Paraguay’s immigration authority has issued a public reminder to all foreign residents. Those who spend too long outside the country without prior authorisation risk losing their legal status. But the process to avoid residency cancellation in Paraguay is simpler than many realise.
What the law says
Under Article 55 of Law No. 6984/22, the National Directorate of Migration, based in Paraguay’s capital Asunción, can cancel a residency permit by formal resolution. Residency cancellation means the loss of the migration category granted and the expiry of the right to remain in the country.
The law distinguishes between two groups. Temporary residents (those on a residency permit of up to two years), renewable, can face residency cancellation if they are absent for more than one consecutive year without justification. Permanent residents have a longer window of absence (up to three consecutive years), but the same rule applies once that limit is exceeded.
Beyond unjustified absence, other grounds for residency cancellation include the submission of false documents, migration fraud, non-compliance with local laws, or a formal request by the resident themselves.
How to avoid residency cancellation in Paraguay
Residents do have a way to avoid residency cancellation. Those who plan to be outside Paraguay for an extended period that would exceed the permitted absences should visit the National Directorate of Migration before their departure and apply for prior authorisation. This permit serves as a legal safeguard, formally justifying the absence.
The main office is located at Caballero Nº 201, corner of Eligio Ayala, in central Asunción, and is open Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 14:30. The office can also be reached by phone at +595 21 411 2000 or by email.
What happens if residency is cancelled
If residency cancellation is confirmed, the foreign national must leave Paraguay within the timeframe set by the migration authority. Failure to do so allows the National Directorate of Migration to order expulsion from the country.
All is not lost for those who have already exceeded the permitted absence, however. The law allows permanent residents who lose their status to reapply, provided they meet the legal requirements from scratch.
Not a new law, but a timely reminder
The recent announcement does not introduce new legislation. It is a reminder of rules already in force under Law No. 6984/22, Paraguay’s current migration framework. The reminder appears aimed at a rapidly growing foreign community: Paraguay recorded a record number of residency applications in 2025.
Residents with specific questions about their situation are encouraged to contact the National Directorate of Migration directly, or to consult their official website at migraciones.gov.py, where a range of residency-related procedures are also listed.
