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Quick Start: Your First 30 Days Toward Paraguay Residency

4 min read · Updated Jun 10, 2026

The exact sequence of steps to take in your first month — from deciding to apply, to having your documents ordered and your attorney engaged.

The biggest mistake people make with Paraguay residency is waiting. Background checks take 6–8 weeks. Getting started today means having your documents ready in 2 months instead of starting the clock in 2 months.

Quick start at a glance

DetailSummary
GoalDocuments ordered, attorney engaged, trip bookable
First actionOrder criminal background check (day 1)
Attorney / serviceEngage by week 3
TranslationsCommission by week 4
Typical time to filing-ready6–10 weeks from today
In-country visit1 trip, 3–5 days

What this guide covers

A day-by-day plan for your first 30 days toward Paraguay residency — what to order now, when to engage an attorney, and when you are ready to book Asunción. For the full picture, continue with the residency guide, document checklist, and cost breakdown.

Week 1: Foundation

Day 1–2: Confirm your eligibility

Paraguay welcomes applicants from most countries. There are no income minimums, no net worth requirements, and no investment obligations since Law 6984/2022. You need:

  • A valid passport (6+ months remaining)
  • Clean criminal record
  • Ability to demonstrate self-sufficiency (any regular income)

Day 3–5: Order your criminal background check

This is the longest-lead item in the whole process. Order it now.

  • USA: Go to identity.ic.fbi.gov and submit an Identity History Summary request. Takes 4–8 weeks. Cost: ~$18.
  • UK: Apply at acro.police.uk for a Police Certificate.
  • Other countries: Contact your national police authority.

Why this is Day 3 and not Day 30: Background checks expire. If you wait to order until you're "ready to proceed," the check may expire before your filing date. Order early.

Day 6–7: Pull together your income documentation

Gather your last 3–6 months of:

  • Bank statements (all accounts)
  • Any employment contracts or freelance agreements
  • Tax returns if available

Don't overthink this step. You just need evidence of income. Most people have this on hand.

Week 2: Birth Certificate & Apostilles

Day 8–10: Order your birth certificate

Contact the vital records office where you were born. If you're American, this is your state's vital records office (not federal).

Request a certified copy. This costs $10–$30 in most US states.

Day 11–14: Start the apostille process

Apostilles certify your documents for international use. You need them on:

  1. Criminal background check
  2. Birth certificate
  3. Any other official documents

Options:

  • DIY: Research your country's apostille authority and submit directly
  • Service: Use a document service (many US services do this for $50–$150/document)
  • HowToParaguay: We handle apostille coordination as part of our packages

Week 3: Choose Your Attorney / Service

Day 15–17: Research and shortlist services

You need a licensed Paraguayan attorney (abogado) to file your residency application. Your options:

  1. Full-service coordination: Companies like HowToParaguay that include the attorney, dashboard, and document support
  2. Local Paraguayan attorney: Find one independently (requires more research and Spanish)
  3. DIY + attorney for filing only: Handle documents yourself, hire attorney for filing day

Day 18–21: Initial consultation and engagement

If using a service, schedule a consultation. Understand:

  • Exactly what's included in the fee
  • Timeline expectations
  • What you're responsible for providing

Schedule a consultation with HowToParaguay →

Week 4: Translation & Review

Day 22–25: Commission certified Spanish translations

All your apostilled documents need certified Spanish translations. A certified translator stamps and signs each translation.

Your attorney or service typically handles this. If doing it yourself, search for traductores certificados or use a translation service specializing in legal documents.

Cost: $25–$50 per document page, typically.

Day 26–28: Full document review

Have your attorney review the complete package before you book your flight to Asunción. Identify anything missing or expiring.

Day 29–30: Book your Asunción trip

You're ready to book. Schedule:

  • 3–4 days minimum for the first trip
  • A weekday for the DNM filing (they don't accept appointments on weekends)

Most clients fly in Monday, file Tuesday, get their pre-cédula Wednesday, and fly home Thursday.

Your 30-Day Checklist

  • Criminal background check ordered
  • Income documentation gathered (3–6 months)
  • Birth certificate ordered
  • Apostille process started for all documents
  • Attorney / service engaged
  • Certified translations commissioned
  • Document review completed
  • Asunción trip booked

FAQ

Why focus on the first 30 days?

Background checks and apostilles set your real timeline. Starting document work in month one prevents a 2–3 month delay later when you are otherwise ready to fly.

What should I do first?

Order your criminal background check on day one. It is almost always the longest lead item and governs when everything else can be filed.

When should I engage an attorney or service?

By week three you should have a shortlist and an initial consultation booked. Early engagement catches document gaps before you buy flights.

When am I ready to book Asunción?

After apostilled documents, certified translations, and attorney pre-travel review are complete — typically weeks 4–8 depending on your home country.

What do I read after this quick start?

Continue with the complete residency guide, then the document checklist and cost breakdown for detail.

Related guides

This is process information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for matters specific to your situation.

This content is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. HowToParaguay is a service coordination platform — not a law firm, tax advisor, or fiduciary. Consult qualified professionals before acting. See our Terms of service.

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Quick Start: Your First 30 Days Toward Paraguay Residency | How to Paraguay