Moving to Paraguay from France: The Ultimate Pre-Departure Checklist

The day is approaching. You've made your decision, understood the tax benefits, and perhaps even taken a scouting trip. Now, it's time to take action and concretely organize your move from France to Paraguay. And that's where the practical questions pile up: what needs to be cancelled before leaving? What should you take with you? How do you ship your belongings? What administrative steps should you not forget?

This guide is your complete pre-departure checklist — an exhaustive and chronological list of everything you need to do to leave France properly and arrive in Paraguay under the best conditions. Print it, check each box, and leave with peace of mind.

6 months before departure: the foundations

Gather and apostille official documents

This is the very first step and the one that conditions everything else. Start as early as possible because administrative delays in France are unpredictable:

• Criminal record extract (bulletin nº3): request online on the National Criminal Record website. Processing time: 1 to 3 weeks. Be careful: it is valid for 6 months — don't request it too early.
• Full birth certificate: request from your birth town hall. Processing time: a few days to 3 weeks depending on the town hall.
• Marriage certificate (if applicable): from the town hall of the place of marriage.
• Children's birth certificates (if applicable).
• Hague apostille on each document: from the Court of Appeal of the jurisdiction of the issuing authority. Processing time: a few days to 3 weeks. The apostille is free in France.

These apostilled documents will be translated into Spanish and legalized once in Paraguay for your residency procedure. We manage this step as part of our support for Paraguayan tax residency (from €1,400, 3 months processing time).

Request a bank reference letter

Your French bank can provide you with a bank recommendation letter certifying that you are a bona fide client and that your account operates normally. This document is often requested by Paraguayan banks when opening your bank account in Paraguay. Request it before your departure — getting it from France once in Paraguay is tedious.

Check the validity of your passport

Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity at the time of submitting your residency application in Paraguay. If your passport expires within 8 months, renew it now. Renewal times in France can be 4 to 8 weeks depending on the prefecture.

Consult a tax advisor specializing in expatriation

First and foremost, review your tax situation with a professional. Are you subject to exit tax? What are your reporting obligations in the year of departure? How can you optimize the timing of your departure? These questions deserve precise and personalized answers. Our guide on the Paraguay-France tax treaty provides the basics, but professional advice tailored to your case is irreplaceable.

4 months before departure: logistical decisions

Decide the fate of your accommodation in France

• Tenant: give your notice of departure (1 to 3 months depending on the area and type of lease). Anticipate the exit inventory and the return of the security deposit.
• Owner-occupier: decide whether to sell, rent out, or keep the property vacant. If selling, start the sale process now — real estate sales often take a long time. If renting out, find a trusted manager.
• Landlord: adapt your rental management to operate remotely. Appoint an agent or entrust management to an agency.

Crucial point: keeping a home in France is the strongest signal to the tax authorities that you maintain your French tax residency. If possible, sell or terminate. If you keep a rental property, make sure to declare rental income as a non-resident. As explained in our article on double taxation, consistency between your administrative departure and your actual departure is fundamental.

Sort, sell, store or ship your belongings

An intercontinental move is the ideal opportunity to do a radical clear-out. Ask yourself for each item: do I really need it in Paraguay? The subtropical climate makes winter coats, heaters, and a good part of your wardrobe useless. Here are the options:

• Sell: Le Bon Coin, garage sales, Vinted — lighten your load as much as possible. The money recovered will fund your settlement in Paraguay.
• Store in France: if you keep sentimental or valuable items, a storage unit costs between €50 and €200/month depending on size and region.
• Ship to Paraguay: for a large volume, maritime freight in a container is the most economical option. Allow 2 to 3 months for transit and €3,000 to €8,000 for a 20-foot container (approx. 15 m³ useful). Specialized freight forwarders handle customs formalities on both sides.
• Carry in suitcases: for essential personal effects, the simplest option is to carry them in your checked luggage. Airlines generally allow 23 to 32 kg per checked bag.

Find your temporary accommodation in Paraguay

Book temporary accommodation in Asunción for your first 4 to 8 weeks: Airbnb, aparthotel, or short-term furnished rental. This accommodation will serve as your base to visit neighborhoods, meet real estate agents, and choose your permanent home with full knowledge of the facts. Our guide to Asunción neighborhoods will help you target the right area.

2 months before departure: cancellations

Contracts to cancel or transfer

• Home insurance: cancellation on the lease end date or sale date. Request a cancellation certificate.
• Car insurance: if you sell your vehicle, cancellation after the sale. Keep the statement of information — it may be useful later.
• Energy (EDF/Engie/supplier): cancellation with meter reading on the day of departure.
• Internet and landline phone: cancellation with possible return of the box.
• Mobile plan: you can keep it temporarily to maintain an active French number during the transition, then cancel it once your Paraguayan line is operational.
• Various subscriptions: gym, newspaper, streaming, online services — review all your direct debits.

Vehicle

• Sale: sell your vehicle before departure. Vehicle registration and transfer formalities are simple and quick in France.
• Export: technically possible but rarely cost-effective. Maritime transport costs, Paraguayan customs clearance, and local registration fees are high. It is generally simpler to buy a vehicle locally — used cars cost between 8,000 and 15,000 USD in Paraguay.

