Before you start

A consular visa where your nationality needs 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 marriage or divorce documents where relevant, 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 expressly exempt

Step-by-step

1
Check whether your nationality needs a residence visa
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. In a border city this is easy to get wrong, because crossing to Foz and back changes nothing about your status.
In personWho: YouBefore departure
2
Apostille everything abroad
Birth, marriage and police certificates must be apostilled in the issuing country or legalised through a Paraguayan consulate and then the foreign ministry. Brazilian documents in Portuguese do not need translation, which makes this route materially cheaper for Brazilians.
In personWho: YouBefore departure
3
File at the Oficina de Admisión on Avda. Rogelio Benítez
Casi 4 de Mayo, weekdays 07:00–14:30 — half an hour earlier than several other regional offices. Bring originals plus notarised copies; the originals are only returned against them.
In personWho: YouOne morningGs 2,926,925 in cash; more by card
4
If you are Brazilian, weigh the MERCOSUR track carefully
MERCOSUR temporary residence costs Gs 2,341,540 rather than Gs 2,926,925 — but it lasts exactly two years, cannot be extended, does NOT come with a Paraguayan cédula, and the permanent application must be filed within the ninety days before it expires or the right is lost. The ordinary Ley 6984 route is dearer and more forgiving.
In personWho: You
5
Get the cédula and live on precario status
Ordinary temporary residence entitles you to a Paraguayan cédula valid for the same period, and 'residente precario' status lets you exit and re-enter, study and work while the file is decided.
In personWho: You
6
Diarise the conversion window
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; after that the permanent route closes and only an extension remains.
In personWho: YouMonth 21–24Gs 2,926,925

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

Filing locally is a real saving, not a convenience.

Ciudad del Este is one of ten places in Paraguay with a Migraciones admission office. Residents of most of the country make a round trip to Asunción for each appointment.

Source: DNM — Oficinas de Admisión de Extranjeros

For Brazilians the cheaper MERCOSUR route is the more dangerous one.

It saves Gs 585,385 and costs you the cédula for two years plus a single ninety-day window that, if missed, ends the agreement route entirely.

Source: DNM — Residencia Temporaria MERCOSUR

Brazilian Portuguese documents need no sworn translation.

Migraciones exempts them expressly. Given that the rest of the world pays a translator per page, this is a quiet but substantial cost difference for the largest foreign community in Alto Paraná.

Source: DNM — observaciones on every residence page

Crossing the bridge does not reset anything.

Overstay accrues against the Art. 87 fine of Gs 702,462 whatever your border-crossing history looks like, and Migraciones checks the movement register when it receives a file.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming a visa-free tourist entry entitles you to file for residence. For most Western nationalities it does not.
Choosing MERCOSUR residence on price without understanding the missing cédula and the ninety-day window.
Arriving after 14:30 — the CDE office closes earlier than several other regional offices.
Bringing originals without notarised copies.
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.

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