Short answer: for Brazilians, the process is essentially the same as for any foreigner: first a temporary residency of up to 2 years from the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, then permanent residency. Being from a Mercosur country is not a shortcut: the documents and official fees are the same as for someone from the United States or Canada. There are two practical differences: you can enter Paraguay with just your RG (Brazilian ID card), and your documents in Portuguese do not need to be translated.
Why so many Brazilians are moving
Brazilians are by far the largest group of new residents: they received 22,628 of the 29,765 residencies granted in the first half of 2026, according to Migraciones figures reported by IMI Daily.
At Clarity Paraguay we see three profiles:
- Business owners looking for lower taxes for their business.
- Families who want a better quality of life and a lower cost of living (see the cost of living in Asunción).
- People optimizing their personal taxes (see our tax guide for Brazilians).
Documents you bring from Brazil
- A valid RG or passport.
- Your birth certificate, apostilled.
- A criminal record certificate from the Polícia Federal that shows both your father's and your mother's names, apostilled. Only the Polícia Federal certificate is needed; the state certificate is not. The certificate states its own validity (90 days), so get it close to your travel date.
- Your marriage certificate, if it applies (or divorce ruling, or your spouse's death certificate).
Apostille: done at a cartório (Brazilian notary office) through the CNJ apostille system. Without the apostille, Migraciones does not accept the document.
Translation: Brazilian documents in Portuguese do not need a Spanish translation (Migraciones requirements list). Migraciones may still ask for one if a document is unclear.
Documents we get in Paraguay
Once you are in Asunción, we get your INTERPOL certificate and the Policía Nacional's Certificado de Antecedentes para Extranjeros with you, and we go with you to Migraciones to file your application. See how temporary residency works with Clarity.
Entering Paraguay with an RG or a passport
You can enter with either, and it makes no difference for your residency, with a few precautions:
- Entered with your RG: ask for the stamped entry receipt at the border or airport and keep it. It is your proof of entry.
- Entered with your passport: check that it was stamped on entry. Without the stamp you will have to pay a fine.
- Yellow fever: carry your international yellow fever vaccination certificate. Under Ministry of Health Resolution 268/2025, Paraguay asks for it from travellers arriving from risk areas, which include parts of Brazil such as São Paulo, and clients arriving from Brazil have been asked for it at the airport. The only exemptions are airport connections of up to 24 hours in Brazil, children under 1, people over 59 and anyone with a medical certificate of contraindication. If you need the vaccine, get it at least 10 days before you travel. Once you are a resident, you also need it to travel from Paraguay to those areas.
How long it takes and what it costs
- Temporary residency: in our experience, about 60 to 90 days after filing. That is a typical range, not an official deadline, and 2026 demand is at record levels.
- Paraguayan cédula: a separate step at the Policía Nacional's Identificaciones, which lists 90 business days (about four months) for a first cédula. See our cédula service.
- Official fees: the same for every nationality. See the fee table in the full guide.
Common mistakes Brazilians make
“Mercosur makes it easier.” Not in practice: the documents and fees are the same as for any foreigner. The real advantages are entering with your RG and not needing translations.
“Any criminal record certificate will do.” It must be the Polícia Federal certificate, with both parents' names, apostilled and within its 90-day validity. The state certificate is not required.
“I entered with my RG, so I need nothing else.” Without the stamped entry receipt you cannot prove your entry. Ask for it on the spot.
“Yellow fever does not apply to me.” If you spent more than 24 hours in Brazil, you may be asked for the certificate on arrival and, as a resident, also when you travel from Paraguay to risk areas. Keep it in your carry-on.
“With Paraguayan residency, I stop paying tax in Brazil.” Paraguayan residency on its own does not change your tax status in Brazil. To stop being a Brazilian tax resident there is the saída definitiva (definitive exit) with the Receita Federal, explained in our tax guide for Brazilians. Talk to an accountant before you decide.
“Temporary residency is forever.” It lasts up to 2 years. To stay, you apply for permanent residency in the 3 months before it expires, proving solvency through one of the 12 categories of Resolution 407/2026.
“I'll get residency and go back to living in Brazil.” If you spend more than 1 year outside Paraguay during temporary residency, you cannot switch directly to permanent, and Migraciones can cancel your residency for unjustified absence (Law 6984/2022, Art. 55). Plan to be in Paraguay at least one day each year.
“The cédula comes with the residency.” No: it is a separate step at Identificaciones, after your residency is issued. The exception is if your spouse is a Paraguayan citizen: then you can get the cédula first and the residency afterwards.
Talk to us in Portuguese
Clarity Paraguay is a residency firm in Asunción, led by a registered lawyer and sworn translator. We work in Portuguese, Spanish and English, and we go with you to every office. Book a free 15-minute call or send us a message.
This article is general information, current as of 2026, and not legal advice. Requirements can change; we confirm the current list for your case.