What Documents Do You Need for Paraguay Residency?
What Documents Do You Need for Paraguay Residency?
Paraguay has one of the most straightforward residency programs in the world. But the most common reason for delays is not the government bureaucracy, it is incomplete or incorrect documents. Get this right and the rest is smooth.
This guide covers exactly what you need, where to get it, and the mistakes that trip people up.
Which documents does every applicant need?
You need four documents to apply for temporary residency in Paraguay. Every applicant needs all four, no exceptions.
1. Valid Passport
Your passport must have at least one year of validity remaining at the time of application. Paraguayan immigration is strict about this. If your passport expires in 11 months, renew it before you begin.
Bring both the original and two color photocopies of the main data page. The photocopies will be certified by a notary in Asunción.
2. Birth Certificate
Your original birth certificate, issued by the civil registry of your country. It does not need to be recent, but it must be an official certified copy, not a photocopy of your original.
The birth certificate must be apostilled (see the section on apostilles below).
3. Criminal Background Check
This is the document that causes the most confusion. Here is what you need to know:
- It must be issued by the national police or justice department of your country of residence (not your country of birth, unless they are the same)
- It must be recent and still valid when you submit it in Paraguay. We advise requesting it no more than 90 days before your trip
- It must cover the last 3 years. If you lived more than a year in another country during that time, you also need that country's certificate
- It must be apostilled after issuance
- Some countries call this a "certificate of good conduct" or "police clearance certificate"
Timing matters. Paraguayan law sets no fixed number of days, but the certificate must still be valid when you submit it. Request it last, no more than 90 days before your trip, so it is still recent when you apply. We help all our clients with this scheduling.
4. Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
If you are married and your spouse is applying with you, or if you want your marital status reflected in your residency records, bring your marriage certificate. It must also be apostilled.
If you are not married, you do not need this document.
What passport photos do you need?
You will need passport-sized photos (4x4 cm, white background). Bring at least 6 copies. These can be taken at any photo studio before you travel, or we can arrange them in Asunción on Day 1.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an international certification that authenticates a public document for use in another country. It was established under the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, and Paraguay is a member.
In practice, it is a stamp or attached certificate that proves your birth certificate or background check is genuine. Without it, Paraguayan authorities will not accept your documents.
Where do you get an apostille?
Every country has a designated apostille authority. In most cases:
- Netherlands: Rechtbank (district court) in The Hague or your local court
- Germany: For the Führungszeugnis (certificate of good conduct): the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten (BfAA); the Bundesamt für Justiz can forward the certificate there directly. For birth and marriage certificates it depends on the federal state, so ask the Standesamt that issued the document
- Belgium: Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs in Brussels
- United Kingdom: The Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes
- Austria: The Amt der Landesregierung (provincial government office) of the federal state where the document was issued
We provide specific instructions for your country when you begin the process.
When should you get your apostilles?
Get your apostilles after you receive each document but before you book your flight. The apostille does not expire, but your background check must still be recent and valid when you submit it.
What document mistakes should you avoid?
These are the most common mistakes we see:
Do not pay for translations at home. Paraguay accepts translations by a public translator registered in Paraguay, or by a sworn translator in your own country, but then the translation needs its own apostille. We have everything translated in Paraguay. It is simpler, it is included in your package, and you avoid that extra apostille.
Do not get notarized copies at home. Certified copies and notarizations are done in Asunción by Paraguayan notaries. Bringing pre-notarized copies from your country is unnecessary and may cause confusion.
Do not apostille a photocopy. The apostille must be attached to the original document (or an officially certified copy from the issuing authority). You cannot apostille a photocopy you made at home.
Do not wait too long after getting your background check. This is the most time-sensitive document. Get it, apostille it, and travel to Paraguay within 90 days.
Document Checklist Summary
Before you book your flight to Asunción, confirm you have:
- Passport with 1+ year validity (original + 2 color copies)
- Birth certificate (original, apostilled)
- Criminal background check (original, apostilled, recent and still valid; we advise requesting it no more than 90 days before your trip)
- Marriage certificate if applicable (original, apostilled)
- Passport photos (6x, 4x4 cm, white background)
That is the complete list. No financial statements, no proof of income, no bank references, no health certificates. Paraguay does not require any of these for standard temporary residency.
What We Handle for You
When you work with Paraguay Compass, we manage the entire document process:
- Pre-travel review of every document before you fly
- Country-specific apostille instructions for your nationality
- Scheduling guidance so nothing expires before submission
- Certified translations in Paraguay by court-approved translators
- Notarizations and certified copies in Asunción
- Accompaniment to all government offices
If a document has an issue, we catch it before you travel, not at the immigration office in Asunción.
Next Steps
Ready to start gathering your documents? Book a free consultation and we will review your specific situation, confirm which documents you need, and help you plan your timeline.
Already have your documents ready? Check out our step-by-step process guide to see exactly what happens during your 5 days in Asunción.
Frequently asked questions
What if I lived in another country during the last 3 years?
The criminal background check must cover the last 3 years. If you lived more than a year in another country during that time, you also need that country's certificate.
Do I need to translate my documents before I travel?
No. Paraguay accepts translations by a public translator registered in Paraguay, or by a sworn translator in your own country, but a translation made at home needs its own apostille. Having everything translated in Paraguay avoids that extra apostille.
Does an apostille expire?
The apostille does not expire, but your background check must still be recent and valid when you submit it. Get your apostilles after you receive each document but before you book your flight.
Where do I get an apostille in the Netherlands or Germany?
In the Netherlands, apostilles come from the Rechtbank (district court) in The Hague or your local court. In Germany, the Führungszeugnis is apostilled by the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten (BfAA); for birth and marriage certificates it depends on the federal state, so ask the Standesamt that issued them.
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