South America · UN member
Paraguay: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Paraguay · Tetã Paraguái
Paraguay is a country in South America with its capital in Asunción. It has a population of 7.0 million (#107 in the world) and covers 406,752 km². The official languages are Guaraní and Spanish. The currency is the Paraguayan guaraní (PYG, ₲).
Where is Paraguay? Map of Paraguay
Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil.
- Region
- South America
- Coordinates
- 23° S, 58° W
- Neighbours
- 3 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Paraguay
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Paraguay showing Asunción (capital) and the largest cities: Ciudad del Este, Pedro Juan Caballero, Encarnación, Caacupé, Caaguazú, Concepción, Villarrica and Pilar.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Paraguay
- Passport
The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones lists a valid passport as the travel document for non-resident foreigners and says that if you enter with a travel document close to expiry, the immigration authority grants the len…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 70 need no visa, 128 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Paraguay entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The Government of Canada's travel advice says customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office says to check before you travel that you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.
- Vaccinations
Paraguay's health ministry requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from foreigners aged 1 to 59 entering from the risk zones it lists: Bolivia (Santa Cruz); Brazil (Amazonas, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio Grande …
- Customs allowance
Paraguay's tax and customs authority (DNIT) says anyone carrying USD 10,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies or instruments such as traveller's cheques, must declare it through the eDAV system and show the…
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Paraguay
- Safety: Yes — Paraguay is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Paraguay Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: August — when daytime highs in Asunción are around 25°C.
- Money: the Paraguayan guaraní (PYG) — 1 US dollar is about 5,762.9 PYG.
- Plugs: type A, B, C and N, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911, Ambulance 911, Fire 911.
- Language: Guaraní and Spanish are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 110 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC-3 in Asunción.
- Capital: Asunción. About 7.0 million people live in Paraguay.
- Outdoors: 11 national parks.
Key facts
Paraguay at a glance
Languages spoken: Spanish (official) and Guarani (official) 46.3%, only Guarani 34%, only Spanish 15.2%, other (includes Portuguese, German, other Indigenous languages) 4.1%, no response 0.4% (2012 est.)
Geography & history
About Paraguay
Several Indigenous groups, principally belonging to the Guarani language family, inhabited the area of modern Paraguay before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, when the territory was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 with the help of neighboring states. In the aftermath of independence, a series of military dictators ruled the country until 1870. During the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864-70) -- fought against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay -- Paraguay lost two thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half-century and experienced a tumult…
Read the full history
Several Indigenous groups, principally belonging to the Guarani language family, inhabited the area of modern Paraguay before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, when the territory was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 with the help of neighboring states. In the aftermath of independence, a series of military dictators ruled the country until 1870. During the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864-70) -- fought against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay -- Paraguay lost two thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half-century and experienced a tumultuous series of political regimes. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.
Location
Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
Climate
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Highest point
Cerro Pero 842 m
Natural resources
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Natural hazards
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
National symbols
lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Paraguay
The default speed limits in Paraguay are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 110 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is zero. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 110110 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limitZero tolerance (0.0‰)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)21.0 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Paraguay safe to visit?
Yes — Paraguay is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Paraguay Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on travelling with children ('Entry requirements' page).
Updated 21 Jan 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Paraguay
The best time to visit Paraguay is August, when daytime highs in Asunción are around 25°C. May to July and September are also a good time to go. January is the warmest month (34°C by day), July the coldest (11°C at night), and November the wettest with about 191 mm of rain.
- Jan34°C23°C
- Feb33°C22°C
- Mar32°C21°C
- Apr29°C18°C
- May24°C14°C
- Jun22°C12°C
- Jul22°C11°C
- Aug25°C12°C
- Sep28°C14°C
- Oct31°C18°C
- Nov31°C19°C
- Dec33°C22°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Paraguay
Plugs & sockets
- Type Atwo flat parallel pins
- Type Btwo flat parallel pins and a round earth pin
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
- Type Nthree round pins
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
11 national parks in Paraguay
- 7,859 km² protected
- oldest from 1975
Largest: Defensores del Chaco National Park · Ypoá National Park · Estero Milagro National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Paraguayan guaraní exchange rates today
Paraguay uses the Paraguayan guaraní (PYG, ₲). One US dollar buys 5,762.9 PYG; over the last 30 days the PYG has gained 2.8% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in PYG
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Paraguay ranks
How Paraguay compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Paraguay
124 airports and airfields — 3 large, 11 medium and 80 small, plus 30 heliports. 3 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Paraguay borders 3 countries along 4,655 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
Military
Paraguayan armed forces
Paraguay ranks #88 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $421 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Asuncion (3.5 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power
Export partners
Argentina 33%, Brazil 25%, Chile 10%, USA 2%, Uruguay 2% (2023)
Top exports
soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Paraguay
Next public holiday
Virgin of Caacupe — Tuesday, 8 December 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Paraguayan passport
Ranked #69: 88 countries visa-free, 38 with visa on arrival, 6 with an eTA and 31 with an eVisa.
Paraguayan passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Paraguay's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Paraguay
Dial +595 before the local number. Internet domain .py.
Climate footprint
7.9 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 1.15 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Paraguay: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Paraguay
Travellers eyeing Argentine passport: USD 350,000 route planned, details pending
Argentina has announced plans for a citizenship by investment programme offering a route to an Argentine passport through a USD 350,000 contribution …
Paraguay to Screen Traveller Biometrics at Borders Under New U.S. Accords
Paraguay and the United States signed two security agreements on 19 October 2026, including deployment of the PISCES biometric screening system at Pa…
Yellow Fever Vaccination Advised for Travellers to Brazil From Age 9 Months
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends yellow fever vaccination for most travellers aged 9 months and older visiting at-r…
Frequently asked questions about Paraguay
What do I need to travel to Paraguay?
How long must my passport be valid for Paraguay?
Where is Paraguay?
What is Paraguay known for?
What is the capital of Paraguay?
What language is spoken in Paraguay?
What currency does Paraguay use?
What is the calling code of Paraguay?
Which countries border Paraguay?
How strong is the Paraguayan passport?
What is the speed limit in Paraguay?
Is Paraguay safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Paraguay?
What plug type does Paraguay use?
How many airports does Paraguay have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.