Visa-free countries with a Paraguayan passport

Where Paraguayan citizens can travel without a visa

163 countries can be visited without obtaining a visa by Paraguayan citizens. To cross the borders of some countries, travellers only need a passport, while other destinations require a visa on arrival or an electronic travel authorisation.

Paraguayan citizens use a passport to travel internationally. However, they can enter Mercosur members and associated countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador ^[1] Source: Paraguay National Directorate of Migration — Entry and exit requirements , with the national identity card, known as a cédula.

Visa-free entry is available to Paraguayan citizens in 101 countries, including the Schengen Area. Travellers enter with a valid passport and can stay there for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Some destinations allow longer visits. Paraguayan citizens may stay for up to 120 days in Fiji and up to 180 days in Mexico. Peru allows stays of up to 180 days, although the period granted on entry is determined by the immigration authorities and may be shorter.

An electronic visa is required to visit 41 countries, including Australia, Vietnam, and India. The maximum permitted stay is 30 or 90 days, depending on the country. To stay longer, travellers need to obtain a regular visa that corresponds to the purpose of their visit.

An electronic visa is obtained before the trip through the immigration authority’s or embassy’s website. Applicants fill out a visa application form, attach the required documents, and pay the fee. The document package usually includes a scanned copy of the passport, a photo, and confirmation of hotel and flight bookings. The visa process usually takes 1 to 10 days.

The consular fee for an electronic visa depends on the country of entry. For example, it is $25 for a single-entry eVisa and $50 for a multiple-entry eVisa in Vietnam and $60 in Kazakhstan.

Some countries require travellers to carry a printed copy of the approved eVisa and present it at border control, while others link the visa electronically to the passport.

An electronic visa may be considered invalid if the information in it does not match the original documents. This may happen if, for instance, a border officer finds a typo in the traveller’s first or last name. To reduce the risk of being refused entry, applicants need to check their personal details after receiving the visa.

A visa on arrival is issued when crossing the border of 16 countries, including Egypt and the Maldives. In some countries, a visa on arrival is available only at designated entry points. For instance, in Timor-Leste, Paraguayan citizens can obtain one at international airports and seaports, while travellers entering by land must secure a visa in advance.

To obtain a visa on arrival, travellers need a valid Paraguayan passport. Depending on the destination, border control officers may also ask for return or onward tickets, proof of accommodation, sufficient funds, photographs, and medical insurance.

The visa-on-arrival fee depends on the country of entry. For example, an entry visa in the Comoros costs around €30, while Rwanda charges $50 for a single-entry visitor visa. The Maldives issues tourist visas on arrival free of charge. 

Fees can also vary depending on how a traveller enters the country. In Lebanon, Paraguayan citizens can obtain a tourist visa on arrival free of charge, but those entering by land must pay a separate entry fee of LBP 1,000,000, or around $11.

The permitted period of stay on a visa on arrival also varies by destination. For example, Nepal issues tourist visas on arrival for 15, 30, or 90 days, while visitors to Saint Lucia may be admitted for up to 42 days.

With an electronic travel authorisation, or eTA, Paraguayan citizens can travel to the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. ETAs are obtained online before departure and are electronically linked to the traveller’s passport.

An electronic travel authorisation differs from an electronic visa in application processing time and the permitted period of stay. An eTA is often issued within 2 days, whereas an electronic visa takes at least 7 days to process.

An eTA application is submitted online through the immigration authority’s website of the destination country. Applicants provide their passport details and travel information and upload a photograph. In some cases, they also need to upload scanned copies of their passport and insurance, as well as return tickets and a bank statement.

The fee for processing the documents and issuing the authorisation depends on the country. For example, it is £20 in the UK, $50 in Sri Lanka, and around $7—8 in South Korea.

Foreigners obtain Paraguayan citizenship by naturalisation. They first secure a residence permit by submitting the required documents to the local migration authority, Migraciones. After 2 years of living in the country with temporary residence, they can apply for permanent residence. After further 3 years, they become eligible for citizenship.

The total cost of obtaining Paraguayan citizenship starts at $1,500.

Popular visa-free destinations with a Paraguayan passport

Schengen countries. Paraguayan citizens only need a valid passport to travel within the Schengen Area. They may stay in the 29 countries covered by the agreement without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For longer stays, work, or study, they need to obtain a national visa for the country of destination.

United Kingdom. Paraguayan citizens can travel to the UK without a visa for visits of up to 6 months, but they must obtain an eTA before departure. The eTA costs £20 and is valid for 2 years or until the passport used for the application expires, whichever comes first.

