Paraguay's Corte Suprema de Justicia keeps the official register of traductores públicos matriculados. Ley 6984/2022 (Art. 50) accepts a Spanish translation by a traductor público matriculado in Paraguay, or by a public translator authorized in the country where they work; in that case the translation itself must be apostilled or legalized. Our strong recommendation: whenever the Supreme Court register has a sworn translator for your document's language, have the translation done in Paraguay. A translation from abroad is best kept for languages with no registered translator.
Your two options
Migraciones asks for every foreign document that is not in Spanish to come with a Spanish translation. The law gives you two options:
- A traductor público matriculado in Paraguay: the translation is done in Paraguay and needs no apostille. This works only if the register lists a translator for your language.
- A public translator authorized in the country where they work: the document can be translated abroad, before you travel, and the translation itself must then be apostilled or legalized.
- Portuguese documents issued by Brazil usually need no translation, only the apostille. Migraciones can still ask for a translation if a document is unclear, and other Brazilian documents, such as income proofs, may need one.
A Migraciones resolution also accepts two narrower routes (Res. DNM 754/2024, Annex I, Art. 6): a translation into another language made abroad and legalized or apostilled, then translated into Spanish in Paraguay, accepted only when the register has no traductor público matriculado for the language of the original document; and a Spanish translation by your country's competent authority based in Paraguay, or accredited to Paraguay from another country, legalized by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.
For the full order of steps, see our apostille and translation guide.
Languages in the official register
According to the Corte Suprema de Justicia's register of traductores públicos matriculados (checked 16 Oct 2026, data updated 16-10-2026), Paraguay has registered translators for these languages, translating to and from Spanish:
| Language | Registered translators (approx.) |
|---|---|
| English | hundreds |
| Portuguese | over 100 |
| Guaraní | nearly 100 |
| German | over 80 |
| French | over 60 |
| Italian | about 20 |
| Korean | over a dozen |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | a handful |
| Sign language | a handful |
| Russian | a handful |
| Arabic | a handful |
| Japanese | a handful |
| Croatian | very few |
| Dutch | very few |
| Ukrainian | very few |
| Polish | very few |
| Greek | very few |
| Catalan | very few |
| Czech | very few |
| Indigenous languages: Nivaclé, Sanapaná, Enxet, Ava Guaraní, Maskoy | very few each |
The register changes as translators join or leave, so check it for your language before you order a translation.
How to check and choose
- Look up the Corte Suprema de Justicia's register of traductores públicos matriculados and search for your language.
- If your language appears, you can translate in Paraguay after you arrive, which is often simpler, or translate at home with an authorized public translator and apostille or legalize the translation.
- If it does not, translate at home with an authorized public translator and apostille or legalize the translation before you travel. The route through another language described above is also open to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I translate my documents abroad if my language has a registered translator in Paraguay?
Yes. Ley 6984/2022 (Art. 50) accepts a Spanish translation by a traductor público matriculado in Paraguay, or by a public translator authorized in the country where they work; in that case the translation itself must be apostilled or legalized. Our strong recommendation: whenever the Supreme Court register has a sworn translator for your document's language, have the translation done in Paraguay. A translation from abroad is best kept for languages with no registered translator.
What if no one in Paraguay is registered for my language?
Translate abroad with a public translator authorized in that country, then apostille or legalize the translation. In that case only, Migraciones also accepts a translation into another language made abroad and legalized or apostilled, then translated into Spanish in Paraguay (Res. DNM 754/2024, Annex I, Art. 6).
Do Brazilian documents need translation?
Usually not. Portuguese documents issued by Brazil only need the apostille, unless Migraciones asks for a translation because a document is unclear; other Brazilian documents, such as income proofs, may need one.
Does a translation done in Paraguay need an apostille?
No. A translation by a registered translator in Paraguay needs no further apostille.
Where is the official list?
It is the Corte Suprema de Justicia's register, listed on datos.gov.py, Paraguay's open data portal. It changes over time, so check it before you order a translation.
Get help with your documents
If you are not sure which option suits your documents, book a free 15-minute call. We work with clients of any nationality and documents in any language. If you are preparing a residency file, see our temporary residency service.
This article is general information and not legal advice.
Official sources