Paraguay’s migration authority reported a sharp rise in residency approvals during the first half of 2026, with 29,765 permits granted—an 81 % increase over the same period in 2025.
Overall figures
- Total permits granted: 29,765 (23,833 temporary, 5,932 permanent)
- Applications received: 33,243, up 62 % from 20,567 in 2025
- The half‑year total already exceeds the 28,464 permits issued throughout all of 2024 and represents 73 % of the 40,600 granted in 2025.
National composition
- Brazilian applicants: 22,628 permits (76 % of the half‑year total)
- Argentinian applicants: 2,210 permits
- German applicants: 1,132 permits
- Spanish applicants: 821 permits
Brazilian share rose from 58 % of all 2025 grants (23,526 of 40,600) to 96 % of the projected 2026 annual total after just six months.
Quarterly dynamics
The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) released first‑quarter data in April; second‑quarter figures are derived by subtraction.
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Q2 2026 (derived) |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | – | ↓ 16.0 % quarter‑on‑quarter |
| Total permits granted | – | ↑ 8.5 % quarter‑on‑quarter |
| Temporary permits granted | – | ↑ 15.4 % |
| Permanent permits granted | – | ↓ 15.3 % |
The decline in applications is almost entirely in the temporary category, while demand for permanent residency remained steady (17.0 % of Q1 intake, 20.7 % of Q2 intake).
Permanent vs. temporary residency
- Share of permits: Permanent permits fell from 22.5 % of Q1 grants to 17.6 % of Q2 grants; the 2025 average was 26.2 %.
- Demand: Requests for permanent status stayed roughly constant, but approvals dropped.
Two regulatory changes affect the permanent tier:
- November 2025 migration law – eliminated the US $5,000 deposit route that granted immediate permanent residency, redirecting solvency‑based applicants to a two‑year temporary permit first.
- Resolution 407 (signed 28 May 2026, effective for filings from 6 July 2026) – tightened the definition of economic solvency for permanent residency. Its impact will be reflected only in data after the reporting period.
Processing capacity
The surge in applications prompted DNM to activate a contingency plan that extends working hours and adds shifts on non‑working days, aiming to accelerate document verification and file handling.
Outlook
Paraguay approved more residencies than it received applications for in the second quarter, indicating backlog clearance rather than a surge in new demand. The permanent residency segment remains the focal point for market observers; the upcoming second‑half data will be the first to reflect the stricter solvency test introduced by Resolution 407.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
