On April 17, 2026, the Paraguayan government officially launched the Paraguay Investor Pass — a new investment-based residency program that grants direct permanent residency to foreign investors. The program targets investments in tourism, real estate, or the stock market, offering a faster and clearer pathway compared to traditional routes.
This guide breaks down exactly what was announced, the three available investment routes, how they compare to the existing SUACE program, key benefits, tax advantages, the application process, potential risks, and what remains unclear as of the launch date.
$150,000 — Tourism Route (New)
Investment in government-approved tourism projects
$200,000 — Real Estate or Stock Market Route (New)
Investment in Paraguayan real estate or the local stock market
$70,000+ — SUACE Productive Investment (Existing & Still Active)
Business plan + creation of at least 5 formal jobs
The program was jointly launched by Minister of Industry and Commerce Marco Riquelme and Director of Migraciones Jorge Kronawetter during an official government mission in São Paulo, Brazil.
According to the official statement from the Ministerio de Industria y Comercio (MIC) and the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones:
“El Ministerio de Industria y Comercio y la Dirección Nacional de Migraciones lanzó el ‘Paraguay Investor Pass’, un programa que permite a extranjeros acceder a la residencia permanente en el país mediante una inversión, con un proceso más ágil, claro y adaptado a distintos perfiles de inversionistas.”
English Translation:
“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the National Directorate of Migration launched the ‘Paraguay Investor Pass,’ a program that allows foreigners to access permanent residency in the country through investment, with a faster, clearer process adapted to different investor profiles.”
Minister Riquelme explained that many investors prefer to secure residency first and then develop their projects. The new framework addresses this demand while channeling capital into key sectors: tourism, real estate, and financing.
Director Kronawetter highlighted the sharp rise in interest in Paraguayan residency:
The majority of applicants are coming from Brazil.
Official Sources:
Invest $150,000 in government-approved tourism projects. This route aims to boost Paraguay’s tourism sector by directing foreign capital into selected developments.
Important Considerations:
This is a project-specific investment. Similar to some Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programs, the performance, quality, liquidity, and resale value of approved projects can vary significantly. Thorough independent due diligence is strongly recommended.
Best suited for: Investors with a genuine interest in Paraguay’s tourism industry who are comfortable with project-related risks.
Invest $200,000 in either:
Real Estate Option: Provides ownership of tangible assets with potential for rental income or appreciation. Paraguay’s real estate market is still developing and generally less liquid than in more mature economies.
Stock Market Option: Allows investment in local financial instruments. Paraguay’s stock exchange is relatively small and less liquid, which introduces higher volatility and liquidity risk. Plus it mainly consists of corporate bonds that are risky in our opinion.
Best suited for: Investors seeking more direct control over their assets — either through property ownership or financial securities — rather than project-based investments.
The traditional investor route through SUACE remains fully operational and was not replaced by the new RBI.
Requirements:
This route is designed for active entrepreneurs who intend to establish and operate a genuine business with local employees.
Best suited for: Business-oriented investors who want the lowest entry cost and are prepared to engage in real economic activity.
| Factor | Tourism ($150K) | Real Estate / Stocks ($200K) | SUACE ($70K+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | $150,000 | $200,000 | $70,000+ |
| Investment Type | Approved tourism projects | Real estate or stock market | Business plan + operations |
| Job Creation | None | None | 5 formal jobs |
| Residency Status | Direct permanent | Direct permanent | Direct permanent |
| Investment Control | Low — project-dependent | Medium to high | High — your own business |
| Liquidity Risk | Higher | Medium | Varies |
| Physical Presence | Enter once every 3 years | Enter once every 3 years | Standard rules |
| Process | To be announced | To be announced | SUACE + Migraciones |
| Status | Announced, details pending | Announced, details pending | Fully operational |
| Your Situation | Best Route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want the lowest cost - standard process of Temporary → Permanent residence (no investment required) | Standard Route | The cheapest route without investing into the market. 2-year process with minimum mandatory requirements. It is proven and working. |
| You want the lowest-cost investor route | SUACE ($70K) | Cheapest path to permanent residency, but requires active business with employees |
| You prefer passive investment in property | Real Estate ($200K) | Tangible asset, clearer pricing, potential rental income. Investment is per person. |
| Risky diversification | Stock Market ($200K) | Market is small and practically non-existent. Mostly selling high risk corporate bonds. |
| You're open to tourism-sector projects | Tourism ($150K) | Risk of investing into a market you do not know and hard to predict the results in a developing market. Risky route. |
Paraguay operates a territorial tax system, meaning:
For Investor Pass participants:
Note: Tax rules should always be reviewed with a qualified advisor, as individual circumstances vary.
