Paraguay Investor Pass launched

The Paraguay Investor Pass is a new residency by investment tool that has just been launched, granting foreign investors direct access to permanent residency through one of three investment channels.

The announcement was made today during an official visit to Brazil, the same week that Argentina’s Minister of Economy confirmed that the government has been developing its own Golden Visa programme for over a year.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Marco Riquelme and Director of the National Migration Office Jorge Kronawetter jointly introduced the Paraguay Investor Pass programme. Under the new tool, investors can qualify for permanent residency, bypassing the temporary residency stage entirely, through one of the following routes: a US$150,000 investment in tourism projects, or a US$200,000 investment in the stock market or the real estate sector.

Paraguay Investor Pass — a faster lane, with tax incentives

The Investor Pass represents a structural upgrade to Paraguay’s existing investment permanent residency architecture. Until now, the main fast track to permanent residency in this country went through the SUACE programme (Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas), which requires applicants to establish a company and commit to a minimum investment of US$70,000 over ten years.

That programme survived Paraguay’s November 2025 immigration law reform, which eliminated the country’s once-popular permanent residency route based on a US$5,000 deposit.

The Investor Pass raises the capital threshold but diversifies the types of eligible assets beyond business establishment, adding tourism, securities, and real estate. Riquelme described the programme as a response to demand for flexibility from investors.

“Many people want to establish residency first and then develop their projects. Today we are opening up that possibility, linking residency with investments while simultaneously boosting key sectors such as tourism, finance, and the real estate market,” he said.

The Minister also mentioned a tax incentive integrated into the programme: the dividend tax rate is reduced to 8% for residents, down from 15%. The processing will be largely electronic, with presence in Paraguay only mandatory when issuing the national identity card (cédula).

“The system is simple, transparent, and provides ongoing support,” Riquelme added, noting that Paraguay’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), through SUACE, and the Migration Office will guide investors throughout the process.

Residency demand is surging

Kronawetter provided figures illustrating the speed of Paraguay’s development as a residency destination. Official data shows that the number of applications increased from 28,000 in 2024 to over 47,000 in 2025, with a forecast to reach 80,000 in 2026. Brazilians make up the majority of the applicant pool.

The fact that residency demand has nearly tripled in two years is extraordinary by any standard, and this appeared even before the Investor Pass. The new programme is designed to channel a portion of that flow into higher-value investments, by specific sector.

Kronawetter described the legal basis as a “special act” that allows for the direct granting of permanent residency to investors, eliminating the previous requirement of having to hold temporary residency. “We aim to attract individuals who are truly committed to the country, simplifying procedures through a single window that integrates immigration, tax, and identification processes,” he said.

Operationally, the Investor Pass expands the categories of the investor certificate issued by the MIC, which previously only included traditional manufacturing investments. Tourism, stock market, and real estate options have now been included alongside the original business establishment route.

The Investor Pass’s position in the market

Paraguay’s new programme occupies an unusual position. At US$150,000 to US$200,000, it sits much higher than the US$70,000 threshold of SUACE but much lower than the starting points of most European Golden Visas. The programme of Greece, the most affordable remaining EU option, starts from €250,000 EURO and goes up to €800,000 EURO in major urban areas.

The Investor Pass is also within Mercosur, one of the most open supranational residency blocs in the world. Paraguayan permanent residents are granted the right to reside in member countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.