Personal documents and residency in Paraguay
A guide for Brazilian business owners
Before the company, the bank account and the first contract come your personal documents. This guide shows, in the order it happens, how a Brazilian obtains Paraguayan residency and the Paraguayan ID card (cédula): which documents to bring from Brazil, what is issued in Paraguay, how long it takes and how much it costs. Each document is illustrated, so you know exactly what it is and what it looks like.
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Why documents come first
With Paraguayan residency and the cédula, a Brazilian lives legally in the country, works, opens a company, opens a bank account, gets a driver's license and registers with the Paraguayan tax authority. Without them, almost everything depends on powers of attorney and third parties. That is why, at OMNI, personal documents are always the first step for anyone coming to do business.
A resident is not a citizen. Residency is the authorization to live in Paraguay, and it is what opens the door to doing business. Citizenship only comes through naturalization by the Supreme Court of Justice, after years of permanent residency. Anyone offering "citizenship" or a "Paraguayan passport" as a package is selling something they cannot deliver: Paraguayan passports are issued only to citizens.
The path is temporary residency, applied for under the general rule, with no restrictions. Temporary residency is valid for up to two years and allows you to apply for permanent residency once the requirements are met; the application must be filed before the temporary residency expires. The Paraguayan cédula can already be issued with temporary residency, without waiting for permanent residency (National Police Resolution No. 717/2026).
The path in six stages
- 1In BrazilID document, certificates and apostilleBefore you travel
- 2Records in ParaguayInterpol and National PoliceIn Paraguay
- 3ImmigrationTemporary residency, no restrictionsIn person, with biometrics
- 4CédulaParaguayan ID at the National PoliceWith temporary residency
- 5RUC and licenseTax authority and municipalityRight after the cédula
- 6PermanentConversion before the temporary expiresBy the end of the 2 years
With the right documents from the start, the in-person stages become shorter and more predictable, and the team supports you through each one.
The documents you bring from Brazil
There are only a few, and only the certificates need an apostille. Documents in Portuguese do not need translation for the residency and cédula procedures.
ID document: RG, CIN or passport
What it is. The document that proves who you are in your home country. The Brazilian identity card (the old RG or the new Carteira de Identidade Nacional, which uses the CPF as its number) or the passport is accepted.
Watch out. In Immigration's practice, the RG must have been issued less than 9 years and 6 months ago; the passport must be valid for at least 6 more months. Driver's licenses and professional ID cards are not accepted.
Where to get it: your state's identification agency (RG/CIN) or the Federal Police (passport).
Birth certificate and marital status document
What it is. The birth certificate (certidão de nascimento). Anyone who is married, divorced or widowed also brings the marital status document (marriage certificate, divorce annotation, etc.), all apostilled.
Watch out. The team's advice is to request the certificates in full ("inteiro teor"), which transcribe the complete record word for word, not just the summary.
Where to get it: the civil registry office (cartório) where the record was made, in person or online (Registro Civil, CRC).
Federal Police criminal record certificate
What it is. The certificate stating whether there is any final criminal conviction in your name anywhere in Brazil.
Watch out. It is issued online, instantly and free of charge, and it also gets an apostille. It is the one that expires fastest: issue and apostille it on the eve of your trip.
Where to get it: the Federal Police website (gov.br/pf), under "Certidão de antecedentes criminais".
Hague Apostille
What it is. A certificate the cartório attaches to the Brazilian document so that it is valid in Paraguay, without going through a consulate. It follows a standard model in every country of the 1961 Hague Convention, with ten numbered fields and a code for online verification.
Watch out. Only the certificates (birth, marital status where applicable, and the Federal Police criminal record) need to be apostilled. Documents must remain current throughout the entire process at Immigration: the team's advice is to issue the Federal Police certificate and apostille it on the eve of your trip.
Where to get it: any notary or registry office (cartório) authorized by the CNJ.
International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow fever)
What it is. The international proof that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever. One dose is valid for life.
Watch out. If you have already been vaccinated, just issue the certificate from your SUS record. If not, get vaccinated at least 10 days before your trip.
Where to get it: the Meu SUS Digital app or website, or an Anvisa station.
The records issued in Paraguay
Once in Paraguay, the National Police issues two certificates, which the team arranges.
Interpol record report
What it is. A check of Interpol's international database, carried out by the Interpol office in Asunción. It states whether there is any record in your name outside Paraguay.
Where to get it: the National Police Interpol Department, in Asunción.
Criminal record certificate for foreigners
What it is. The certificate stating that you have no police or court record in Paraguay.
Where to get it: the National Police Information Technology Department.
Temporary residency at Immigration
With the documents in hand, the application is filed with the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (National Immigration Directorate) under the general rule of the Immigration Law (Ley No. 6.984/2022), with no restrictions. The procedure is personal and in person: it includes biometrics and a photo. In addition to the documents, you sign sworn statements (on complying with the country's laws, on the activity you will carry out and on your address in Paraguay) and prove your entry into Paraguay.
