Your Gateway to Paraguay & Panama Residency

Is a Plan B right for you? Let's find out.

Professional fees vary by case and are discussed during consultation.

The most flexible residency programs in the world. No obligation to move.

Trilingual (EN/FR/ES)
Permanent Resident in Paraguay & Panama
Firsthand In-Country Experience
Book Free Consultation

Discuss requirements, timelines, and implications before committing.

Explore
Flag of Paraguay
PARAGUAY
Map of Paraguay

An often-overlooked gem with the most affordable and flexible residency program in the world. Paraguay boasts South America's largest agricultural industry, a young population (average age 26), rapidly developing real estate, and a growing modern scene in Asuncion.

Financial Freedom
  • 0% tax on foreign-sourced income
  • 10% flat tax on local income
  • No wealth, inheritance, or estate taxes
Minimal Commitment
  • Visit once every 3 years to maintain status
Quality of Life
  • Low cost of living with high quality
Path to Citizenship

Requirements

  • 3+ years permanent residency
  • Spanish proficiency exam
  • History & civics exam
  • Tax registration with filings
  • Professional activity in Paraguay
  • Clean criminal record, 18+

Passport Benefits

  • 146 countries visa-free
  • Schengen Area access
  • USA E-2 visa eligible
  • MERCOSUR freedom of movement

*Dual citizenship allowed in practice for most nationalities. See FAQ for details

Flag of Panama
PANAMA
Map of Panama

The financial hub of Central and South America. Panama City offers a Miami-esque skyline, world-class banking, a large expat community, and territorial taxation - all with a clear path to residency.

Financial Freedom
  • Territorial tax: 0% on foreign income
  • Up to 25% on local income
  • No inheritance, wealth, gift, or estate tax
  • Low property tax
  • Robust international banking
Minimal Commitment
  • Visit once every 2 years
  • No strict physical presence requirement
  • Maintain residency from anywhere
Path to Citizenship
  • Eligible after 5 years permanent residency
  • Oath of renunciation required
  • Spanish proficiency required

*Most Western countries don't enforce Panama's oath. See FAQ for details

Quality of Life
  • American-trained doctors
  • Large expat community
  • Excellent flight connections
  • Pensionado discounts (25% off for retirees)
  • Digital nomad friendly

Regulatory Status

Removed from FATF grey list (October 2023) • Remains on EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions

For Individuals & Families

Residency Programs For Individuals

Whether you're seeking tax optimization, a backup plan, or a new home base, these programs offer flexibility without requiring you to relocate full-time.

Paraguay
Paraguay
Standard Individual Path
Starting around $5,000 - $7,000 USD total (government and legal fees)

Timeline

2 years → permanent

Deposit

None required

What you get:

  • Territorial tax (0% on foreign income)
  • Visit requirement: Once every 3 years
  • Citizenship eligible after 3 years
  • Dual citizenship allowed
  • Full concierge support

*Requirements may vary by nationality. Some countries may require additional documentation such as a university diploma. Contact us to confirm requirements for your specific situation.

Panama City
Panama
Friendly Nations Visa
$200,000 minimum (real estate or bank deposit)

Timeline

2 years → permanent

Eligible

USA, Canada, UK, EU, AU +45

What you get:

  • Territorial tax (0% on foreign income)
  • Visit requirement: Once every 2 years
  • Citizenship eligible after 5 years
  • World-class banking access
  • Full concierge support

*For citizens of 50+ approved countries including USA, Canada, UK, EU nations, Australia, and others. Requirements differ for other nationalities - contact us for details.

For Investors & Entrepreneurs

Fast-Track Investor Programs

Accelerated pathways for those ready to make a significant investment. Get residency faster with additional benefits.

SUACE - Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas
FAST TRACK
Paraguay
SUACE Investor Program
Skip the 2-year wait. Direct to permanent residency.

