The real estate boom in Asunción, driven by the $200,000 investment-for-residency program, attracted 18,071 applications from foreigners in the first quarter of 2026, an 85% increase compared to the previous year.
Dirección Nacional de Migraciones
Pytagua coverage mentioning Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.
The Paraguayan National Directorate of Migration (DNM) prevented over 1,300 irregular departures and recorded 867 cases of foreign nationals being denied entry at borders and airports in the first half of 2026, in addition to cases involving document fraud and individuals wanted internationally.
The National Directorate of Migrations of Paraguay has increased the fees for immigration procedures and fines for foreigners by 5%, in line with the decree that updated the country's legal minimum wage.
Paraguay has established new unified rules for foreigners to prove economic solvency when applying for permanent residence, which will take effect on July 6, 2026.
The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) outlined the procedure for foreigners who are children or spouses of Paraguayans to obtain permanent residence in Paraguay, which includes obtaining a free repatriation certificate from SEDERREC, issuance of the Cédula de Identidad Paraguaya at the Departamento de Identificaciones of the Policía Nacional, and subsequent registration with the DNM within 90 days, with fee exemptions for those who hold the certificate.
Paraguay has stepped up immigration controls and international cooperation after an Argentine case exposed an alleged Russian-linked influence network, though authorities have not confirmed whether any suspects or Russian nationals were actually identified or turned away at the border.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested the preventive detention of a 19-year-old Brazilian citizen, a migration consultant, accused of stealing a notarial seal from Escribanía Amarilla in Ciudad del Este, based on security footage that recorded the crime on May 25.
The Paraguayan government launched the Investor Pass in April, allowing foreigners who invest at least US$150,000 to obtain permanent residency through an accelerated process.
Six Brazilian citizens were detained in Coronel Oviedo after complaints from traders at Municipal Market No. 1, who accused them of coercing customers into buying sweets. None of them had regular migration documentation.
Official data from the National Directorate of Migration show that residency requests from Brazilians in Paraguay jumped from 10,039 in 2020 to 23,526 in 2025, driven by lower taxes and the maquila regime. The phenomenon is described as a significant demographic shift, with Brazilian influencers promoting the advantages of living in the country.
The third week of the Migra Móvel program in 2026 began with heavy demand from Brazilian citizens at the Mangoré Cultural Center in Ciudad del Este. The National Directorate of Migration opened 300 daily slots, but demand outstripped supply, and many applicants will have to return in the coming days.
In a meeting between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Directorate of Migration, investments to modernize migration control were discussed, with emphasis on a new airport system promising greater interoperability with security platforms. In the first quarter of 2026, the country recorded 18,071 foreign residency applications, an 85% increase over the same period in 2025.
Paraguay's economic boom, with average growth of 4% over the past three years, is drawing a growing number of Brazilians seeking residency in the country. Data from the National Directorate of Migration show residency applications doubled in five years, surpassing 23,000 requests in 2025. President Santiago Peña compared the current moment to the period of the Itaipu construction.
On May 30, Calle Palma will host the second edition of the Palmear ‘Sem Fronteiras’ Fair, featuring cuisine, dances, and music from 17 countries, promoting integration between immigrant communities and Paraguayan society on the eve of National Immigrant Week.