2025 is shaping up to be another landmark year for residency in Paraguay. With over 15,000 residency applications already filed in the first quarter of 2025, Paraguay is on track to set a new residency record after filing 29,124 residency applications in 2024. The surge reflects the country’s rising appeal among foreigners seeking education, investment opportunities, or peaceful retirement.
Brazilians, Argentinians, and Germans dominate the applicant pool in early 2025. Brazilians often pursue studies or invest in agribusiness and construction, particularly in border cities. Germans, often retirees, are attracted by the affordability of rural living and the streamlined residency process.
Residency record figures in 2024
In 2024, Paraguay recorded a historic 29,124 residency applications, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year. Of these, 22,684 were for temporary residency and 6,440 for permanent residency.
Brazilians made up 60.21% of the total (17,139 applications), followed by Argentinians with 14.48% (4,121), and Germans with 3.76%) (1,071). Other notable groups included Bolivians (794), Spaniards (466), Americans and Russians (416 each), Venezuelans (382), Uruguayans (358), and Dutch nationals (267).
Applicants from underrepresented nations
In 2024, certain countries contributed just one residency applicant each to Paraguay. These included temporary residents from nations such as the Bahamas, Dominica, Georgia, Greece, Mongolia, Nigeria, and Thailand. These applicants were between 24 and 55 years old and included teachers, merchants, administrators, and religious workers.
Permanent residents from Algeria, Ghana, Belize, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and Vanuatu also made Paraguay their new home, each representing their country alone. This group included engineers, traders, and a young child with a Paraguayan mother.
Strained infrastructure and institutional response
The unexpected rise in demand has exposed infrastructure limitations. “Our offices are too small to provide the level of service we aim for,” said Migration Director Jorge Kronawetter, who confirmed plans are underway to expand facilities to better accommodate growing needs.
The 2022 census recorded 156,909 foreign-born residents in Paraguay, representing 2.1% of the total population. Most were from Brazil (35.3%), Argentina (30.5%), and Germany (6.1%), mirroring more recent trends.
Key motivations for moving to Paraguay included family reunification (28.6%), employment (26.9%), education (9.1%), and retirement (1.9%). The majority of migrants settled in the capital region, as well as in border departments such as Alto Paraná and Amambay, underlining Paraguay’s strategic role as a regional destination for migration.
Looking ahead
With the amount of applications steadily increasing and infrastructure improvements under discussion, 2025 is shaping up to be another residency record year in Paraguay. The country’s favourable conditions continue to draw international interest, strengthening its position as a top destination in the region.