General Steps (as outlined):
For the SUACE route specifically: Present a business plan, proof of investment, and evidence of job creation.
Timelines:
Required Documents:
Specific lists for the new routes have not been fully detailed. Applicants should expect to follow general residency requirements (apostilled documents, police certificates, background checks, etc.). For SUACE, proof of investment and job creation is essential.
Confirmed:
Still Pending (as of April 2026):
The Paraguayan government officially launched the Investor Pass program on April 17, 2026. However, as of the launch date, the detailed procedural pages on the Migraciones website still only show the older SUACE process. This indicates that the full implementation infrastructure and application system for the new routes are still being rolled out.
Investors are advised to confirm the current application status directly with the Ministerio de Industria y Comercio (MIC) or consult a qualified immigration advisor before making any investment.
Yes. The official explainer published by the MIC on April 17, 2026 explicitly confirms that the previous SUACE route remains fully active and unchanged.
This route still requires a formal business plan, a minimum investment of USD $70,000, and the creation of at least five formal jobs in Paraguay. The Investor Pass introduces new higher-tier options but does not replace the existing SUACE pathway.
The Investor Pass grants permanent residency, not citizenship.
Under Paraguay’s current constitutional rules, holders of permanent residency can apply for naturalization (Paraguayan citizenship) after 3 years. The government has not introduced a separate “golden passport” or direct citizenship-by-investment program. Citizenship would follow the standard naturalization process applicable to all permanent residents.
The minimum investment depends on the chosen route:
The SUACE route remains the lowest-cost option, while the new RBI routes offer passive investment alternatives at higher amounts.
No. According to the official MIC explainer, investors can maintain their permanent residency with minimal physical presence — you only need to enter Paraguay once every three years.
This rule is consistent with the existing permanent residency maintenance requirements in Paraguay.
Yes, this route carries specific risks. Your investment would go into government-approved tourism projects, and the performance, resale value, and liquidity will depend heavily on the quality of those individual projects.
This structure is similar to some Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programs, where approved projects have occasionally underperformed. Investors are strongly encouraged to conduct thorough independent due diligence on any specific tourism project before committing funds.
The official announcement states that investors have the possibility of combining different types of investment. However, the exact mechanics — such as how amounts can be split between tourism, real estate, and stocks, or any minimum thresholds per category — have not yet been detailed in the published procedural rules.
More information on combination options is expected as the program implementation progresses.
The RBI offers two main tax advantages:
These benefits make Paraguay attractive for international investors, but individual tax situations should always be reviewed with a qualified tax advisor.
At $150,000 – $200,000, the Paraguay Investor RBI is priced below most European Golden Visa programs and above the lowest citizenship-by-investment options (starting around $100,000).
Key advantages of Paraguay include:
Main uncertainties remain around implementation speed and the quality/liquidity
The April 17, 2026 announcement does not explicitly detail family inclusion rules. However, under the existing SUACE investor residency framework, spouses and dependent children can usually obtain residency through the main applicant.
The new RBI routes are expected to follow similar family inclusion policies. However, we need to wait for more detailed information.