Paraguay
ISO2: PY
Paraguay citizenship by naturalisation through residence: 3 years residence counted from permanent residence (radicación permanente), judicial filing with lawyer sponsorship, exam in Spanish or Guaraní plus Paraguay history, required documents and submission workflow, official sources, and dual citizenship policy (as of 2026).
Passport
Citizenship by residence
- Minimum years of residence
- 3.0
- Requires permanent residence
- Yes
- Last updated
- Feb. 28, 2026
- Notes
- Naturalisation is regulated by Paraguay’s nationality framework. The residence requirement is a minimum of three (3) years, counted from obtaining permanent residence (radicación permanente), with a real domicile in Paraguay. Applicants must regularly exercise a profession/occupation/trade/art/science/industry in Paraguay and demonstrate good conduct. The law requires passing an exam on one official language (Spanish or Guaraní) and Paraguay history. The process is initiated by a petition under lawyer sponsorship before the competent Juez de Primera Instancia en lo Civil y Comercial of the applicant’s domicile, attaching documents proving identity, permanent residence (certificado de radicación), and background certificates. The Poder Judicial also publishes a practical checklist (CV, photos, legalized documents/translations, permanent residence card, vida y residencia, police/judicial/penal background certificates, proof of work/business/RUC, judicial fee, sworn statement).
- Dual citizenship
-
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Renunciation required: NoSpecial cases: Although renunciation is not required for naturalisation, Paraguayan law provides loss grounds for naturalised citizens (e.g., unjustified absence from Paraguay for more than 3 years, judicially declared; or voluntary acquisition of another nationality).
- Notes for dual citizenship
- Paraguay does not require foreign naturalised Paraguayans to renounce their original nationality as part of naturalisation. However, naturalised Paraguayans can lose Paraguayan nationality under specified conditions (including voluntary acquisition of another nationality after naturalisation), and there are treaty-based rules around multiple nationality in the broader nationality framework.
Qualifying residence permits
Admisión temporaria / Radicación temporaria (Temporary residence)
Temporary residence may be a step toward permanent residence, but the naturalisation residence clock is explicitly counted from permanent residence (radicación permanente).
Doesn’t count
Radicación permanente / Admisión Permanente (Permanent residence)
The 3-year residence requirement for naturalisation is counted from the date of obtaining permanent residence (radicación permanente). The Poder Judicial checklist also requires the permanent resident card (Carnet de Inmigrante / Admisión Permanente) and to wait 3 years after permanent residence.
Counts
Turista / visitante (Visitor status)
Visitor status does not qualify for the naturalisation residence clock, which is tied to permanent residence.
Doesn’t count
Required documents
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Birth certificate + legalisation/apostille + translation if applicable
Birth certificate duly legalised; documents not in Spanish must be translated by a registered public translator and legalised as required.
|
Mandatory | Birth certificate duly legalised; translate if not in Spanish using a registered public translator, and legalise as required. |
|
Certificado de Radicación (Dirección General de Migraciones)
Certificate of permanent residence / radicación issued by Migraciones; used to evidence the start date of the residence clock.
|
Mandatory | Certificado de radicación evidences the start date of the residence clock and permanent residence status. |
|
Certificate of life and residence (Certificado de Vida y Residencia)
Local certificate commonly required by the Poder Judicial checklist.
|
Mandatory | Required by the Poder Judicial checklist. |
|
Criminal record certificate (Antecedentes Penales) – Paraguay
Paraguay criminal record certificate as per Poder Judicial checklist / statutory documentation.
|
Mandatory | Required by the Poder Judicial checklist / statutory documentation. |
|
Criminal record / good conduct certificate – country of origin
Certificado de Buena Conducta o Antecedentes Penales del país de origen; typically legalized and authenticated.
|
Mandatory | Required by the Poder Judicial checklist; typically legalized/authenticated. |
|
Curriculum Vitae (CV) – Paraguay naturalisation
CV required by the Poder Judicial checklist.
|
Mandatory | Required by the Poder Judicial checklist. |
|
Exam pass certificate: Spanish or Guaraní + Paraguay history
Evidence of having passed the required exam on one official language (Spanish or Guaraní) and Paraguay history.
|
Mandatory | Language skills requirement: pass the official exam in Spanish or Guaraní plus Paraguay history (no CEFR level specified). |
|
Identity document / passport (country of origin) – Paraguay naturalisation
Cédula de identidad o pasaporte del país de origen used to prove identity.
|
Mandatory | Identity document (ID/passport) required by statute; keep originals and provide authenticated copies if required. |
|
Judicial fee payment (Tasa Judicial) – proof of payment
Receipt / proof of payment of the judicial fee (tasa judicial).
|
Mandatory | Pay the judicial fee and keep proof of payment (Poder Judicial guidance). |
|
Lawyer sponsorship (patrocinio de abogado) / petition filing
The application is filed under attorney sponsorship; attach petition and proof of representation.
