Visa for Paraguay: Is a visa required for French, Belgian, or Swiss citizens?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive from French-speaking expatriates: do I need a visa to enter Paraguay? The answer is simple and it's great news - but the details need to be clarified to avoid misunderstandings and nasty surprises at the airport. Authorized length of stay, renewal, transition from tourist to resident, differences depending on your nationality: this guide covers everything French, Belgian, and Swiss nationals need to know about the Paraguay visa in 2026.

French, Belgians, Swiss: no visa needed

Visa-free entry: the principle

French, Belgian, and Swiss nationals benefit from visa-free entry to Paraguay for tourist stays. This is a significant advantage that radically simplifies your arrival: you land at Silvio Pettirossi Airport in Asunción with your valid passport, you go through customs, your passport is stamped, and you are in Paraguay. No online form to fill out in advance, no visa fees, no consular appointments - nothing.

This visa exemption applies to all European Union countries, Switzerland, and the vast majority of Western countries. Paraguay maintains an open migration policy that facilitates the arrival of tourists and future residents.

Duration of tourist stay: 90 days

The entry stamp authorizes you to stay in Paraguay for 90 days (3 months). This period is sufficient to discover the country, start your residency procedures, find accommodation, and begin to settle in. It is during this initial 90-day period that most expatriates submit their residency application.

What happens after 90 days?

If you have not yet obtained your residency and your 90 days are about to expire, you have two options:

• Option 1 — Renewal by leaving the territory: you briefly leave Paraguay (a round trip to Argentina or Brazil is enough - a few hours), then re-enter and obtain a new 90-day stamp. This practice is common and tolerated, but it should not become a permanent habit.
• Option 2 — Payment of the overstay fine: if you overstay the 90 days without leaving the territory, you can regularize your situation by paying a modest fine to the Dirección General de Migraciones when you leave the country or when renewing. The fine is a few tens of dollars - it's not a disaster, but it's not ideal.

In any case, the best strategy is to initiate your residency procedure in the first few weeks after your arrival, so that your status is being regularized well before the 90 days expire.

Transition from tourist to resident status

Why not stay as a permanent tourist

Some expatriates are tempted to remain indefinitely on a tourist visa, making round trips to the border every 90 days. This strategy has several major drawbacks:

• No cédula: without residency, no Paraguayan identity card. You are limited in your daily procedures.
• No full bank account: some banks open an account with a passport, but with restrictions. Credit cards, investments, and mortgage loans require the cédula.
• No tax residency: this is the crucial point. Without official residency in Paraguay, you cannot claim Paraguayan tax territoriality. Your country of origin will continue to consider you a tax resident. The tax advantage - the main reason most expatriates choose Paraguay - does not exist without residency.
• No RUC: without a cédula, no tax number. Impossible to create a company, invoice, or declare income.
• Legal grey area: living permanently in a country on a tourist visa, even with regular renewals, is not a sustainable or legally sound status.

Residency: the real solution

Paraguayan tax residency is the definitive solution. From €1,400 and a period of 3 months, you obtain your cédula, your RUC, and full resident status that gives you access to everything: banking, taxation, business, real estate, driver's license. This is the foundational investment of your expatriation - everything else follows.

You can submit your residency application during your 90-day tourist visa period. As soon as the application is submitted, your presence in Paraguay is considered regular for the duration of the processing - you don't need to make trips back and forth across the border while waiting for your cédula.

Documents required for entry into Paraguay

What you will be asked for at the airport

Upon your arrival at Silvio Pettirossi Airport, immigration control is simple and quick. Here's what you need to have:

• Valid passport: with at least 6 months of validity remaining on the date of entry. This is the only mandatory document.
• Return or onward ticket: in theory, immigration authorities may ask you to prove that you intend to leave the country at the end of your tourist stay. In practice, this request is rare for European nationals, but having a return ticket (even a flexible one) removes any doubt.

No specific vaccination is required to enter Paraguay from Europe. The yellow fever vaccine is recommended but not mandatory for travelers coming directly from Europe. It may be required if you transit through an endemic country (Brazil, Bolivia).

What you will NOT be asked for

• No proof of accommodation (hotel reservation)
• No proof of financial means
• No mandatory travel insurance
• No online entry form (unlike some countries that have established electronic authorization systems)

Paraguay remains one of the easiest countries in the world for Europeans to access.

Flights to Paraguay from Europe

Flight options in 2026

There are no direct flights between Europe and Asunción. The main air routes pass through South American hubs:

• Via São Paulo (Brazil): the most common route. LATAM, GOL, and Azul operate daily São Paulo-Asunción flights. The total travel time from Paris is approximately 16 to 20 hours with a layover.
• Via Buenos Aires (Argentina): Aerolíneas Argentinas and LATAM offer Buenos Aires-Asunción flights. Total travel time from Paris: 18 to 22 hours.
• Via Panama City: Copa Airlines serves Asunción from its Panama hub. Total travel time from Paris: 18 to 22 hours.
• Via Madrid: some combinations via Madrid (Iberia/LATAM) offer interesting connections.