Admisión Temporaria card
What it is. The Immigration document proving that you are a temporary resident of Paraguay. On the front, your photo and personal data; on the back, the number of the resolution granting residency, your profession, the regime (Ley No. 6.984/22) and the expiration date. Together with it, Immigration issues the certificate of residency (certificado de radicación), used to apply for the cédula.
Validity. Up to two years. It allows you to apply for permanent residency once the requirements are met, and the application must be filed before the temporary residency expires (stage 6).
Where to get it: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.
The Paraguayan ID card (cédula)
Once residency is granted, the cédula is requested at the National Police Identification Department (Departamento de Identificaciones). Resolution No. 717/2026 lists the documents for foreigners with temporary or permanent residency: the certificate of residency, certified copies of the Immigration card and of the Brazilian ID document, the apostilled birth certificate, the three criminal record certificates (Brazil, Interpol and National Police), the certificate of life and residence and the Foreigners' Registry card. Documents in Portuguese are exempt from translation.
Certificate of life and residence
What it is. The certificate stating that you live at the address you declared in Paraguay.
Where to get it: the police station (comisaría) for your area or the Justice of the Peace court (Juzgado de Paz).
Foreigners' Registry card
What it is. The National Police registration of the resident foreigner, required for the first cédula.
Where to get it: National Police, in Asunción, in the same building as Interpol.
Paraguayan ID card (cédula)
What it is. The Cédula de Identidad Civil, the Paraguayan ID of the resident foreigner. It is the everyday document: bank, company, contracts, notary, tax authority and municipality. On the front, the photo, personal data, place of birth and expiration date; on the back, marital status, nationality, which remains Brazilian, the chip and the machine-readable zone.
Watch out. As a rule, the cédula is collected by the holder in person.
Where to get it: National Police Identification Department.
The RUC and the driver's license
With the Immigration card and the cédula, the RUC is issued quickly. On the return trip, the driver's license.
RUC: Paraguayan tax registration
What it is. The Registro Único de Contribuyentes (Single Taxpayer Registry) of the Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios (DNIT, the national tax authority). For individuals, it plays the role of the Brazilian CPF; for companies, that of the CNPJ. It is what lets you be a partner or director, provide services and get paid.
Watch out. Once registered, the returns due under each person's obligations must be filed on time, even with no activity. They are the basis for the tax compliance certificate used in stage 6.
Where to get it: DNIT, with the Paraguayan cédula.
Paraguayan driver's license
What it is. The Licencia de Conducir, issued by the municipality (municipalidad) where you live, in the national format of the Agencia Nacional de Tránsito y Seguridad Vial (National Transit and Road Safety Agency). The license number is the same as the cédula number. On the back, the class, vehicle types, issue and expiration dates and blood type.
Where to get it: the municipality where you live, with the cédula and the municipality's requirements.
Personal income tax on personal services (IRP) only above G. 80 million a year. A resident who receives compensation in Paraguay, such as a managing partner paid by their own company, only starts paying personal income tax (IRP) above G. 80 million a year, about R$ 80 thousand. Above that, the rate ranges from 8% to 10% on net income, after deducting personal and family expenses in the country.
Permanent residency
Temporary residency allows you to apply for permanent residency once the requirements are met, and the application must be filed before the temporary residency expires. Since July 2026, Immigration checks the applicant's income and activity, with specific documents for each category (DNM Resolution No. 407/2026). For business owners, partners and self-employed professionals, proof goes through the RUC and the tax compliance certificate, which is issued only to those whose required returns are up to date.
Tax compliance certificate
What it is. The DNIT certificate stating that you are up to date with your tax obligations. It is issued online and can be verified online.
Where to get it: the DNIT system (Marangatu), with the RUC.
A direct path for investors. Since April 2026, the Investor Pass allows you to apply directly for permanent residency, starting at US$ 70 thousand in productive investment, with a business plan and at least 5 formal jobs. The other modalities (real estate, financial investment and tourism) start at US$ 150 thousand to US$ 200 thousand. It is residency, not citizenship.
How long it takes and how much it costs
With professional support, the time to obtain the documents ranges from 15 to 150 days, depending on the modality, the document and the applicant's availability. Without support, the initial phase at Immigration alone takes more than 90 days.
For those doing it on their own, the bill comes down to fees and trips. Fees, certifications and copies add up to about G. 6.5 million. Each trip costs at least R$ 3,000, assuming you travel by car, with fuel consumption of 8 km/l, 1,500 km each way and at least one night's lodging. Without support, expired documents must be renewed, and it takes 3 to 5 trips to obtain the last document, the driver's license. The estimated total is about R$ 16 thousand to R$ 22 thousand per person.
| Item | 3 trips | 5 trips |
|---|---|---|
| Fees, certifications, copies and BR/PY documents (G. 6.5 million) | ≅ R$ 6,500 | ≅ R$ 6,500 |
| Trips (R$ 3,000 each) | ≅ R$ 9,000 | ≅ R$ 15,000 |
| Total per person | ≅ R$ 15,500 | ≅ R$ 21,500 |
Estimate at the prevailing exchange rate of about G. 1,000 per real. For a couple or a family, the trips are shared and only the fees multiply.
