By WeParaguay | Updated April 2026 | Based on first-hand visits to SUACE offices and direct conversations with government officials
When the Paraguay Investor Pass was announced in April 2026, the public information available was thin, a press release, a few news articles, official talking points. Within days of the announcement, our co-founder Osher walked into the SUACE offices in Asunción in person to get definitive answers to the questions that mattered.
What he found is significantly different from what most online sources are reporting. The program is real and it works, but several of the assumptions circulating online are wrong, and the actual mechanics matter for anyone making a real decision about whether this route fits their situation.
This guide reflects what SUACE officials actually told us in person, not what the press release said. Where the reality differs from what you may have read elsewhere, we will say so directly.
What the Paraguay Investor Pass Actually Is
The Paraguay Investor Pass is a government program launched in April 2026 by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) and the National Directorate of Migration (DNM). It allows qualifying foreign investors to obtain permanent residency directly, bypassing the standard two-year temporary residency period.
It is administered through SUACE (Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas), the same single-window government system that handles the SUACE Business Plan track for entrepreneurs.
There are three investment tracks. Each one has its own requirements and contrary to early reporting, they are not all “no company, no business plan” routes. Two of the three are. One is not. We’ll cover each accurately.
First: Two Critical Corrections to Common Misconceptions
Before getting into the tracks, two things need to be cleared up because they are widely misreported online:
Correction 1: The Process Is 100% In-Person and Not Electronic
Multiple online sources (including initial press coverage) describe the Investor Pass application as “predominantly electronic.” This is not accurate.
SUACE officials confirmed directly that the process is fully in-person (presencial). You must be physically present in Paraguay to submit your application. There is no electronic submission pathway. There is no remote application. You come to Paraguay, you submit, and you complete the process here.
This matches the standard for all Paraguayan residency applications. Paraguay has a strong preference for in-person verification of identity and intent across all immigration tracks.
Correction 2: Family Coverage Is Not Automatic
Several sources describe the Investor Pass as covering “the full family under a single investment.” This is also not accurate.
The Investor Pass grants permanent residency to the primary applicant only. Spouse, children, and dependents are not automatically covered. Family members must follow the standard temporary residency path: apply for temporary residency, wait the standard period, and then convert to permanent residency.
This is a significant difference from the SUACE Business Plan track, which extends permanent residency coverage to the spouse and minor children under the same investment structure.
If full family coverage matters to you, this changes the analysis. We address this in the comparison section below.
The Three Investment Tracks (Accurately Described)
Track 1: Real Estate ($200,000)
The most flexible and likely most popular of the three tracks.
What qualifies: You invest a minimum of $200,000 into Paraguayan real estate. The property is held in your personal name as the owner, you do not need to form a company.
Critical condition: The property cannot be for your personal residential use.
This is one of the most important details that government officials clarified in person. The investment must be commercial in nature: the property must be acquired for the purpose of rental income, renovation and resale, or development. You cannot simply buy a house, move into it, and qualify for the Investor Pass.
In practice, this means, an apartment held for rental, an Airbnb property, an investment property you renovate and resell, commercial real estate, these qualify. A primary residence you intend to live in does not.
You can spread the $200,000 across multiple properties.
There is no requirement that the investment be in a single asset. You can purchase multiple properties whose combined value reaches $200,000. Each individual asset must meet a minimum value threshold (approximately $1,500–$2,000 USD per asset), but otherwise you have flexibility in structuring the investment across multiple properties.
You don’t need to pay the full amount upfront.
This is a major operational insight. The Investor Pass requires a minimum 30% down payment with a signed purchase contract for the remaining balance. This means a $200,000 real estate investment can be initiated with $60,000 in cash plus a financing or installment agreement covering the remaining $140,000.
This significantly lowers the cash barrier to entry compared to what most online sources are reporting.
No company. No employees. No business plan.
For the real estate track, this is genuinely true. Personal name ownership, commercial use commitment, and proof of investment are sufficient.
Track 2: Stock Market (Bolsa de Valores) ($200,000)
What qualifies: You invest a minimum of $200,000 into the Paraguayan stock exchange. Like real estate, this can be held in your personal name without requiring a company structure.
No company. No employees. No business plan.
The dividend tax advantage is structural: Non-residents who invest in Paraguayan listed securities are taxed at 15% on dividend distributions. Residents, meaning anyone who holds Paraguayan permanent residency are taxed at 8% on the same dividends.
This is not a special incentive within the Investor Pass program. It is the structural difference between non-resident and resident dividend taxation in Paraguay. By becoming a permanent resident, you cut your dividend tax in roughly half on Paraguayan stock market income.
The Bolsa de Valores del Paraguay now operates on Nasdaq infrastructure, which significantly improves its credibility and accessibility for international investors.
Track 3: Tourism Projects ($150,000)
This is the track that most differs from how it has been reported.
