Your first 90 days in Paraguay: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The territorial tax system is real but is not a blanket exemption, and residence alone does not make you tax-resident everywhere else's rules stop applying — US citizens in particular remain taxable on worldwide income. Also verify the current residency requirements directly, because this is a country whose rules changed materially and recently.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
File for permanent residence with the Dirección General de Migraciones and obtain the cédula de identidad paraguaya
Within your permitted stay — the residence file is normally lodged in-country and the cédula follows once residence is granted
Paraguay's headline attraction was famously cheap and fast residency; the rules tightened in 2022, replacing the old bank-deposit route with a temporary-then-permanent path and higher documentary standards. Anything written before 2022 about a same-week permanent cédula is out of date.
Get your RUC (Registro Único del Contribuyente)
Invoicing, business activity and any filing with the SET require it; the cédula number is the everyday identifier for banking and contracts.
Registered with the Subsecretaría de Estado de Tributación using the cédula; Paraguay operates a territorial tax system, so foreign-source income is generally outside the net.
Open a bank account
Banco Continental, Itaú and Sudameris open accounts on the cédula — the cédula is the hard prerequisite, and a passport alone will not get you a normal account. Once you have it, banking is straightforward and the guaraní is stable, though international transfer costs are high.
Enrol in healthcare
The public system is free but limited; IPS (social security) covers formal employees. Foreign residents overwhelmingly use private hospitals in Asunción, which are inexpensive, and buy local private plans that cost a fraction of US or European premiums.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit works for visitors; residents obtain a Paraguayan licence through the municipality, requiring a medical check and a test. Driving is on the right.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Paraguay?
Add your email for new Paraguay guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Paraguay: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Paraguay?
File for permanent residence with the Dirección General de Migraciones and obtain the cédula de identidad paraguaya — Within your permitted stay — the residence file is normally lodged in-country and the cédula follows once residence is granted. Paraguay's headline attraction was famously cheap and fast residency; the rules tightened in 2022, replacing the old bank-deposit route with a temporary-then-permanent path and higher documentary standards. Anything written before 2022 about a same-week permanent cédula is out of date. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the RUC and do I need one?
RUC (Registro Único del Contribuyente) is Paraguay's personal tax/ID number. Invoicing, business activity and any filing with the SET require it; the cédula number is the everyday identifier for banking and contracts. Registered with the Subsecretaría de Estado de Tributación using the cédula; Paraguay operates a territorial tax system, so foreign-source income is generally outside the net.
Can I drive in Paraguay on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit works for visitors; residents obtain a Paraguayan licence through the municipality, requiring a medical check and a test. Driving is on the right. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Paraguay?
The public system is free but limited; IPS (social security) covers formal employees. Foreign residents overwhelmingly use private hospitals in Asunción, which are inexpensive, and buy local private plans that cost a fraction of US or European premiums. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Paraguay's system treats foreign residents.