Health and social protection

• Health insurance: cancellation on your departure date.
• CFE (Caisse des Français de l'Étranger): if you wish to maintain a link with the French health system, register with the CFE before your departure. Registration is simpler while you are still covered by Social Security.
• Doctor/dentist: have a complete health check-up and dental check-up before leaving. Retrieve your complete medical file (recent analyses, imaging, current prescriptions, vaccination history).
• Prescriptions: if you are undergoing treatment, renew your prescriptions and bring enough medication for the first few months. Check the availability of your medicines in Paraguay.

1 month before departure: critical administrative steps

Inform the tax administration

• Tax office: send a registered letter to your SIP (Service des Impôts des Particuliers) indicating your departure abroad, with your future address in Paraguay and the planned departure date.
• Prepare your income tax return for the year of departure: you will need to file it the following spring, covering the period from January 1st to your departure date.

Inform social organizations

• Social Security (CPAM): report your departure and request the closure of your file.
• Pension fund: if you are already receiving a pension, inform your pension fund of your change of address abroad and your new bank details (once your Paraguayan account is open).
• CAF: if you receive benefits, report your departure.
• Pôle emploi: if you are registered, report your departure and any potential rights.

French banks

• Do not close all your accounts immediately: keep at least one active French account for 6 to 12 months after your departure, to finalize any outstanding operations (refunds, residual direct debits, security deposit).
• Switch to a non-resident account: inform your bank of your expatriation. Some banks will automatically change the status of your account.
• Keep a French bank card: useful for online purchases on European sites and for any return trips to France.

Mail and postal address

• Mail forwarding: set up mail forwarding via La Poste (paid service, limited duration) to a trusted friend or family member in France who can scan and forward your important mail.
• Domiciliation service: if you don't have anyone, domiciliation companies offer a postal address with scanning and digital forwarding of your mail.

2 weeks before departure: final preparations

Documents to carry in your hand luggage

Never put these documents in checked luggage — keep them with you at all times during the trip:

• Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
• Original apostilled documents (criminal record, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)
• Bank reference letter
• Copy of your medical file and prescriptions
• Proof of funds (recent bank statements, savings justifications)
• Copy of reservations (temporary accommodation, possible return flight)
• International vaccination certificate
• Contract or confirmation of your support with Paraguay Resident

Digital copies

Scan every document and store copies in a secure cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud). In case of loss or theft of your originals, these digital copies will save you. Also send a copy to a trusted friend or family member in France.

Travel finances

• Cash: carry between 500 and 1,000 USD in cash for the first few days (airport taxi, food, SIM card). Above €10,000, you must declare your cash to French customs (Cerfa form) and Paraguayan customs.
• International bank card: make sure your card works in Paraguay (Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted). Notify your bank of your trip to avoid card blockage.
• Wise: if you don't have a Wise account yet, open one before leaving. It will be useful for transferring money to your future Paraguayan account at unbeatable rates.

The first days in Paraguay: the installation sequence

Day 1-3: Acclimatization

Settle into your temporary accommodation, recover from jet lag, get your bearings. Buy a local SIM card (Tigo, Claro or Personal — available at the airport) to have a Paraguayan number and access to mobile data.

Day 3-7: Bank account opening

Go to your chosen bank (consult our bank comparison) with your passport, bank reference letter, and temporary proof of address. Opening usually takes 3 to 7 business days.

Day 7-14: Launch of the residency procedure

Our team takes over: sworn translations, legalizations, medical examination, preparation and submission of the file to the Dirección General de Migraciones. Your residency will be obtained in 3 months starting from €1,400.

Week 3-8: Search for permanent accommodation

Visit neighborhoods, compare offers, sign your lease. Leases in Paraguay are generally 12 months, with a security deposit of one to two months' rent.

Month 2-3: Permanent settlement

Health insurance subscription, children's school enrollment (if applicable), car purchase or rental, consular registration with the French Embassy in Paraguay, business creation procedures if that is your project.

The summary checklist

When	Action	Done ✓
6 months before	Gather and apostille official documents
6 months before	Request bank reference letter
6 months before	Check / renew passport
6 months before	Consult an expatriation tax advisor
4 months before	Decide the fate of French accommodation
4 months before	Sort and organize the move
4 months before	Book temporary accommodation in Paraguay
2 months before	Cancel insurances, energy, internet, subscriptions
2 months before	Sell the vehicle
2 months before	Medical + dental check-up + medicine stock
2 months before	CFE registration (if desired)
1 month before	Inform the tax office of departure
1 month before	Inform CPAM, pension fund, CAF
1 month before	Inform French bank (non-resident status)
1 month before	Set up mail forwarding
2 weeks before	Prepare document file for hand luggage
2 weeks before	Scan all documents to the cloud
2 weeks before	Prepare cash + international bank card
2 weeks before	Open a Wise account (if not already done)
Day D	Departure to Paraguay

Conclusion: a successful departure is a prepared departure

Moving to Paraguay from France is a project that requires methodical preparation. Each step checked off on this checklist brings you closer to a smooth relocation and an expatriation without unpleasant surprises. The most costly mistakes – a forgotten document, a neglected cancellation, a botched tax exit – are all avoidable with good organization.

Paraguay awaits you with its tax advantages, unbeatable cost of living, and authentic quality of life. The only thing separating you from this new life is preparation. And this checklist is your roadmap.

Ready to organize your departure for Paraguay? Contact our team for comprehensive support, from preparing your documents in France to your final settlement in Asunción.