Investment

$70,000

(can be deployed over 10 years)

Additional Fees

~$14,000

Timeline to Permanent Residency

45-90 days

Requirements:

  • Paraguay company formation
  • Paraguay bank account
  • Business plan showing investment commitment

What you get:

  • Immediate permanent residency
  • 10% corporate tax on local income only
  • Foreign income: $0 tax
  • Visit once every 3 years
  • Citizenship in 3 years
Modern Panama architecture
FAST TRACK
Panama
Qualified Investor Visa
Direct permanent residency in approximately 45-60 days.

Investment Options:

Real Estate$300,000 min*
Stock Market$500,000 min
Bank Deposit$750,000 min (5 yrs)

*Through October 2026

Timeline to Permanent Residency

~45-60 days

What you get:

  • Immediate permanent residency
  • No provisional period
  • 25% corporate tax on local income
  • Foreign income: $0 tax
  • Visit once every 2 years
  • Citizenship in 5 years
How It Works

Your Path to Residency

We handle everything from document preparation to in-country support. Here's what to expect.

01
Free Consultation

30-minute no-obligation call to evaluate your situation and explain your options.

02
Choose Your Path
After consultation

Based on your consultation, we'll confirm whether residency is a fit for your situation and outline the most appropriate pathway. If we're aligned, we'll agree on scope, next steps, and move forward.

Pricing depends on your pathway and situation and is discussed during the call. In some cases, we may advise against proceeding if a residency isn't a good fit - and we'll be clear about that upfront.

Choosing the correct pathway at the outset matters. The standard 2-year route requires a second return trip to secure permanent residency. The consultation itself is always exploratory and no obligation.

03
Document Preparation
Weeks 1-4

We guide you through obtaining and processing required documents:

  • Birth certificate (apostilled)
  • Criminal record (apostilled, less than 6 months old)
  • Marriage/divorce certificate if applicable (apostilled)
  • Valid passport (6+ months validity)

Our country-of-origin support means we help you get everything right BEFORE you travel. Document requirements vary by pathway. Investor programs (Paraguay SUACE or Panama Qualified Investor) may require proof of investment or additional financial documentation.

04
Legal Review & Submission

Your documents are reviewed by our in-country legal team and submitted to immigration authorities.

If you choose an investor pathway (Paraguay SUACE or Panama Qualified Investor), your application is submitted directly for permanent residency.

If you choose the standard pathway, your application is submitted for a 2-year temporary residency.

Pathway selection is confirmed after your consultation.

05
Travel & Arrival

Paraguay: 3-5 business days in Asunción | Panama: 3-7 business days in Panama City

  • Airport meet and greet
  • Transportation to all appointments
  • English/Spanish interpreter
  • Immigration lawyer coordination
  • Document submission

Travel requirements vary by pathway and country.

06
Residency Approved

You receive your residency card.

Investor pathway clients receive permanent residency.

Standard pathway clients receive a 2-year temporary residency. Permanent residency requires a separate application before the 2-year term expires.

07
Path to Permanent
Standard Pathway Only

This step applies only to clients on the standard 2-year temporary residency pathway. Before your temporary residency expires, you must return to the country to submit your permanent residency application with the lawyer. We reach out well in advance to coordinate timing, documentation, and logistics.

Failure to complete this step results in the temporary residency expiring and the process ending without permanent residency.

There is no additional advisory fee from Plan B Expat for this step. Lawyer fees for permanent residency processing apply and are outlined in advance. Investor pathway clients skip this step entirely.

After Arrival

Residency is just the beginning. We help you get settled with these optional add-on services.

Welcome Package
  • Airport pickup with local driver
  • Activated local SIM card
  • 2-hour city orientation
  • Bank account introduction scheduled
Concierge Support
  • On-call assistance for first 90 days
  • Utility and internet setup help
  • Translator for appointments
Driver's License
  • Full process coordination
  • Translator included
  • Paraguay and Panama

Rates vary by country and scope. Ask during your consultation.

