Paraguayan bureaucracy becomes easier once you stop looking for one all-purpose government office. Residence, identity, tax registration, social insurance and utility contracts are separate procedures. A document issued by one office may be required at the next, but it does not replace that next procedure.
This directory therefore starts with the result you need. The contacts below were checked on official pages on 22 August 2026. Addresses, opening hours, fees and phone numbers can change, so open the linked government page again before travelling. Paraguay's country code is +595; Asunción's area code is 21.
Residence and immigration status: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones
Start here for: temporary or permanent residence, Mercosur residence, entry and exit records, extensions and immigration document lists. A RUC, property purchase or company does not by itself grant immigration status.
- Official residence categories and requirements
- Offices that receive foreign applicants
- Head office: Caballero 201 at Eligio Ayala, Asunción; phone +595 21 411 2000; email [email protected]
Check the list for your exact residence category before paying for apostilles or translations. Requirements vary by nationality and procedure.
Paraguayan ID card and police record: Identificaciones
The Policía Nacional's Departamento de Identificaciones issues Paraguayan identity cards, passports and police records. Foreign residents normally reach this step after obtaining the immigration status required for identification; the cédula is not the residence document.
- Official contact page and head office
- Head office: Denis Roa at Avda. Boggiani, Asunción; the contact page currently lists enquiry numbers including +595 976 200641
- Email: [email protected]
Take proof of immigration status and the originals required by the current checklist. Do not rely on an agent's old list for a first issue or renewal.
Government directory and digital documents: Portal Paraguay
Portal Paraguay is the central government catalogue for institutions, procedures and electronic documents. Identidad Electrónica is linked to a valid Paraguayan cédula, but the portal can still be searched without signing in.
- Open a support ticket and track it
- Support: 151 from a mobile or +595 21 151 from a landline, Monday to Friday 06:00–18:00 according to the portal
This support covers Identidad Electrónica, portal payments and portal services. It cannot decide the underlying application handled by another institution.
Taxes and RUC: Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios
DNIT administers taxes and customs. The Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC) records people and entities with tax obligations. Immigration status and tax residence are different questions: Migraciones decides residence permission, while DNIT handles registration and filings.
- Current RUC process and document annexes
- Contact form and office directory
- Call centre: +595 21 729 7000
If you are self-employed, hire staff or form a company, establish the applicable RUC type, tax duties and invoices before your first transaction. Individual tax assessments may require qualified advice.
Labour law and employer registration: MTESS
The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security handles labour rules, employer duties, complaints and the Registro Obrero Patronal. It is not the health insurer and does not issue a RUC.
- Official MTESS contact page
- Head office: Luis A. de Herrera at Paraguarí, Asunción; phone +595 21 729 0100
- Employer registry: [email protected], WhatsApp +595 986 790101; general complaints: [email protected]
Social insurance and IPS health services: Instituto de Previsión Social
IPS runs the contributory social-insurance system, employer and insured-person records, health services for eligible people, pensions and some cash benefits. Employees should verify that their employer has registered them correctly.
- IPS portal and online services
- Call centre: 0800 11 5000 from a landline or +595 21 219 3000 from a mobile
IPS is a separate care route. Proof of IPS coverage does not replace the general remit of the Health Ministry or a private insurance plan.
Public health care: MSPBS
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare runs the public-health system and health regulation. Use its official directory to search by health region and facility.
- “¿Dónde puedo consultar?” facility directory
- Main switchboard: +595 21 237 4000
- SEME emergency medical transport: 141
Number 141 is for medical emergencies, not appointments or administrative questions.
Electricity and water: ANDE and ESSAP
ANDE is the national electricity utility. ESSAP supplies water and sewerage in its concession areas; elsewhere a local sanitation board or another provider may be responsible. Before moving in, tenants should establish whose name is on each account and whether arrears exist.
- ANDE: online services and outage reports, contact centre 160, “Luz” WhatsApp +595 962 160160
- ESSAP: customer portal and current notices, phone +595 21 729 0007, toll-free 0800 11 0888
Driving licence, vehicle habilitation, property tax and business licence: municipality
These are municipal matters. The competent municipality is normally linked to the residence, vehicle, property or business location. Requirements and fees vary by city.
- Government portal for departments and municipalities
- Open your municipality's page and confirm the exact department before submitting documents.
Apostilles and consular matters: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is Paraguay's authority for apostilles on Paraguayan public documents and manages consular services. Foreign documents are generally apostilled in their country of issue; embassies and consulates do not replace Migraciones for a domestic residence decision.
- Official apostille and legalisation guide
- Dirección de Legalizaciones: Alberdi at Víctor Haedo, Asunción; phone +595 21 414 8776 / 8777; email [email protected]
If responsibility is still unclear
Describe the required result precisely: not “papers for foreigners”, but “first cédula after temporary residence approval”. When redirected, ask for the full name of the responsible department and the legal or procedural basis. Keep submission receipts, payment records and expediente numbers.
For general government services, start with Portal Paraguay. If a public body does not provide published information, the formal route may be the Public Information Access Portal. Always confirm advice from social media, old blogs or intermediaries on the official domain or through a contact published there.