To work or study, Paraguayan citizens need to obtain a UK visa corresponding to the purpose of their trip.

United States. Paraguayan passport holders can apply for a B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa, which may be issued for multiple entries with a validity of up to 10 years. The visa can be used for temporary business and tourist travel. The authorised period of stay is determined by US Customs and Border Protection upon each entry and is not the same as the visa’s validity period.

To obtain the Visitor Visa, applicants must submit an online application and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate. The application fee is $185.

Türkiye. Citizens of Paraguay can enter Türkiye without a visa and stay for up to 90 days within a 6-month period starting from the date of first entry.

Mexico. Paraguayan citizens can travel to Mexico without a visa for stays of up to 180 days if they do not engage in paid activities. Visa-free travel may include tourism, business visits, and transit.

Countries that require Paraguayan citizens to obtain a visa

A visa must be obtained in advance for travel to 29 countries, including Canada and China. Travellers need to complete an application, provide the required supporting documents, and pay the fee. Depending on the destination, applications may be submitted online, through a visa centre, or at an embassy or consulate.

Application processing times vary by destination. For example, a Chinese visa is usually processed in around 4 working days, while obtaining a Canadian visa may take 45—65 days. Travellers should check the requirements of the destination country and apply sufficiently in advance of their planned trip.

Can you get Paraguay citizenship by investment?

Paraguay does not grant citizenship by investment, and foreign nationals usually obtain Paraguayan citizenship by naturalisation. First, they secure temporary residence for up to 2 years and then permanent residence ^[2] Source: National Directorate of Migration — Temporary Residence . Foreigners become eligible for citizenship after holding permanent residence in Paraguay for at least 3 years.

To obtain Paraguayan nationality, applicants must:

• demonstrate good conduct and provide criminal record certificates;
• have no serious diseases;
• work, run a business, study, practise a profession, or carry out another qualifying activity in the country;
• pass a naturalisation exam covering basic knowledge of Spanish or Guaraní, as well as the country’s history, geography, and relevant constitutional provisions;
• live continuously in Paraguay during the 3 years before applying and spend no more than 3 months outside the country in any one of those years ^[3] Source: Paraguayan Judiciary — Supreme Court Resolution No. 464/2007 .

Family members do not obtain citizenship automatically with another applicant. A foreign spouse must qualify for residence and naturalisation separately. Minor children may obtain temporary and permanent residence together with a parent, but they need to reach legal age before applying for citizenship by naturalisation.

Benefits of a Paraguayan passport

A Paraguayan passport offers broad travel access, residence rights, and access to the country’s tax and financial system.

1. Visa-free travel

Paraguayan citizens can travel without a visa to 163 countries, including Schengen member states and the United Kingdom. Travellers may stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period and in the UK for up to 6 months.

For some destinations, travellers only need a valid passport, while others require an electronic travel authorisation or a visa on arrival.

2. Living and working in Paraguay

Paraguayan citizens can live, work, and study in the country without residence permits and can access public services, including free public healthcare.

Paraguay also has a relatively low cost of living, with housing, groceries, restaurants, and local services generally cheaper than in many European and North American countries. 

3. Tax optimisation

Paraguay applies a territorial tax system, so foreign-source income is generally outside the scope of local personal taxation ^[4] Source: National Directorate of Tax Revenue — Law No. 6380/2019 .

The country’s personal income tax remains one of the lowest in South America. Employment and professional earnings sourced in Paraguay are taxed at progressive rates of 8%, 9%, and 10%, while local capital income and gains are taxed at 8% ^[5] Source: National Directorate of Tax Revenue — Personal income tax .

4. Opening bank accounts

Paraguayan citizens can hold funds in international banks and carry out foreign exchange transactions without restrictions. At the same time, Paraguayan banks may refuse to provide services to foreign nationals who do not have residence or citizenship in the country.

5. Long-term US Visitor Visa

Paraguayan passport holders can apply for a US B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa for tourism and business travel. Under the current US reciprocity schedule, the visa may be issued for multiple entries with a validity of up to 10 years ^[6] Source: US Department of State — Visa Reciprocity Schedule for Paraguay .

Key points about visa-free travel with a Paraguayan passport

1. Paraguayan passport holders can enter 163 countries without a visa.
2. Paraguayan citizenship allows visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
3. Citizens of Paraguay can obtain a US Visitor Visa valid for 10 years, which allows travel to the US for business and tourism.
4. Paraguayan citizenship is obtained by naturalisation after 5 years of living in the country: 2 years with a temporary residence permit and 3 years as a permanent resident. Applicants must demonstrate basic knowledge of Spanish or Guaraní.