Paraguay tightens residency requirements: for permanent residence you must prove active economic activity, while a “passive” route is available via the Paraguay Investor Pass

Obtaining temporary residency in Paraguay remains—just like before—relatively straightforward. This has not changed. However, when converting a temporary card into permanent residence, the country now requires proof of real economic activity that generates income and matches the activity declared earlier—not proof of “status” or simply “time spent”.

On May 28, 2026, the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) signed Resolution D.N.M. N° 407. The document standardizes the criteria for demonstrating solvencia económica (economic solvency) specifically at the permanent-residency stage. In other words, to move to Paraguay ПМЖ, the applicant must show that their economic life actually exists: income/resources must be documented and aligned with what was declared at the temporary residency stage.

According to Jeremy Savory from Savory & Partners (who obtained Paraguay permanent residence about a year and a half ago), the process has become noticeably more complex. “Previously it was almost automatic and close to a formality. Now it’s significantly harder.” He chose a route through productive investment because it implies job creation and, in his experience, reduces the number of visits—although, as he notes, most investors do not necessarily want to go through this format.

What is now required to convert to “adult” residency

The key point: solvency is applied only at the permanent-residency stage. Resolution 407 explicitly states that the requirements for the temporary card remain the same. But when switching to permanent residence, economic solvency becomes a condition of eligibility that cannot be assumed—it must be proven with current documents.

In practice, this means you must submit current and verifiable documents showing actual income or genuinely available resources. These must correspond to the profession/activity declared during temporary residency. Essentially, the DNM checks whether the economic model you claimed matches reality.

Additionally, the rule on absence is now applied more strictly: the requirement that you cannot be absent for more than one year in a row during temporary residency is treated as mandatory for conversion to permanent residence.

Overall, there are 12 categories through which applicants can demonstrate the economic basis:

• professionals;
• technicians;
• wage earners;
• self-employed individuals;
• remote workers and digital nomads;
• real estate owners;
• shareholders and partners in companies;
• farmers and ranch owners;
• religious workers;
• pensioners;
• dependents;
• students.

For most categories, the test centers on active income and is supported, for example, by registration with the Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) social insurance, a signed employment contract registered and homologated through the Ministry of Labor, or VAT (IVA) tax reporting for three months plus a tax compliance certificate.

This is especially visible in professional and technical categories: a diploma or technical title by itself is no longer sufficient. The qualification holder must show that it actually generates income.

From an enforcement standpoint, 407 functions largely as an “order-setting” measure. Since 2024, the requirements have been split across several documents: the base resolutions 710/2024 and 905/2024 (with 710 later clarified by 124/2025 and 22/2026, and 905 clarified by 394/2025 and 012/2026). In its legal opinion, the DNM referred to this as normative fragmentation, which made uniform application of the rules difficult.

Resolution 407 consolidates everything into one document—Anexo Único. It is applied both under the logic of the Migration Law (Ley N° 6984/22) and within the MERCOSUR Residence Agreement (Ley N° 3565/08).

At the same time, references to the profession and the route to prove solvencia now “live” not only on paper in the Carnet de Residencia, but also in the system. Still, the general principle remains unchanged: economic activity is the price of conversion.

For those following the activity-based route, Savory advises starting to prepare evidence well in advance and building in more time than a year ago. In his interpretation, the “lighter” approach to documentation has ended.

Is there a “passive” route without active economic activity?

This is where the rules become uncomfortable for people who do not plan to live in Paraguay and do not intend to carry out economic activity locally.

If the applicant is not employed, does not practice a registered profession, and does not issue invoices (invoicing), then the “active” categories effectively do not fit.

That leaves fewer options than it may seem at first glance.

For example, owning real estate may look like a passive scenario, but the category includes a requirement that the title registration is completed within two years, plus potential requests from the authority to show what income the asset generates.

Shareholding also does not automatically make things easy: the Anexo is generally built around proving actual income or genuinely available resources. “Dormant” participation in a company without activity is a weak match for the test.

The pensioner route does look cleaner—but only if the applicant is actually receiving a pension.

For someone of working age who wants status without “living” in Paraguay and without regular activity, there may be no reliable, predictable path under this logic. That is exactly the gap that Paraguay Investor Pass closes.

Investor Pass: a separate logic for investors

The Investor Pass is issued under a separate scheme (Resolution 0283/2026) and addresses the “passivity” question directly. It allows applicants to obtain permanent residence through investment, skipping the temporary stage. The investment is assessed under its own rules rather than through the categories of 407.

There are four scenarios:

• Real estate: USD 200,000. A business plan and job creation are not required. You must submit an annual report. You can apply either with a registered transfer agreement or with a notarized purchase agreement, provided at least 30% of the declared value is paid.
• Financial instruments: USD 200,000, held for at least two years. Again, an annual report is required, with no business plan and no job-creation requirements.
• Productive business: USD 70,000. A business plan is required, along with a minimum of five formal jobs.
• Tourism: USD 150,000. A business plan is required, plus progress reports every six months.

For people who are not residents and do not intend to be actively involved locally, the first two options are genuinely suitable: capital is invested—and activity is not required. The business and tourism scenarios assume an operating enterprise.

After you obtain permanent residence, there is nothing beyond the usual: the applicant only needs one visit every three years.

“Moving to a permanent status remains the key for flexibility,” Savory noted. “Investor Pass lets you reach that point in one step, without the presence and paperwork burden of the temporary stage.”

If you place the two routes side by side, the picture becomes simple:

The 407 route requires proving economic activity through documents—year after year and “by files.” Investor Pass answers the question once—through capital, without economic activity—and visits are needed only every three years.

At the same time, Resolution 407 itself did not change Investor Pass. But the “compression” of the activity-based route into a unified logic tied to economic activity makes the passive workaround more direct and easier to understand for those considering a Plan B.

Savory also says Paraguay is entering a more mature and interesting phase. He plans to return in the coming months to study a “very unusual real estate market.” In his view, demand in his company grew by 40% compared to last year, and the target is more than 80% by the end of the year.

One nuance of the 407 regime is still “settling”: the text does not clearly state a minimum income threshold for the submission window. It will most likely be clarified in practice—during consultations and throughout the filing process in the coming months.

In the end, Paraguay drew a clear line in regulation. This is another signal that the region continues strengthening its position in investment migration—at least as a third “pillar” of investment-based immigration.

If you’re considering Paraguay and want a clear, document-supported path to permanent residency—not just holding a temporary status—take a look at Paraguay Investor Pass. With the recent tightening of checks on actual economic activity when converting temporary residence into permanent residency, choosing a route that’s easier to substantiate is crucial. Digital Nomad can help you assess eligibility and select the right strategy for your case—from preparing the documents to supporting the process end-to-end.

Our Telegram channel about various types of Greek residence permits, digital nomad programs, and the Greek Golden Visa: @digitalnomadgr