Retiring in Paraguay in 2026: residency for pensioners

8 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Temporary residency with no income threshold, permanent residency after 2 years with a pension certificate and no tax on a foreign pension. The cheapest living in this series.

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Key facts	2026
Temporary residency	up to 2 years, no income or investment required
Permanent residency	after the temporary stage with income documents; a pension certificate qualifies
Permanent residency at once	for investment from $70,000
Tax on a Russian pension	0%: foreign income is not taxed
Fee	~$500 for temporary residency
Citizenship	after 3 years with permanent residency
Budget for a couple in Asunción	from $1,200 a month including rent

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Paraguay is the most accessible country in this series, both by threshold and by prices. Temporary residency is granted with almost no entry conditions: neither income nor investment is required at this stage. After 2 years a retiree moves to permanent residency by proving income with a pension certificate, and after 3 more years with permanent residency can apply for citizenship.

Paraguay does not tax a pension from abroad: the country taxes only local income. Below: how the stages work, which documents a retiree needs and what a couple spends in Asunción.

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Who can get residence as a retiree

Paraguayan residency suits retirees with a provable pension who need legal status in South America with a low entry threshold. The basis is the 2022 migration law: first temporary residency for up to 2 years, then permanent. Those ready to invest from $70,000 can get permanent residency at once, without the temporary stage.

You need to actually live in Paraguay: in 2026 the migration service reminded that a temporary resident loses status after a year abroad, and the court assesses a real link to the country at naturalisation. A retiree planning to spend half the year in Russia should plan trips in advance.

retirees whose pension can be proven with a certificate and statements;
a spouse and children through the family route together with the applicant;
investors with capital from $70,000 - permanent residency at once;
those who will actually spend time in the country: temporary status is lost after more than a year abroad, permanent after more than three.

Documents and how to prove a Russian pension

passport;
a criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship with an apostille and a Spanish translation;
a birth certificate and, for families, a marriage certificate with apostilles and translations;
a pension award certificate from the Social Fund of Russia for the switch to permanent residency;
statements of pension payments;
photos and fee receipts.

Since 6 July 2026, income for the switch to permanent residency is proven with documents in one of 12 categories, and a pension certificate is one of them. The permanent application is filed in the last 3 months of the temporary card's validity, so order the pension certificate in advance, together with the apostille and translation.

Russian cards do not work in Paraguay; the pension is withdrawn in Russia or transferred to an account abroad. Foreigners can buy flats, houses and land on the same terms as citizens, except rural land near the borders.

A Spanish translation is safest when made by a sworn translator in Paraguay, and the criminal record certificate should be ordered last so it does not expire before filing.

Health insurance

Health insurance is not required for residency, but a private health plan is needed for life there: public healthcare is weak, and good private clinics are concentrated in Asunción. The plan price depends on age and is higher for older people, and some clinics limit new older clients.

Many foreigners have major operations in Asunción or in neighbouring countries, so the distance to clinics is worth considering when choosing where to live.

Before choosing a plan, check whether it covers pre-existing conditions, medicines and emergency transport: cheap plans are often limited to outpatient care.

Tax on your pension and the treaty with Russia

Paraguay taxes on a territorial basis: income from abroad, including a pension, is not taxed. To get a tax residence certificate it is enough to spend 120 days a year in the country, not 183 as in most countries.

Paraguay has no double tax treaty with Russia, but for a pension it does not matter: a Russian state pension is taxed neither in Russia nor in Paraguay. Rates are covered on the Paraguay taxes page in the block below.

Monthly budget for a couple

Monthly item	Amount
One-bedroom flat in Asunción outside the centre	$291-308
The same in the centre	$397-511
Utilities for an 85 m² flat	~$40
Internet and mobile	~$29
Living costs for two excluding rent	~$800-900
Total for a couple	from $1,200

Budget separately for a private health plan: its price depends on age. In summer air conditioning is the main expense. Our consultant in the chat will calculate the figures for your city and family.

From the temporary card to permanent residency without losing status

Temporary residency in Paraguay is easy to get, but switching to permanent without preparation is not: the application is filed in the last 3 months of the card's validity, with income documents in one of 12 categories, and status is lost after more than a year abroad. We take a retiree from the first certificates to permanent residency, track deadlines and prepare the pension certificate in the right form.

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Where retirees settle

Almost all foreign retirees live in Asunción: clinics, banks, the migration service and the airport are here, and the Villa Morra and Carmelitas districts are popular with newcomers. San Bernardino on the lake an hour away is the summer capital with a cooler climate.

Encarnación on the Paraná river, with beaches, suits those wanting a quiet southern town. Ciudad del Este on the Brazilian border is a trading city and less suited to a calm retirement.

The climate is subtropical: summers in Asunción often exceed 35°C, winters are cool but almost frost-free. For retirees that means large air conditioning bills in summer and almost none for heating.

Asunción has direct flights to São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Madrid, making it the most convenient base for visiting children in Europe and Russia. Encarnación is linked by bridge to Posadas in Argentina, which is handy for trips and shopping across the river.

Steps and timelines

Step	Timeline
Certificates, apostilles and translations	1-2 months
Applying for temporary residency	after entry
Temporary resident card	valid for up to 2 years
Pension certificate and statements for permanent residency	in the last 3 months of the card's validity
Permanent residency	after the migration service decision
Citizenship	after 3 years with permanent residency, decided by a court

The temporary residency fee is about $500, permanent residency on the regular route about $1,000, and for an investor about $540. Fees are recalculated after the minimum wage.

The Paraguayan resident identity card is issued after the status is granted and is needed for the bank, a lease and a tax number.

Common reasons for refusal

certificates without an apostille or Spanish translation;
the permanent application not filed in the last 3 months of the temporary card's validity;
income for permanent residency not proven with documents in one of the categories;
more than a year abroad on temporary status;
for citizenship, no real link to the country, as assessed by the court.

If you miss the window in the last 3 months of the temporary card's validity, the status ends and you have to start again or find another ground, so note the switch date in advance.

This topic in other countries

Retiring in other countries:

FAQ

Does a retiree need income for Paraguayan residency?

Not for temporary residency: neither income nor investment is required at entry. For the switch to permanent residency income is proven with documents, and a pension certificate qualifies.

Is a Russian pension taxed in Paraguay?

No. Paraguay taxes only local income, and income from abroad, including a pension, is not taxed.

Can a retiree get permanent residency in Paraguay straight away?

Yes, for investment from $70,000. Others go through a temporary stage of up to 2 years and then switch to permanent.

When can a retiree get Paraguayan citizenship?

After 3 years with permanent residency. The court assesses a real link to the country, so you need to actually live in Paraguay.

How much does a retired couple spend in Paraguay?

In Asunción, from $1,200 a month including rent, plus a private health plan priced by age.

How long can I be away from Paraguay without losing residency?

Temporary status is lost after more than a year abroad without approval, permanent after more than three years.

Does a retiree need insurance for Paraguayan residency?

Not for the status, but a private health plan is needed for life there: good clinics are mostly in Asunción.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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