Without support, the timeline depends on appointments, back-and-forth trips and, above all, on getting the document right the first time. What causes the most delay is an expired certificate.
Want to know which modality fits your case? Answer six quick questions and see the next step recommended for your project.
Take the free diagnostic →Residency in Paraguay is not a tax exit from Brazil
They are two different things. Paraguayan residency authorizes you to live in Paraguay. The tax exit is the notice to Brazil's Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) that you are no longer a resident of Brazil: the Comunicação de Saída Definitiva do País (notice of definitive departure), by the last day of February of the year after the move, and the Declaração de Saída Definitiva (definitive departure return), by the annual tax return deadline. Once both are filed, foreign income leaves the Brazilian tax base, and Paraguayan personal tax reaches only Paraguayan-source income. Notify your banks and paying sources: Brazilian-source income remains taxable under the non-resident rules.
Without the notice, the Receita Federal only recognizes the departure after 12 consecutive months outside Brazil. And note: a Brazilian company with a partner domiciled abroad cannot remain in the Simples Nacional regime, and the MEI of someone who leaves must be removed from the regime or closed. That is why the tax exit is planned together with your accountant in Brazil.
How to avoid scams
Before hiring anyone, ask three questions: who signs the contract, with name and registration; where the company actually exists, with a RUC and a physical address in Paraguay; and what it delivers in writing, and by when. And keep two rules in mind: nobody sells citizenship, and nobody can get your residency without you coming to Paraguay.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to live in Paraguay to keep residency?
You do not need to live in Paraguay full time, but an unjustified absence of more than 1 year (temporary resident) or 3 years (permanent resident) cancels the residency.
Do I lose my Brazilian nationality by getting residency or the cédula?
No. Residency and the cédula do not change your nationality: a foreigner's cédula states Brazilian nationality. Nationality only comes into question with naturalization, which is a different process.
Do I need to translate my Brazilian documents?
No. For residency and the cédula, documents in Portuguese are exempt from translation. Only the certificates need an apostille: the birth certificate, the marital status document where applicable, and the Federal Police criminal record certificate.
Can I open a company in Paraguay without Paraguayan documents?
In some cases it is possible to be a partner with Brazilian documents only, but our recommendation is to obtain Paraguayan documents: they simplify banking, management and the company's obligations. Guide No. 1 explains who needs Paraguayan documents.
Can my family do the documents at the same time?
Yes. Spouses and children follow the same path. For minors, the parents' documents are also required and, if one parent is not present, a notarized authorization from the absent father or mother stating that the child will live in Paraguay. It is not the same as a travel authorization.
Can everything be done during the Business Mission?
The Mission welcomes you in Salto del Guairá to get to know the country, the rules and the people who already operate there. Anyone who wishes can use the trip to start their documents, with the Brazilian documents ready and the appointment booked in advance.
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LinkedInSources consulted
- Residencia temporal, Dirección Nacional de Migraciones
- Migraciones detalla requisitos de la residencia temporal, Agencia IP (May 2026)
- Cédula de identidad por primera vez a extranjeros (Res. 717/2026), Policía Nacional
- Los diez requisitos para la cédula de extranjeros, ABC Color (August 2026)
- Ley 6.984/2022, Immigration Law, Library and Central Archive of Congress
- DNM Resolution 407/2026, solvency for permanent residency, EIG Law
- Investor Pass (Resolution 283/2026), Ministry of Industry and Commerce
- IRP: G. 80 million annual threshold, DNIT
- Comunicar saída definitiva do país, gov.br
- Saída Definitiva do País, Receita Federal (October 2025)
- Carta de naturalización, Supreme Court of Justice
The document illustrations are schematic models based on the public format of each document, with fictitious data and without the security features of the originals. They serve only to show what each document is and where its main information appears.
About the author. Paulo Roberto Resende Nascimento is Brazilian, married, a business owner and a lawyer in Brazil, where he practices as a specialist in corporate law and international trade and serves as a court-appointed administrator (administrador judicial). In Paraguay, he is a business owner and has spent more than 10 years helping clients set up in the country. He is a managing partner of OMNI HOLD S.A., the Paraguayan company that offers this guide and the services described in it, with no direct or indirect connection to his professional activity in Brazil. He is a founding member of the Brazil-Paraguay Chamber of Commerce (Câmara de Comércio Brasil-Paraguay), established in 2017, a nonprofit organization of which he is currently vice president.
About this guide. This guide was prepared to meet a need identified by our partner, the Câmara de Comércio Brasil-Paraguay, with the aim of providing concrete, real and well-founded information. Its content brings together what Paraguayan laws and regulations provide, interpreted in light of the real-world activity and practical experience of OMNI HOLD, whose partners have been operating in Paraguay for more than 10 years, and it is up to date as of November 2026. It is for informational purposes only and has no purpose whatsoever of soliciting clients for legal services in Brazil. It does not create rights or obligations, does not establish guarantees and does not replace consultation with and support from qualified and licensed professionals and companies, nor the analysis of the specific case. The amounts are references and do not constitute a proposal. Requirements may change by decision of the official authorities.