanent · 10 year card |
| Operational footprint | Light | Heavy | Light to moderate |
| Decision target | ~6 months | ~6 months | ~90 days |
| Best for | Testing the country | Active operators | Investors and globally mobile families |
Next step
Book a private consultation
A focused 30 to 45 minute call covering the full programme landscape, not just Paraguay. We map your goals, model the trade offs, and build a shortlist that matches your actual situation.
Pick a time directly
Live availability
Pick a time that suits you below. Calendar is live and updates in real time.
Real questions, straight answers
Frequently asked
Do I have to live in Paraguay to keep my residency?
No. The residency card is valid for ten years, and the only mandatory presence requirement is one entry to Paraguay every three years to keep the status active. Citizenship is the conversation where physical presence becomes meaningful, at a level most practitioners read as around 183 days per year on average.
Can I get a Paraguayan passport in three years?
Legally, the door opens at three years of legal residency under Article 148 of the Constitution. Practically, citizenship requires sustained physical presence, a Spanish or Guaraní language test, and demonstration of livelihood in country. We will tell you honestly whether that fits your life before you commit capital.
Is the investment refundable?
The qualifying capital is your asset, not a fee. Real estate is yours to hold or sell. Tourism and securities investments carry their own market risk and exit conditions. The capital is not a deposit returned by the State; it is a real allocation.
Can I include my family?
Yes. Spouse, dependent children, and economically dependent parents qualify on the same file. Each dependent has their own document set and modest fee.
How does Paraguayan tax actually work for me?
Paraguay applies territorial taxation under Law N.º 6380/19: income sourced outside Paraguay is generally not taxed locally. Becoming tax resident in Paraguay is a separate legal question from holding the residency card, and your existing tax residency does not automatically end. We always model the cross border picture before structuring anything.
How is the Investor Pass different from SUACE?
SUACE is for active operators: US$70,000 investment plus five Paraguayan employees, a real business in country. The Investor Pass is for passive or semi passive investors: higher capital threshold from US$150,000, no employment quota, lighter operational footprint. Different tools for different jobs.
What is the timeline, realistically?
The official decision target is around 90 days from complete filing. In practice, document gathering (police clearance, Interpol, apostilles, translations, financial proofs) often takes longer than the government decision itself. From our first call to card in hand, plan three to five months on a clean file.
Do I need to visit Paraguay?
Yes, at least once. In country biometrics and document collection require physical presence. We coordinate the visit so it takes a handful of days, not weeks.
Will my new residency be reported to my home country?
Possibly, depending on your home country’s reporting framework and whether you also become tax resident in Paraguay. CRS, FATCA, and your home tax filing obligations are part of the planning conversation, not an afterthought.
How do I know if Paraguay is the right country for me?
You probably do not, yet. That is the point of the discovery call. Most clients arrive convinced about one country and leave with a different short list once we map the goals against the trade offs.
Important disclaimer. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or investment advice. All figures, processing times, and programme details are based on publicly available sources and practitioner knowledge as of the publication date, and are subject to change without notice by the relevant Paraguayan authorities, including the Ministerio de Industria y Comercio (MIC) and the Dirección General de Migraciones. Eligibility for the Investor Pass, naturalisation, and any associated tax benefits depends on individual circumstances and the correct application of Paraguayan law in force at the time of filing. Decisions to apply, invest, or relocate should be made only after personalised advice from qualified legal and tax professionals in Paraguay and in your country of residence. MATIAS AGUAYO Residency & Citizenship is an independent advisory practice and is not the issuing authority of any residency or citizenship status.
Your country of birth should never define where, or how, you choose to live
Build the right plan, with the right adviser
Thirty to forty five minutes. One strategic conversation about whether the Paraguay Investor Pass belongs in your plan, or whether something else does. We map your goals, walk through trade offs, and shortlist the programmes that fit your situation.