Paraguay Visa Requirements: Do You Need a Visa to Enter in 2026?

Whether you need a visa to enter Paraguay depends on your nationality. Most Western Europeans and North Americans can enter without advance visa arrangements, but there are important nuances — particularly for US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand passport holders — that are not always clearly explained on travel sites. This guide covers the current entry requirements by region and what to expect at the border.

Visa-Free Entry: European Union and UK Citizens

Citizens of all European Union member states and the United Kingdom can enter Paraguay visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. No advance application is required — you simply present your valid passport at the port of entry. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.

This applies to arrivals by air at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (Asuncion), as well as to land border crossings. The most common land entry point from Brazil is the Friendship Bridge connecting Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) with Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil). From Argentina, the primary crossing is at Encarnación via the San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge.

MERCOSUR Citizens: Free Movement

Citizens of MERCOSUR member and associate states — including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela — benefit from free movement arrangements with Paraguay. These nationals can typically enter with just a national identity document rather than a passport, and may stay for extended periods under regional free movement agreements. The specific documentation requirements vary by country and status, so checking with the relevant consulate before travel remains advisable.

US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand: Visa on Arrival — With an Important Caveat

Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are technically in the "visa on arrival" category — not the visa-free category. In practice, this means they can obtain a visa at the point of entry rather than arranging one in advance.

However, there is a critical limitation: visa on arrival for these nationalities is only available at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion. If you are entering Paraguay by land — via the Brazilian border at Ciudad del Este or the Argentine border at Encarnación — you cannot obtain a visa on arrival at those crossing points as a US, Canadian, Australian, or New Zealand citizen.

For most people travelling to Paraguay specifically (rather than transiting through), this is rarely a practical issue since flying into Asuncion is the standard approach. But if you are planning a land arrival from Brazil or Argentina as part of a regional trip, you should be aware of this restriction and arrange a visa in advance from your nearest Paraguayan consulate.

The visa on arrival at Asuncion airport is valid for 90 days. The fee at time of writing is in line with standard visa fees — confirm the current amount with the Paraguayan consulate or embassy nearest to you before travel.

Other Nationalities: Advance Visa Required

Nationals of countries not covered by visa-free or visa-on-arrival arrangements must obtain a visa in advance from a Paraguayan consulate or embassy in their home country. Visa costs are approximately USD 65 for a single-entry visa and USD 100 for a multiple-entry visa. Processing times vary by consulate.

If you are unsure whether your nationality requires an advance visa, check the current visa policy at the official website of Paraguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) or contact the nearest Paraguayan diplomatic mission.

The 90-Day Tourist Stay: What You Can and Cannot Do

Whether you enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or on an advance visa, the standard tourist stay in Paraguay is 90 days. During this period you are on tourist status — you can explore the country, open a bank account at some institutions (requirements vary), and begin preparing your residency application, but you cannot work for a Paraguayan employer or perform regulated professional activities.

Crucially, you do not need to obtain residency before arriving in Paraguay. The standard pathway is to enter on tourist status, submit your residency application once in-country (typically through an immigration lawyer), and your temporary residency is processed while you remain in Paraguay on a valid tourist entry or an approved extension.

Extending Your Stay Beyond 90 Days

If your residency application is still being processed when your 90-day tourist period approaches, there are practical options:

• Border run: The most commonly used informal approach. Crossing into Argentina or Brazil briefly resets the 90-day counter on re-entry. This is technically a tourist re-entry rather than an official extension, and while widely practised by expats, it is not an officially documented extension process.
• Official extension: Paraguay's immigration authority (DIGECOM) allows for formal tourist stay extensions in some circumstances. An immigration lawyer can advise on the current procedure.
• Residency applicant status: In practice, many expats with a pending residency application are treated with flexibility during the processing period. Your immigration lawyer will advise on the appropriate course of action for your specific situation.

Passport Validity Requirements

Regardless of nationality or entry type, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended date of departure from Paraguay. A passport with less than six months of remaining validity will typically be refused entry. Check your passport expiry well in advance of travel.

Entry for Residency Applicants

If you are travelling to Paraguay specifically to begin a residency application, your initial entry will be on tourist status (or visa on arrival / advance visa as appropriate for your nationality). The residency application is submitted after you arrive. You do not need a special pre-residency visa — the tourist entry is the standard starting point for the residency process.

For a complete overview of the residency application process once you are in-country, see our Paraguay residency requirements step-by-step guide. For an explanation of the different residency categories available and which might suit your situation, see Paraguay residency types explained.

Visa and entry requirements can change. Always verify current requirements with the Paraguayan consulate or embassy for your country, or check the official Cancillería website, before travelling. This guide reflects information available as of April 2026.