Investment Visa · Permanent Residency · Paraguay 2026

Paraguay Investor Pass 2026:
Complete Guide to Requirements, Categories and How to Apply

The Paraguay Investor Pass, launched in April 2026 under Resolution 0283/2026, is the most significant residency-by-investment programme Paraguay has ever created. This guide explains how it works, how much you need to invest and what to do to apply.

What is the Paraguay Investor Pass?

The Paraguay Investor Pass is a permanent residency by investment programme created under Resolution 0283/2026, effective from April 16, 2026. It was designed to attract foreign direct investment to Paraguay, offering the investor and their immediate family (spouse and minor children) Paraguayan permanent residency in return.

Unlike the investor visa that previously existed (which only granted temporary residency), the Investor Pass grants direct permanent residency without requiring a prior temporary residency period. This is its key advantage over any other immigration pathway available in Paraguay.

The 4 categories of the Investor Pass

The productive investment category is the most accessible (USD 70,000) and most widely used by entrepreneurs who already have or want to establish an operating company in Paraguay. The investment can be made in an SRL, SA or EAS with capital certified by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC).

Investor Pass vs. traditional permanent residency

Step-by-step process

1. Investment incorporation or certification
   For productive investment: incorporate the local company (SRL/SA/EAS) and capitalise it with the required minimum. For real estate: register the property in the applicant's name. For financial instruments: certify the balance at a regulated institution.
2. MIC certification
   The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) certifies that the investment qualifies under the Investor Pass parameters. Submit investment documentation, financial statements (for productive) or deeds/bank statements by category.
3. DGME immigration filing
   With the MIC certificate, open the permanent residency file at the General Directorate of Immigration (DGME). Submit legalised personal documents (apostilled or with consular chain), criminal background checks and application forms.
4. Residency granted and ID card issued
   Once the DGME approves the file, permanent residency is granted. The National Identification Service (Departamento de Identificaciones de la Policía Nacional) issues the ID card for permanent resident foreigners.

Required documents

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
• Criminal background certificate from country of origin — apostilled or with consular chain
• Birth certificate — apostilled and translated into Spanish if applicable
• Marriage certificate (if applicable) — apostilled
• Investment documentation: deeds, company incorporation documents, financial statements, bank statements — by category
• Investment certificate issued by the MIC
• Completed and signed DGME application forms
• Proof of address in Paraguay

Why invest in Paraguay?

• Corporate income tax: 10% — lowest in MERCOSUR
• VAT: 10% — half of Argentina (21%) and Brazil (20%+)
• No personal income tax on foreign-source income
• Free currency convertibility with no capital controls
• Maquila regime: export-oriented manufacturing with near-zero tax burden
• Among the world's cheapest electricity (Paraguay is a net hydroelectric exporter)
• Paraguayan passport: visa-free access to EU, Japan, South Korea and 140+ countries

Frequently asked questions

Can I combine amounts from different categories to reach the minimum?

No. The Investor Pass requires reaching the minimum within a single investment category. Combining, for example, USD 100,000 in real estate with USD 100,000 in financial instruments to reach the USD 200,000 minimum of each category is not permitted.

Is there a minimum stay requirement once permanent residency is obtained?

Paraguayan permanent residency does not expire through absence. However, to maintain the path to naturalisation, the law requires demonstrating 3 years of effective residence. For many investors, operating an active local company facilitates this requirement.

Do I have to maintain the investment permanently?

Resolution 0283/2026 does not establish a minimum holding period once permanent residency is granted. As a general best practice, it is recommended to maintain the investment active during the full immigration process and the first year of residency. This may evolve in subsequent regulations.

What happens with my children over 18?

Children over 18 are not automatically covered by the parent's Investor Pass. They can apply for residency independently through other immigration regimes, or wait for one of the parents to obtain citizenship and naturalise them by filial bond.