The lowest investment threshold of the three at $150,000. But unlike the real estate and stock market tracks, the tourism track requires a company entity and a business plan.
This is critical and often missed. Tourism projects are treated as active business operations rather than passive asset investment. The reasoning is straightforward, a tourism project, whether a hotel, an Airbnb operation, a theme park, an eco-lodge, or a hospitality venue is a business that operates, employs people, and generates revenue.
What “tourism” includes: The tourism category is interpreted broadly. Qualifying projects include:
- Hotels and traditional accommodations
- Airbnb apartments and short-term rental operations (yes, run as a business)
- Theme parks and entertainment venues
- Eco-lodges and adventure tourism
- Restaurants and hospitality businesses tied to tourism activity
- Other tourism-related infrastructure
What it requires:
- Formation of a Paraguayan company entity
- A business plan for the tourism project
- The $150,000 investment commitment
What it does not require:
- The 5-employee minimum that applies to the SUACE Business Plan
- The $70,000 SUACE business minimum (this track operates under the Investor Pass framework)
In effect, the tourism track sits between the SUACE Business Plan (active entrepreneurship with employment obligations) and the pure passive routes (real estate and stock market). You are running a business, but with simpler structural obligations than the standard SUACE entrepreneur track.
How Long Does It Take
Based on direct confirmation from SUACE: once your complete document package is submitted in person, the timeline to having both your permanent residency document and your Cédula de Identidad (Paraguayan ID card) in hand is approximately 30 to 45 days.
This matches the timeline for the SUACE Business Plan track, the same institutional framework processes both.
How Long You Need to Be in Paraguay
Because the process is fully in-person, the practical question is: how long do you need to be physically present?
The structure is similar to the standard SUACE residency process:
- You arrive with your prepared document package
- You submit your application in person at SUACE
- You complete the required steps (biometrics, document verification, etc.)
- You collect your Cédula at the Departamento de Identificaciones once issued
WeParaguay handles the in-country logistics for you, including coordination of office visits and follow-up with SUACE during processing. We typically structure client visits to compress the in-person time as much as possible while ensuring all required steps are completed correctly.
Investment documentation (varies by track):
- Real Estate: Purchase contract showing minimum 30% down payment, with documented commitment for remaining balance. Property title or pre-title documentation. Confirmation that the property is for commercial use (rental, resale, development), not personal residence.
- Stock Market: Confirmation of investment positions held with a Paraguayan brokerage. Account documentation showing minimum $200,000 invested.
- Tourism: Company formation documents. Business plan for the tourism project. Investment commitment documentation showing $150,000 deployed or contractually committed.
All documents not in Spanish must be translated by a Traductor Público Matriculado registered in Paraguay. Portuguese documents from Brazil are exempt.
Maintaining Your Permanent Residency
Once issued, permanent residency is valid for 10 years (the card itself renews at that interval). To maintain legal status, you are required to visit Paraguay once every three years. No minimum stay duration is specified beyond arrival.
This is one of Paraguay’s most significant structural advantages compared to other residency programs globally. The UAE requires 90 days per year. Cyprus requires 60 days. Portugal under its former NHR required 183 days. Paraguay requires a single visit every three years.
Honest Comparison: Investor Pass vs. SUACE Business Plan
This is the comparison that matters most for prospective applicants. Both routes deliver direct permanent residency. They suit different profiles.
| Investor Pass | SUACE Business Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $150K (tourism) or $200K (RE/stocks) | $70,000 |
| Down payment for real estate | 30% minimum | Not applicable |
| Company required | Only for tourism | Yes |
| 5 employees required | No | Yes |
| Business plan required | Only for tourism | Yes |
| Family included | No (TR path required) | No (TR path required) |
| Asset retains value | Yes | Depends on business performance |
| Dividend tax (Paraguay stocks) | 8% (resident rate) | 8% (resident rate) |
| Processing time | 30–45 days | 30–45 days |
| Physical presence | Required (in-person) | Required (in-person) |
| Best for | Capital-ready passive investors | Entrepreneurs building a business |
The decision usually comes down to this factor:
Are you building a business or allocating capital into assets? If you have $70,000 and want to genuinely operate a business in Paraguay, the SUACE Business Plan fits. If you have $150,000–$200,000 and want to deploy it into property, securities, or a tourism project without the operational obligations of running a 5-employee company, the Investor Pass fits.
Important note: Across all SUACE direct-PR programs, Business Plan and Investor Pass alike, permanent residency is granted only to the primary applicant. Spouse and children must follow the standard temporary residency path independently. SUACE confirmed this directly to us in person. This is not a difference between the two programs; it applies to both.
What About Film Production?
There is also an older, separate pathway to direct permanent residency through investment in local film production, available under a special exemption granted by Paraguay’s National Institute for Audiovisual (INAP).
