The Paraguayan community in Spain is large, and many people arrive with family already settled here. Paraguay is also in a very favourable position: visa-free entry, a dual nationality treaty, driving licence exchange and a social security agreement. Here are the usual routes and how appointments work at the Embassy in Asunción.
Key facts
- Entry: Paraguayan passport holders can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not allow work and does not, on its own, let you settle.
- Citizenship: as a national of an Ibero-American country you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. The Spain–Paraguay dual nationality treaty lets you keep Paraguayan nationality.
- Documents: Paraguay has applied the Hague Convention since 2014, so an apostille is enough and no translation is needed.
- Driving: there is an exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Paraguayan licence and exchange it without a test for cars and motorcycles.
- Social security: the Spain–Paraguay agreement lets contributions paid in both countries count towards your pension.
How people usually move
- Family. If your spouse, or your parent if you are under 18, is a non-EU resident in Spain, they can sponsor you after one year of residence (family reunification); if they are Spanish or an EU citizen, the route is residence as a family member. Family reunification
- Work in Spain. A contract with a Spanish company that obtains the permit before you travel; also a highly qualified profile or an EU Blue Card. Employment permit
- Studies. A degree, master’s or vocational course (FP) with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
- Arraigo after 2 years in Spain. It is a legal route, but it means spending a period in irregular status, with the risk of an expulsion order that can later complicate the application. It also requires a clean criminal record. Arraigo
- Remote work. The digital nomad visa suits people working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, with a relationship of at least three months. Digital nomad
Documents and apostille
- Police record certificate from the Policía Nacional and court record certificate from the Poder Judicial, apostilled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Birth and marriage certificates from the Civil Registry (Registro del Estado Civil), recent and apostilled. For reunification of children or a spouse, they prove the family link.
- Degrees and school certificates, apostilled, if you plan to study, have them recognised or apply for a skilled visa.
- Passport valid long enough for the procedure, and health insurance where the visa requires it.
What to keep in mind
- Visas are handled by the consular section of the Embassy of Spain in Asunción. First you email your passport data page and the visa documents; once they are checked, you receive a username and password to book the appointment, one per visa.
- Since the appointment comes after the paperwork is checked, plan your dates carefully: certificates usually need to be recent.
- Even without a visa, border officers may ask for a return ticket, a hotel booking or letter of invitation and proof of funds.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) from day one and, if you came with a residence visa, apply for your TIE within the first month.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose Paraguayan nationality if I become Spanish?
No. Under the Spain–Paraguay dual nationality treaty you keep both. You apply after 2 years of legal, continuous residence and pass the CCSE test of the Instituto Cervantes; the DELE language test is not required because Spanish is an official language of Paraguay.
Do the years I worked in Paraguay count towards my pension?
Yes, they can be taken into account. The bilateral social security agreement and the Ibero-American Multilateral Convention allow periods paid in Paraguay and Spain to be combined to qualify for a pension; each country pays its share.
How do I get a visa appointment in Asunción?
There is no outsourced centre: you email the Embassy’s consular section with your passport data page and the documents for your visa. If they are in order, you get access to the booking system and choose a date. Each appointment covers one visa, so a family needs one per person.