Prices vary from €600 to €1,500 one way and €800 to €2,500 round trip depending on the season, airline, and booking time. High season (December-February, South American summer holidays) is the most expensive. The best fares are found in low season (May-September) by booking 2 to 3 months in advance.

Silvio Pettirossi Airport

Asunción International Airport (IATA code: ASU) is located in Luque, about 20 minutes from the city center. It is a modest but functional airport, with a renovated international terminal. At the exit, you will find official taxis, car rental desks, and the possibility of ordering a ride-hailing service (Bolt, Uber) directly on your phone if you have Wi-Fi connection (free at the airport).

Expect to pay 15 to 25 USD for a taxi or ride-hailing service from the airport to the central districts of Asunción (Villa Morra, Carmelitas).

Special cases: nationalities requiring a visa

Nationals of French-speaking Africa

Unlike Europeans, nationals of most French-speaking African countries (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, DRC, etc.) need a visa to enter Paraguay. Applications are made to the nearest Paraguayan embassy or consulate. Conditions generally include an invitation letter, proof of accommodation, and proof of financial means.

Canadian nationals

Canadians benefit from visa exemption for tourist stays of 90 days, like Europeans.

Dual nationality

If you have dual nationality (e.g., French-Moroccan or French-Algerian), you can enter Paraguay with your French passport and benefit from visa exemption. Always use the passport that gives you the most favorable entry conditions.

Visa and residency: do not confuse

Visa ≠ residency

This is a common point of confusion. A visa (or visa exemption) is an authorization to enter the territory. Residency is a legal status that gives you the right to live, work, and register fiscally in Paraguay. The two are different things.

You enter Paraguay on a tourist visa (90 days free). Then, during these 90 days, you start your residency procedure. Once the cédula is obtained (3 months via our services), you no longer need a visa - you are a resident. Your cédula is your permanent stay authorization.

Typical journey of a French-speaking expatriate

Step	Status	Duration
Arrival in Paraguay	Tourist (90 days without visa)	Day 1
Residency application submission	Tourist with pending application	Week 2-3
Bank account opening	Tourist / residency applicant	Week 1-2
Cédula obtained	Temporary resident	Month 3
RUC registration	Tax resident	Month 3-4
Permanent residency	Permanent resident	After 2 years
Paraguayan nationality (optional)	Paraguayan citizen	After 5 years total

Traveling from Paraguay: passport and cédula

Travel within Mercosur with the cédula

A little-known advantage of Paraguayan residency: your cédula allows you to travel to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia without a passport. The cédula alone is sufficient as a travel document throughout the Mercosur area and associated countries. Convenient for weekends in Buenos Aires or getaways to Iguazu Falls - you leave your passport in the safe.

Travel outside Mercosur

For travel to Europe, the United States, or any other country outside Mercosur, you use your French (or Belgian/Swiss) passport. Your original nationality is unchanged - Paraguayan residency does not affect it in any way.

Paraguayan passport (after naturalization)

If you obtain Paraguayan nationality (after a minimum of 5 years of residency), you will receive a Paraguayan passport. This offers visa-free access to many Latin American countries and some Asian countries. Combined with your European passport, it significantly expands your travel options.

Practical tips for your arrival

Before departure

• Check the validity of your passport (minimum 6 months)
• Prepare and apostille your documents for residency (criminal record, birth certificate) - as detailed in our guide to expatriation in Paraguay
• Request a reference letter from your European bank
• Download Bolt and Uber to your phone for airport transportation
• Buy a local SIM card at the airport (Tigo, Claro, or Personal) for data and WhatsApp

Upon arrival at the airport

• Go through customs with your passport - quick procedure (5-10 minutes)
• Only exchange a minimum amount of money at the airport exchange office (unfavorable rates) - exchange the bulk in the city or via Wise
• Take an official taxi or ride-hailing service to your accommodation - avoid unofficial taxis
• Contact us upon arrival to start your residency procedure

Conclusion: entry to Paraguay, the simplest formality of your expatriation

For a French, Belgian, or Swiss national, entering Paraguay is surprisingly simple: a valid passport, no visa, 90 days of free stay, and a relaxed welcome. It is probably the easiest formality of your entire expatriation.

But beware: visa-free entry is only the first step. It is tax residency that transforms your tourist stay into a fiscally optimized expatriation. Without residency, no cédula, no RUC, no territoriality, no tax advantage. The free visa opens the door - residency settles you into the house.

Ready to open the door and settle in Paraguay? Contact our team to organize your arrival and start your residency procedure from day one.