Required Documents

DocumentParaguayPanama
Valid Passport
Birth Certificate (apostilled)
Criminal Record (apostilled)
Marriage/Divorce CertificateIf applicableIf applicable
Health CertificateSometimes
Proof of InvestmentInvestor path only
Passport Photos
Side-by-Side

Program Comparison

Compare all four residency options to find the best fit for your situation.

Feature
ParaguayStandard
ParaguayInvestor
PanamaFriendly Nations*
PanamaQualified Investor
Upfront Cost~$5,000 - $7,000$70,000 + $14,000 fees$200,000 investment$300,000+ investment
Time to Permanent2 years45-90 days2 years~45-60 days
Visit RequirementEvery 3 yearsEvery 3 yearsEvery 2 yearsEvery 2 years
Tax on Foreign Income0%0%0%0%
Tax on Local Income10%10%Up to 25%Up to 25%
Citizenship Timeline3 years3 years5 years5 years
Dual CitizenshipAllowed*Allowed*Oath required**Oath required**
Banking QualityDevelopingDevelopingExcellentExcellent

*Paraguay allows dual citizenship for most nationalities in practice, though constitutionally limited to treaty countries (currently Spain).

**Panama requires an oath renouncing original citizenship. However, US, Canada, UK, and EU countries don't recognize this oath - most clients effectively keep both passports.

Friendly Nations Visa available to citizens of 50+ approved countries. Contact us for options if your country is not listed.

Choose Paraguay if:
  • You want the lowest cost option
  • Dual citizenship is important
  • You prefer visiting less often (every 3 years)
  • Faster citizenship matters (3 years)
Choose Panama if:
  • You need world-class banking
  • You prefer a metropolitan lifestyle
  • You have $200,000+ to invest
  • You're okay renouncing original citizenship later

Not sure which is right for you?

Book a Free Consultation

Why Plan B Expat?

Plan B Expat was built around a few deliberate choices about how residency guidance should work.

  • Clear about what can be influenced - and what cannot
  • Ongoing support from first document through arrival
  • Trilingual communication: English, Spanish, and French
  • Focused on Paraguay and Panama, including banking, tax, and company considerations
  • Flat advisory fee with defined scope
  • Guidance through the practical gaps that fall between legal steps

Residency decisions depend on factors that change by country, by year, and by individual situation. No one can responsibly promise approvals or timelines. What this site does offer is clarity before commitment - and informed guidance through each stage of the process, so you understand your options and tradeoffs as you move forward.

Investment Overview

Transparent Pricing

No hidden fees. Here's what you can expect to invest in your new residency.

PY

Paraguay Residency

Standard Path
Starting around $5,000 - $7,000 USDGovernment & legal fees
  • No deposit required
  • Full concierge support included

*Final requirements confirmed during consultation based on your nationality.

Contact for Personalized Quote
Fast Track Option
Investor Path (SUACE)
$70,000 investmentDeployable over 10 years
  • Formation & processing fees: ~$14,000
  • Direct to permanent in 45-90 days
Contact for Personalized Quote
PA

Panama Residency

Friendly Nations Visa
$200,000 minimumReal estate or bank deposit
  • Full concierge support included

*Available to citizens of Friendly Nations countries only. Other nationalities may have different requirements and investment thresholds.

Contact for Personalized Quote
Fast Track Option
Qualified Investor Visa
$300,000 - $750,000Investment required
  • Direct permanent in ~45-60 days
  • Full concierge support included
Contact for Personalized Quote
What's Included in Our Service
Full support from start to finish
Country of origin document support
Country of birth document support
Full destination country concierge
Airport meet and greet
English/Spanish/French interpreter
Immigration lawyer coordination
Document review and error prevention
Transportation to all appointments
Ongoing communication support
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common questions about Paraguay and Panama residency.

Get Started

Ready to Get Started?

Take the first step toward your Plan B. Book a free consultation to discuss your goals.

Book Free Consultation