The investment amount varies by project, the official INAP documentation confirms there is no fixed government minimum tied to the SUACE thresholds. WeParaguay does not currently offer the Film Production route as a packaged service. It requires partnership with a specific Paraguayan audiovisual production company registered with INAP. We are aware of the pathway and may add it to our offering in the future.
Tax Residency: An Important Distinction
Permanent residency in Paraguay and tax residency in Paraguay are related but distinct concepts.
Permanent residency is a legal immigration status. Tax residency is a tax determination. Permanent residency does not automatically make you a tax resident of Paraguay, and it does not automatically eliminate tax obligations in your country of citizenship or prior residence.
If your goal includes shifting your tax residence to Paraguay to take advantage of the territorial tax system (0% on foreign-source income), consult with a qualified tax professional in both Paraguay and your home jurisdiction before making any commitments. WeParaguay does not provide tax advice outside of Paraguay; we connect clients with licensed international tax professionals as part of our service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the Investor Pass without traveling to Paraguay?
No. The process is 100% in-person. You must be physically present in Paraguay to submit your application and complete the process. This was confirmed directly by SUACE officials.
For the real estate track, can I buy property to live in?
No. The property must be acquired for commercial purposes like rental, renovation and resale, or development. A primary residence does not qualify.
Can I buy multiple smaller properties to reach the $200,000 threshold?
Yes. There is no requirement that the investment be in a single property. You can spread the investment across multiple properties whose combined value reaches $200,000, with each individual asset meeting a minimum value threshold (approximately $1,500–$2,000 per asset).
Do I need to pay the full $200,000 in cash upfront for real estate?
No. A minimum 30% down payment with a signed purchase contract showing commitment to the remaining balance is sufficient.
Why does the tourism track require a company when the others don’t?
Because tourism projects are treated as active business operations, not passive asset investment. A hotel, Airbnb business, or tourism venue is a business that operates and generates revenue, it is structured as such legally.
Does my spouse get permanent residency through my Investor Pass?
No. The Investor Pass grants permanent residency to the primary applicant only. Family members must follow the standard temporary residency path independently.
If I want my whole family to have permanent residency, what should I do?
This is one of the most important questions to address before choosing any SUACE-administered route. SUACE confirmed to us directly that under both the Business Plan and the Investor Pass, permanent residency is granted only to the primary applicant. Family members: spouse, children, dependents, must apply for temporary residency separately and follow the standard 2-year path to permanent residency.
If full family PR coverage is your priority and you do not need to skip the 2-year wait, the cleanest approach is for the entire family to apply through the Standard Residency track together, same timeline, same outcome, no investment required.
Can I combine the Investor Pass with a US LLC?
Yes. Paraguayan permanent residency combined with a US LLC (typically Wyoming or Delaware) is a powerful structure for international entrepreneurs and investors. The LLC generates income from foreign clients; under Paraguay’s territorial tax system, that income is not taxed in Paraguay. We cover this in detail in our guide: Paraguay + US LLC: The Complete 2026 Tax Strategy
What if I want to buy a property to live in personally and another to qualify for the Investor Pass?
That works. The personal residence is held separately and does not qualify under the Investor Pass. The investment property (or properties), held for commercial use -qualifies. You can absolutely have both.
Conclusion
The Paraguay Investor Pass is a real program and a meaningful addition to Paraguay’s residency landscape. For the right profil, capital-ready investors who want to deploy $150,000 to $200,000 into a real asset and obtain permanent residency without the operational obligations of running a business, it is a strong fit.
But the program is widely misreported online. It is not electronic. It does not cover the family. The tourism track is not “no company, no business plan.” The real estate track has commercial use restrictions.
These are not deal-breakers. They are realities you need to understand to make a clean decision about whether this route fits your situation.
If you have questions about how the Investor Pass would work for your specific case including which route fits your business intentions and capital structure, that is exactly the conversation we have with prospective clients.
Contact WeParaguay
WeParaguay is a legally registered Paraguayan company (RUC: 80165922-1, MDE: 139105) with a physical office in Asunción at Av. Sta. Teresa 2408. Our co-founder Osher works directly with SUACE and the relevant government offices on behalf of clients, including walking into the SUACE offices in person, as we did to gather the information that informs this guide.
Website: www.weparaguay.com WhatsApp: +595 992 023 510 Office: Av. Sta. Teresa 2408, Asunción 001410, Paraguay Email: [email protected] Schedule a call with Osher: https://s.weparaguay.com/widget/bookings/oshercalendar
Exploring other Paraguay residency options?
- SUACE Business Plan → Direct PR through active business investment. $70,000 + 5 employees.
- Standard Residency → No minimum investment. The most accessible route for most applicants.
- Paraguay + US LLC Tax Strategy → Combine Paraguay residency with a US LLC for 0% total tax on foreign income.
- Paraguay Passport and Citizenship → What happens after 3 years of permanent residency.