Paraguay Residency Asks Only for Paperwork and a Fee, Expat Says

Paraguay grants temporary residency against a short list of documents and a small fee, with no integration exam and no points-based assessment, according to a German expat who filed after first arriving in the country in November 2024. He cautions, however, that growing attention to sex tourism in the capital could sour the welcome that foreigners currently receive.

Key facts

• Temporary residency is described as paperwork and a small fee, with no integration exam or points system
• Documents brought on the first trip: apostilled birth certificate, police clearance and passport
• Paraguay is one of only two landlocked countries in South America; Asunción's single international airport reaches nine countries
• Company profits, VAT and personal income tax are all 10% or lower
• A party advertised in Asunción in March 2026 drew accusations of sex tourism

What does Paraguay require of new residents?

The author, a German national, says he flew to Paraguay in November 2024 carrying a folder containing his birth certificate, police clearance and passport, each one apostilled. He had planned to file for residency during that trip whatever his three-week stay revealed, and says he wanted the status as insurance in case conditions in Germany deteriorated again.

He describes admission as requiring only some paperwork and a small fee through Paraguay's migration authority for temporary residency: no integration exam, no points system and no committee weighing whether an applicant's profession serves the national interest. The source does not state the fee amount, processing times or full document list.

How easy is Paraguay to reach?

Paraguay has no coastline and sits on no major route. Asunción's single international airport reaches only nine countries, and the country has no landmark that draws visitors across an ocean. The author argues that this inconvenience filters out many people, including some who might arrive for the wrong reasons.

Why do expats choose it?

He lists five criteria that Paraguay met for him. Company profits, VAT and personal income tax are none above 10%. The homicide rate is 6.8 per hundred thousand, below several American cities though higher than Germany's 0.9; on the Global Peace Index Germany fell from 16th to 28th over the last decade while Paraguay rose from 80th to 64th. The dictatorship fell in 1989, the constitution that replaced it has held since 1992, and no government has been taken by force since. The median Paraguayan is 27, and the birth rate remains well above replacement level.

Why is he worried about a backlash?

In March 2026 a party in Asunción billed as the largest gathering of foreigners the city had seen was advertised with "350+ Local girls and 150+ foreigners on the list". The event, run by an Italian long-term resident, was covered in the local press as sex tourism with a cover charge; the organiser replied that interaction between single people is natural. Paraguayan TikToker Fabrizio Mendoza said "It verges on the murky."

The author says locals are starting to notice a pattern of men arriving to pursue local women, and fears that exploitative behaviour by some foreigners could damage the trust extended to all expats.

What this means for travellers

Anyone considering filing for temporary residency can follow the author's approach: get a birth certificate, police clearance and passport apostilled before travelling, since he carried all three on his first trip. Applicants should confirm current requirements and fees with Paraguay's migration authority, as the source gives no amounts or deadlines.

No change to Paraguay's rules has been announced. The warning about exams, points systems or committees is the author's concern about what could follow if trust breaks down, not an official proposal.