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.
Update as of July 22, 2026: All routes (Tourism, Real Estate/Stock Market, and the existing SUACE) are now fully operational. Application systems, investor certificates via SUACE, and Migraciones processing for the new RBI pathways are live and accepting cases.
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, critical limitations that have become clear, and what remains unclear.
$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 – Critical Requirement:
The property must generate income / cashflow. It cannot be purchased for the investor’s own use or for family living. Personal-use homes (primary residence or family housing) do not qualify. The investment needs to be structured as an income-producing asset (rental, commercial, etc.). This is a hard filter that has become clear in practice.
Paraguay’s real estate market is still developing and generally less liquid than in more mature economies. Qualifying property types, any minimum holding periods, and exact valuation/acceptance criteria continue to have nuances that require case-by-case clarification.
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. It mainly consists of corporate bonds that carry notable risk.
Best suited for: Investors seeking more direct control over their assets — either through income-generating 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 (income-generating only) 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 | Enter once every 3 years |
| Process | Fully operational (as of July 22, 2026) | Fully operational (as of July 22, 2026) | Fully operational |
| Status | Live | Live | 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 that must generate cashflow (not for personal/family living). 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. |
The RBI route that grants direct permanent residency is available only to the main applicant.
Spouse is not included under the direct permanent residency pathway.
This is a significant shortcoming from the Paraguayan government — failure to properly include “core family members” (spouse) in the new Investor Pass / RBI framework. Dependent children treatment and exact family procedures still require clarification, but the core spouse exclusion on the direct permanent route is confirmed in practice. Families must plan alternative strategies (standard temporary residency routes for spouse, sequential applications, etc.). This remains one of the biggest practical drawbacks of the new program.
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 (now operational):
For the SUACE route specifically: Present a business plan, proof of investment, and evidence of job creation.
Timelines:
Required Documents:
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. Exact checklists for the new RBI routes continue to have operational nuances.
Confirmed:
Still Pending / Nuanced (lots of details continue to need clarification with time):
Lots of nuanced details need to be clarified with time. The program is live, but Paraguay’s administrative reality means many practical questions are answered only through actual processing experience rather than published regulations.
Yes. Launched April 17, 2026, and fully operational as of July 22, 2026. All routes are accepting applications.
Yes. It remains fully active and unchanged.
The Investor Pass grants permanent residency, not citizenship. Naturalization is possible after approximately 3 years of permanent residency under standard rules.
No. Enter once every three years to maintain permanent residency.
Yes. Project performance, liquidity, and resale value depend on the specific approved project. Independent due diligence is essential.
No, you need to select one route.
Reduced 8% dividend tax on Paraguay-sourced dividends + the country’s territorial tax system (generally no tax on foreign-sourced income).
Important update: The direct permanent residency under the RBI routes is granted only to the main applicant. Spouse is not included. This is a clear and significant failure by the Paraguayan government to properly cover core family members. Alternative pathways (standard temporary residency for spouse, etc.) must be planned separately. Treatment of dependent children and exact family procedures continue to require clarification.
The property must generate income / cashflow. It cannot be used as the investor’s own home or for family living.
Bottom line (July 2026):
The Investor Pass / RBI routes are live and functional. They deliver genuine direct permanent residency for the main applicant with very low physical presence requirements. However, the spouse exclusion on the direct permanent track is a major practical flaw. Many operational nuances are still being clarified through real cases. Proceed with eyes open, proper local experienced practitioner needed, and realistic expectations on family structuring.
Never embark on this investment path with people who lack practical experience, market presence, and who are unable to provide you with legal and legitimate services. Set out on this path only with an experienced law firm. You can always verify their legitimacy at the Supreme Court.