Before you start

A consular visa where your nationality requires one for residence — check Migraciones' third column, not the tourist one
Legal entry recorded by a stamped boleta migratoria or a passport stamp
Birth certificate and civil-status documents, apostilled or legalised
Police certificate from your country of origin or of the last three years' residence, apostilled
Sworn Spanish translations, except Brazilian documents in Portuguese which are exempt

Step-by-step

1
Check which visa column applies to you
Migraciones separates the tourist visa from the visa for extending a stay, residing or working. The US, Germany, Spain and France are visa-free for the first and not for the second, and the temporary residence requirement list asks for that consular visa where it is required.
In personWho: YouBefore departure
2
Apostille abroad
Birth, marriage and police certificates must be apostilled in the issuing country, or legalised through a Paraguayan consulate and then the foreign ministry. Doing it after arrival is the biggest single cause of delay.
In personWho: YouBefore departure
3
Plan the Asunción trip properly — there is no local office
The nearest Oficina de Admisión is the Sede Central at Caballero N° 201 esquina Eligio Ayala, weekdays 07:00–14:30, strictly by order of arrival with no appointments. From Capiatá that is roughly 20 km down Ruta PY02 and the difference between leaving at six and leaving at seven is close to an hour.
In personWho: YouOne full morningGs 2,926,925 in cash; Gs 2,991,317 by debit card, Gs 3,023,514 by credit
4
Collect the carnet at a different address
Filing happens at Caballero 201; carnets are issued from the expedition office at Azara N° 304 esquina Iturbe. Two separate trips into the capital, at two separate addresses.
In personWho: You
5
Get the cédula and live on precario status
Temporary residence entitles you to a Paraguayan cédula valid for the same period, and 'residente precario' status lets you exit and re-enter the country, study and work while the file is decided.
In personWho: You
6
Diarise the conversion window the day the carnet is issued
The change of category is filed in the three months before the temporary carnet expires. One month late costs the Art. 87 fine of Gs 702,462; beyond that the permanent route closes and only an extension remains, up to six months past expiry.
In personWho: YouMonth 21–24Gs 2,926,925 plus Gs 234,154 for the certificado de radicación

Documents you’ll need

Passport or national identity document, valid
Consular visa and its MRE verification, where required
Stamped boleta migratoria or entry stamp
Apostilled birth certificate and civil-status documents
Apostilled police certificate; INTERPOL certificate; Certificado de Antecedentes para Extranjeros
At the permanent stage: proof of economic solvency under one of the twelve annex categories

Things most newcomers don’t know

No Migraciones office in Central department outside Asunción.

Ten Paraguayan cities have one and none of them is in the metropolitan ring. Every appointment is a journey against the morning commute, into offices that close at 14:30 and work by order of arrival.

Source: DNM — Oficinas de Admisión de Extranjeros

Two addresses, not one.

Files are lodged at Caballero 201 and carnets collected at Azara 304. People make the trip, queue, and find themselves at the wrong building.

The temporary application has no financial test at all.

This is the single biggest misconception about Paraguay. The requirement list is identity, entry, birth, civil status, police records and two declarations — nothing about money.

Source: DNM — Residencia Temporal

Remote work is an explicit solvency category at the permanent stage.

Category 5 of Migraciones' annex names 'trabajadores a distancia o nómadas digitales' and asks only for a work certificate stating income and payment channel — which suits Capiatá's economics, where a foreign salary goes furthest.

Source: DNM — solvency annex

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming a visa-free tourist stamp lets you file for residence.
Arriving at the Sede Central after mid-morning; it is queue-based and closes at 14:30.
Going to Caballero 201 to collect a carnet that is waiting at Azara 304.
Bringing originals without notarised copies — Migraciones will not return them.
Treating the three-month conversion window as advisory.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.