---
title: "Paraguay Mercosur residence requirements 2026: 2-year stay"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/paraguay/free-movement-mercosur/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-10
---

Paraguay

# Paraguay Mercosur residence

**First stay:** 2 yrs

Mercosur residence agreement (Mercosur and associated-state nationals)

First checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 2 yrs (Temporary residence of 2 years, not extendable; permanent residence on application in the last 90 days.)
- **Renewal:** Not renewable
- **Who can apply:** 8 nationalities (Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.)
- **Work:** Yes (Residents under the agreement can work and carry out any lawful activity on the same terms as Paraguayan nationals.)
- **Tax angle:** Tax relief (Paraguay territorial personal income tax (IRP): Paraguayan-source income only: Paraguay's Impuesto a la Renta Personal (IRP) taxes only Paraguayan-source income of resident individuals: 8%, 9% and 10% progressive bands on services income and 8% flat on capital income.)

## Key facts

Mercosur residence is a long-stay route for Paraguay. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.

- **First stay:** 2 yrs

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Can't be renewed
- Only for passports from 8 countries

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a citizen of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia or Ecuador.

#### What you must show

- The temporary residence application fee is Gs. 2,341,540 when paid in cash.
- Permanent residence needs proof of economic solvency, such as income or available funds.

#### Documents

- A valid ID card, national ID or passport from the home country, and a birth certificate (apostilled or legalised).
- A police or criminal record certificate from the home country, and a Paraguayan National Police record for foreigners (from age 14).
- Proof of civil status where relevant, a sworn declaration of no international records, and proof of entry into Paraguay.

#### Steps

1. The application is made in person at the migration authority; foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish.

#### After you arrive

- Temporary residence is valid for 2 years and cannot be extended.
- Apply for permanent residence in the 90 days before the temporary card expires; the permanent card is renewed every 10 years.

## When you become tax resident

How Paraguay decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 2 years in total**
- **Tax residence:** Law 6380 makes individuals resident in Paraguay the taxpayers (art. 49) and does not itself define residence for individuals; the definition is left to the regulation.
- **Foreign-source income:** **Territorial**
- **Special regime:** **Paraguay territorial personal income tax: Paraguayan-source income only** · Tax relief

[All tax rules for Paraguay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/paraguay/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

## What you need to arrange

- **Certified translation** A valid ID card, national ID or passport from the home country, and a birth certificate (apostilled or legalised)
- **Police certificate and civil documents** A valid ID card, national ID or passport from the home country, and a birth certificate (apostilled or legalised)

Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.

**Full official text**

Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador can get a 2-year temporary residence in Paraguay, then apply for permanent residence. (sources 1, 2, 3)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a citizen of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia or Ecuador. (source 1)
- The temporary residence application fee is Gs. 2,341,540 when paid in cash. (source 1)
- Permanent residence needs proof of economic solvency, such as income or available funds. (source 2)
- A valid ID card, national ID or passport from the home country, and a birth certificate (apostilled or legalised). (source 1)
- A police or criminal record certificate from the home country, and a Paraguayan National Police record for foreigners (from age 14). (source 1)
- Proof of civil status where relevant, a sworn declaration of no international records, and proof of entry into Paraguay. (source 1)
- The application is made in person at the migration authority; foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish. (source 1)
- Temporary residence is valid for 2 years and cannot be extended. (source 1)
- Apply for permanent residence in the 90 days before the temporary card expires; the permanent card is renewed every 10 years. (source 2)

#### Stay

- Temporary residence of 2 years, not extendable; permanent residence on application in the last 90 days.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Not renewable according to our source.
- Temporary residence up to 24 months: Citizen of a covered state with clean criminal record.
- Permanent residence: Apply in the 90 days before the temporary card expires; proof of solvency.

#### Nationality

Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Open to: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador.

#### Work

Residents under the agreement can work and carry out any lawful activity on the same terms as Paraguayan nationals.

#### Family

Family members who are not nationals of a Mercosur state get a residence of the same validity as the main holder.

Checked 2026-10-10

## Official sources

1. [Residencia Temporaria para extranjeros de los países suscriptos al Acuerdo de Residencia del MERCOSUR](https://migraciones.gov.py/residencia-temporaria-mercosur/) · Dirección General de Migraciones, Paraguay · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Residencia Permanente para extranjeros de los países suscriptos al Acuerdo de Residencia del MERCOSUR](https://migraciones.gov.py/residencia-permanente-mercosur/) · Dirección General de Migraciones, Paraguay · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Circulación de personas](https://www.mercosur.int/estatuto-de-la-ciudadania/circulacion-de-personas) · MERCOSUR · checked 2026-10-10

## Mercosur residence and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mercosur residence | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| [Visa-free stay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/visa-free-180d/) Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| [Andean free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/free-movement-can/) Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| [Free movement by treaty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/free-movement-brazil-uruguay/) Brazil | – | – | – |
| [Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/argentina/free-movement-mercosur/) Argentina | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |

## Questions people ask

### How long can I stay on the Mercosur residence?

Temporary residence of 2 years, not extendable; permanent residence on application in the last 90 days.

