To preempt the residency service sellers and hater flooding comments that I don't know what I'm talking about, I'm no expert. Just a guy who did it solo, spent $500 and around 5 hours total.

Using a lawyer or service is great if you want, but it isn’t necessary. Many use fear tactics saying you risk messing it up. I did things wrong at each step and the workers at all the offices were nice, explained to me I need whatever copy and would wait while I made a copy

If you have a phone with Google Maps, Google Translate, and Uber, you can easily navigate this yourself. Knowing a little Spanish is helpful, but I don't think necessary. I heard a lot of English, and you don't have to say much. Just hand them the papers and they know what to do

Step 1 - Collect documents in your home country. THIS is the part you don’t want to mess up.

You need a criminal background check, as an american it was a FBI background check apostilled by the State Department. Also get your birth certificate apostilled. If married/divorced/widowed, get those documents apostilled too.

Very important: background checks expire after 6 months! This is the only part you can really mess up, because if you bring this to Paraguay expired, you can't start the process

Do Step 1 right and you’re already in great shape.

Step 2 - Arrive in Paraguay with apostilled docs: background check, birth cert.

Anytime you go to an office to hand in documents they need copies of said document that needs to be authenticated by an escribanía. Search “escribania near me” in Asuncion. Cost 5 to 10gs per page.

Get your birth certificate, background check, and main passport page translated to Spanish by a certified Paraguayan translator. Cost ~$70 USD. Google it, there are many

Get a “Certificado de antecedentes para extranjeros” at the Paraguayan national police IT Department. Bring authenticated copy of passport photo page and entry stamp. Takes 5 mins each at escribania and police station. Cost 70gs ($8.25). Document given immediately.

Get your Interpol certificate next at the Interpol office. Again you need a copy of your passport photo page and entry stamp authenticated by an escribania. 2 white-background passport photos. There is a kiosk at interpol that will take your photo and print them

They will take your fingerprints after you hand it in and pay. Cost $100gs ($12) Time spent - 45 minutes. Unlike the Certificado de ancedentes you don't get the document right away. You need to return 2 or 3 days later. Time spent, 2nd time - 5 minutes.

Now you have all you need for residency application. Go to Migraciones, select “ingreso de solicitudes,” get your ticket, wait, submit paperwork, pay around $400. Takes 1 hour.

They will give you a document that allows you to stay in the country for 90 days while you wait for your Temporary Residency card and Temporary residency certificate.

This part can be done in 2 days: day 1 police & Interpol certificates, then once Interpol ready, submit at Migraciones. Remember to photocopy & authenticate everything.

Step 3 – Getting your Cédula (plastic ID card).

Pick up your temporary residency card and certificate at Migraciones (usually gives in ~45 days, mine was faster). Some residency guys claim you can get this right away, not sure how, but something to look into

Ok so to get the plastic card you'll need to submit 5 things to Office of Identifications 1. Temporary residency card 2. Temporary residency certificate 3. Certificado de Vida y Residencia 4. Authenticated Interpol certificate 5. Carnet de Registro de Extranjeros

The Certificado de Vida y Residencia requires: Find closest police station (“comisaría más cercana de mi”), Fill out a form with witness info + copies of their cédulas (authenticated).

You’ll receive Certificado de Vida y Residencia in 24-48 hours. Bring proof of address (letter, bill). Police might visit but often don’t. This is the part that varies, depends if the cops there care or not.

Now get your Carnet de Registro de Extranjeros: submit apostilled passport copy, Interpol, and Certificado de Vida y Residencia. This is at Departamento de Investigación de Delitos. Cost 100gs

Last before final submission: Both Certificado de Vida y Residencia & Interpol certificate must be authenticated twice in this order: Dirección de Talento Humano (Dept of Human Talent) Comandancia de la Policía Nacional (National Police Command)

Final documents to apply for your Cedula: -Temporary residency card - Apostilled birth certificate - Apostilled criminal background certificate - Authenticated & legalized Certificado de Vida y Residencia - Authenticated & legalized Interpol certificate continued

- Carnet de Registro de Extranjeros + authenticated copy - Criminal record from local police + authenticated copy

Submit everything at the Departamento de Identificaciones they’ll take your photo, pay 8,000 Gs, and wait a couple of months to get your Cédula.

It’s mostly copying, filling forms, and submitting papers. Definitely doable solo, cheap, and not scary. I did this a while ago, so if I forgot anything let me know.

@2suns2moons what the the benefits for paraguayan residency ? do i have to resign to any passport if i wanna do it ? wondering since im from argentina

@santinosilvaa I don't think you need to resign your passport, pretty sure that's only if you getting citizenship and it depends on the country your from A lot of people do it for tax benefits, I'm american so I didn't help me with taxes unfortunately

@2suns2moons 😂😂😂😂😂