Paraguay’s National Directorate of Migration (DNM) has registered a historic number of residency applications this year. Between January and September 2026, the agency received 49,538 requests for temporary and permanent residency, a record residency applications figure that already surpasses the total for the entire previous year.
The number of applications in the first nine months of the year is 3.9% higher than the 47,687 requests filed throughout all of 2025, setting a new record for the country. Of the total applications submitted in 2026, 39,916 were for temporary residency and 9,622 were for permanent status. These figures, according to the DNM, reflect a growing trend of foreign citizens choosing to settle in Paraguay.
A significant increase in granted residencies
The number of approved and issued residency documents has also seen a substantial rise. The migration authority granted 46,879 residency permits from January to September 2026. This represents a 15.5% increase compared to the 40,600 permits granted during the whole of 2025.
Of the residencies awarded this year, 37,415 were temporary and 9,464 were permanent. According to the DNM, these results are due to both the increased demand for settlement in the country and new measures implemented to expand the operational capacity for processing applications.
Brazilians lead list of new residents
Statistics from the first nine months of 2026 show that Brazilian nationals received the highest number of residency permits. They are followed by citizens from Argentina, Germany, and Spain. According to the data provided by the institution, Brazilians account for approximately 67.6% of all residencies granted.
The report also indicates that among the top ten nationalities are individuals from Venezuela, the United States, the Netherlands, Russia, Bolivia, and France. This diverse range of nationalities highlights Paraguay’s growing appeal on a global scale.
Expanding access to migration services
To meet the record residency applications figures, the National Directorate of Migration operates a central headquarters in Asunción and nine regional admission offices across the country. These offices are located in Ciudad del Este, Santa Rita, Encarnación, Pedro Juan Caballero, Concepción, Salto del Guairá, Nueva Esperanza, Pilar, and Mariscal Estigarribia.
Furthermore, a specialised office operates within the Unified System for Opening and Closing Companies (SUACE), which is dedicated to handling the migration procedures for foreign investors. In addition to this fixed infrastructure, the MIGRAMÓVIL programme was launched in 2025 to bring migration documentation services to different localities. For 2026, 22 events are planned across 14 inland cities, doubling the number of sessions held previously.
The final two MIGRAMÓVIL events of the year are scheduled to take place in Ciudad del Este from 2 to 6 November and in Pedro Juan Caballero from 16 to 20 November. These mobile units aim to facilitate access to settlement procedures, particularly in border areas.