|
Mandatory | Mandatory: the filing is made under attorney sponsorship. |
|
Paraguay naturalisation (Carta de Naturalización) – judicial application
Naturalisation procedure filed before the competent Juez de Primera Instancia en lo Civil y Comercial (with lawyer sponsorship), supported by evidence of permanent residence, good conduct, occupation, and exam requirements.
|
Mandatory | File a petition under lawyer sponsorship before the competent Juzgado de Primera Instancia en lo Civil y Comercial of your domicile. |
|
Permanent residence card (Carnet de Inmigrante / Admisión Permanente)
Evidence that the applicant holds permanent residence (radicación permanente).
|
Mandatory | Permanent residence is required; the 3-year residence clock is counted from obtaining radicación permanente. |
|
Photos (postal + profile) – Paraguay naturalisation
Photos required by the Poder Judicial checklist.
|
Mandatory | Required by the Poder Judicial checklist. |
|
Police background certificate (Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales)
Police background certificate as per Poder Judicial checklist / statutory documentation.
|
Mandatory | Required by the Poder Judicial checklist / statutory documentation. |
|
Police background certificate for foreigners (Antecedentes Policiales para extranjeros)
Foreigners’ police background certificate as per Poder Judicial checklist.
|
Mandatory | Required by the Poder Judicial checklist. |
|
Proof of occupation / work / business (Work certificate, RUC, business license, statutes)
Evidence of regular profession/occupation/trade/art/science/industry; may include employment letter, commercial patent, RUC and company statutes if applicable.
|
Mandatory | Must show regular exercise of profession/occupation/trade/art/science/industry in Paraguay; statute and PJ checklist reference this. |
|
Sworn statement / affidavit (Corte Suprema de Justicia) – signature in person
Sworn statement to be signed personally, per Poder Judicial guidance.
|
Mandatory | Applicant must appear in person to sign the sworn statement, per Poder Judicial guidance. |
|
Any additional documents requested by the court / authorities
The court or relevant authorities may request additional supporting documents depending on the case.
|
Optional | Authorities may request additional documentation depending on the case. |
|
Professional title / license (if applicable)
Título habilitante if the applicant is a regulated professional.
|
Optional | Required if the applicant is a regulated professional (statutory documentation list). |
|
Proof of registered assets (if applicable)
If the applicant has registered assets, provide authenticated supporting documentation (as per Poder Judicial checklist).
|
Optional | If the applicant has registered assets, provide authenticated supporting documentation (PJ checklist). |
|
Student certificate (if applicable)
If the applicant is a student, a certificate of studies proving this status.
|
Optional | If applying as a student, attach a certificate of studies proving such status (statutory documentation list). |
Submission offices
Corte Suprema de Justicia / Palacio de Justicia – Declaración jurada y tasa judicial (orientación PJ)
Court
· Asunción
Poder Judicial guidance: applicant must appear personally to sign the sworn statement; judicial fee payment workflow and guidance are provided on the official PJ page.
Juzgado de Primera Instancia en lo Civil y Comercial (jurisdicción de turno) – Solicitud de Carta de Naturalización
Court
The naturalisation procedure is initiated by filing a petition under lawyer sponsorship before the competent civil & commercial court (Juez de Primera Instancia) of the applicant’s domicile.
Poder Judicial – Ingresos Judiciales (liquidación de tasa)
Online
Referenced by the Poder Judicial page to generate the liquidation for the judicial fee (tasa judicial).
Official sources
Poder Judicial – Carta de Naturalización (requisitos y observaciones)
Government
Official checklist of required documents and practical steps (translations, authenticated copies, in-person filing for affidavit, and judicial fee guidance).
es
Constitución de la República del Paraguay (texto oficial del Senado – edición 2023)
Law / Regulation
Constitutional background (arts. 148–150) on naturalisation and loss of nationality; referenced by statute and judicial practice.
es
SILpy (Congreso) – Ley N° 6532 (Reglamenta artículos constitucionales 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151 y 154 “De la Nacionalidad”)
Law / Regulation
Primary legal source: defines naturalisation requirements (3 years from permanent residence), exam requirement (Spanish/Guaraní + Paraguay history), required documentation, no obligation to renounce origin nationality, and loss grounds tied to Constitution art. 150.
es
SILpy (Congreso) – Texto de la Ley N° 6532 (versión HTML de resolución/preview)
Law / Regulation
Contains the detailed articles on naturalisation requirements, documentation, and dual/multiple nationality framework.
es
Latest ranking snapshot
As of Feb. 28, 2026
- Travel freedom145.00
- Residency rights9.00
- Quality of life143.00
- Economic freedom65.20
- Tax friendliness40.00
Composite ranking based on travel freedom (visa_free), residency rights score, quality of life index, economic freedom index, tax friendliness score, and disposable income after tax (net salary USD). Source: passport_composite_ranking_top150.csv.