### Can I work on the Mercosur residence?

Yes. Residents under the agreement can work and carry out any lawful activity on the same terms as Paraguayan nationals.

### Can I bring my family on the Mercosur residence?

Family members who are not nationals of a Mercosur state get a residence of the same validity as the main holder.

### Who can apply for the Mercosur residence?

Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Open to: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador.

### Is there a tax break for Mercosur residence holders in Paraguay?

Paraguay territorial personal income tax (IRP): Paraguayan-source income only: Paraguay's Impuesto a la Renta Personal (IRP) taxes only Paraguayan-source income of resident individuals: 8%, 9% and 10% progressive bands on services income and 8% flat on capital income. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.

## Tax

Special regime

### [Paraguay territorial personal income tax (IRP): Paraguayan-source income only](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/paraguay/tax/#tax-py-territorial-irp)

Tax relief

Foreign-source income: Territorial

**Details**

- Limit: PYG 50M/yr ≈ $8,750

Paraguay's Impuesto a la Renta Personal (IRP) taxes only Paraguayan-source income of resident individuals: 8%, 9% and 10% progressive bands on services income and 8% flat on capital income.

#### Taxed on

Services income (employment and independent): progressive bands, 8% up to G 50,000,000 net income, 9% from G 50,000,001 to G 150,000,000, 10% from G 150,000,001 upward. Capital income and gains: 8%. Only Paraguayan-source income is in the base (arts. 48, 69, 60).

#### Who it applies to

- Applies to individuals, national or foreign, resident in Paraguay (art. 49); no application is required to have foreign-source income outside the IRP base.
- Art. 48 treats as Paraguayan-source: activities carried out in Paraguay, assets located in Paraguay, rights used economically in Paraguay, Paraguay-sourced capital income, and services performed abroad by IRP taxpayers when rendered to IRE or IRP taxpayers.

#### Exclusions

- Personal services performed outside Paraguay for IRE or IRP taxpayers (businesses or individuals subject to Paraguayan income tax) are treated as Paraguayan-source and taxable (art. 48 no. 3).
- Dividends and profits of Paraguayan companies are subject to the separate IDU: 8% for resident recipients, 15% for non-residents (arts. 42-43).
- Art. 6 (company income tax, IRE) also treats some activities carried out abroad as Paraguayan-source unless income tax of an equal or higher rate was paid abroad; this applies to IRE taxpayers.

#### Limits

- PYG 50,000,000 a year (≈ $8,750) · Upper limit of the 8% band of net services income (art. 69)
- PYG 150,000,000 a year (≈ $26,200) · Net services income from G 150,000,001 is taxed at the 10% band; band from G 50,000,001 to G 150,000,000 is 9%
- PYG 80,000,000 a year (≈ $14,000) · A taxpayer whose gross income from personal services does not exceed this amount in the fiscal year must meet the formal obligations but does not have to pay the tax (art. 69, last paragraph).

#### Tax residence

Law 6380 makes individuals resident in Paraguay the IRP taxpayers (art. 49) and does not itself define residence for individuals; the definition is left to the regulation.

#### Visas

Tax residence, not visa type, determines IRP liability; the territorial base applies to all residents.

#### Other taxes

VAT (IVA) and social-security contributions apply separately.

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

[Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/paraguay/tax/)

## Similar visas elsewhere

[🇨🇦 Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/visa-free-180d/) [🇺🇾 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/uruguay/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇨🇱 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/chile/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇵🇪 Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/peru/visa-free-183d/) [🇦🇬 CARICOM free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/free-movement-caricom/) [🇧🇸 Visa-free stay (8 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/the-bahamas/visa-free-240d/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-10 against 3 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Residencia Temporaria para extranjeros de los países suscriptos al Acuerdo de Residencia del MERCOSUR](https://migraciones.gov.py/residencia-temporaria-mercosur/) · Dirección General de Migraciones, Paraguay · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Residencia Permanente para extranjeros de los países suscriptos al Acuerdo de Residencia del MERCOSUR](https://migraciones.gov.py/residencia-permanente-mercosur/) · Dirección General de Migraciones, Paraguay · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Circulación de personas](https://www.mercosur.int/estatuto-de-la-ciudadania/circulacion-de-personas) · MERCOSUR · checked 2026-10-10

Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.
