Benjamin M. · Founder & editor
When you start preparing your expatriation to Paraguay, you immediately encounter words that look like nothing you know. Cédula? RUC? Arancel? Migraciones? SUACE? Apostille? These terms appear in every form, every counter, every email from the administration, and every conversation with local accountants. Some are in Spanish, others in Guaraní (or in Jopará, the blend of both that is the real language of the country), and almost none have an exact equivalent in English. This glossary was created from this observation: without translation, a residence file is unreadable. Each definition below is based on official Paraguayan texts. Sources are cited, you can verify them. The "usage contexts" tell you in which situation you will hear this term. And if a term is missing, send a message: it will be added.
Common administrative terms
| Term | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cédula de Identidad | Paraguayan identity card issued by the Departamento de Identificaciones of the Policía Nacional. Mandatory document for all procedures: bank account opening, property purchase, tax registration. Available in physical (laminated) and digital (cédula verde digital) versions. First application: about 50,000 Gs, renewal: 30,000 Gs. Processing time: 2-4 weeks. Source: Ley N° 222/1993 Orgánica de la Policía Nacional, art. 51. | Identification, banks, notaries, government offices |
| RUC (Registro Único del Contribuyente) | Tax identification number mandatory for any paid activity (employee or self-employed). Issued by the SET (Subsecretaría de Estado de Tributación). Without a RUC, you cannot invoice, sign an employment contract, or deduct your expenses. Free application, processing in 5-10 business days. Source: Ley N° 6380/2019 de Modernización Tributaria, art. 43. | Tax, contracts, invoicing, business creation |
| Arancel | Stamp duty or administrative fee paid for processing an official file. Each procedure (residence, visa, diploma recognition, RUC registration) generates an arancel whose amount is set by decree. Aranceles are generally paid at an authorized bank or via the institution's web portal. Source: Ley N° 6984/2022 de Migraciones, Título IV. | Migraciones, universities, courts, municipalities |
| Homologación | Official recognition procedure for a foreign diploma by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencias (MEC) or a national university. Mandatory to practice a regulated profession (doctor, lawyer, engineer, architect, teacher). Variable cost depending on the profession, processing time: 3 to 12 months. Source: Ley N° 4995/2013 de Educación Superior, art. 59-62. | Diplomas, regulated professions, skilled employment |
| SUACE (Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas) | Single window for business creation and closure, managed by the Ministerio de Industria y Comercio (MIC). Allows creating an EAS in 72 hours for about 500,000 Gs. Online platform: www.suace.gov.py. Source: Ley N° 6481/2020, Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas. | Business creation, entrepreneurship |
| EAS (Empresa de Acciones Simplificadas) | Simplest legal business structure in Paraguay. 100% online creation via SUACE. Minimum capital: 1 symbolic Gs. Liability limited to capital. Ideal for freelancers and small structures. Alternatives: SRL (multiple partners) or SA (large company). Source: Ley N° 6481/2020, art. 5-15. | Business creation, legal status |
| Menaje de casa | Set of personal goods and furniture (furniture, appliances, clothing, books) imported as part of an international move. Exempt from customs duties once, within 6 months of obtaining residence. Requires a detailed inventory (in Spanish) and a despachante de aduana (customs broker). Source: Ley N° 2422/2004, Código Aduanero, art. 172-175. | Moving, customs, brokers |
| Migraciones (Dirección General de Migraciones) | Authority responsible for visas, temporary and permanent residence, ID cards for foreigners, and migration control. Based in Asunción (Caballero 201 c/ Estrella). Website: www.migraciones.gov.py. Book an appointment online before going. Source: Ley N° 6984/2022 de Migraciones. | Visas, residence, permits |
| Contador | Local accountant. In Paraguay, a contador is not a luxury: it is a necessity. They handle your tax declarations (IRP, IVA), your RUC, your legal invoices, and prevent errors that can block your activity. Fees: 200,000-500,000 Gs/month for an individual. Choose a professional recommended by other expats. Source: professional practice regulated by the Colegio de Contadores del Paraguay. | Tax, business creation, declarations |
| IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) | Paraguayan value-added tax. Standard rate: 10%. Reduced rate: 5% (essential goods, medications, bank interest). Exports are exempt. Monthly declaration via the SET Marangatú portal. Source: Ley N° 6380/2019, Título II. | Purchases, invoicing, tax declarations |
| IRP (Impuesto a la Renta Personal) | Personal income tax. Progressive rate: 8% (bracket 1), 9% (bracket 2), 10% (bracket 3). Applicable ONLY to Paraguayan-source income. Foreign income (French pension, European rental income) is NOT taxable in Paraguay. Annual declaration. Source: Ley N° 6380/2019, Título I. | Tax, income declaration, tax optimization |
| Jopará | Spoken mix of Guaraní and Spanish, omnipresent in daily life and informal administration in Paraguay. "Jopará" means "mixture" in Guaraní. In an administrative office, you will often hear an employee switch from Guaraní to Spanish within the same sentence. It is not a dialect: it is the living language of the country. Source: Melià, B. (1992). La lengua guaraní del Paraguay. | Daily conversation, informal administration, culture |
| Apostille (Hague Convention) | International certification of official documents (birth certificate, criminal record, diploma) under the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, ratified by Paraguay in 2017. Mandatory for any foreign document submitted in a residence file. Issued by the issuing authority of the original document (in France: the cour d'appel). Source: Hague Convention of 1961; Ley N° 6037/2017. | Residence file preparation, official documents |
| Traductor público | Sworn translator registered with the registry of the Corte Suprema de Justicia. Mandatory for translating all residence documents into Spanish (birth certificate, criminal record, diploma). Cost: 200-400 for a complete file, depending on the number of documents. Processing time: 1-3 weeks. Verify the translator's registration on the Corte website. Source: Reglamento de Traductores Públicos, Acordada N° 558/2009. | Residence file, official document translation |
| Rentista | Temporary resident status for those with regular passive income (retirement pension, rental income, life annuities) from abroad. Minimum income required: equivalent to the Paraguayan minimum wage (2,500,000 Gs/month in 2026, about 320). Source: Ley N° 6984/2022 de Migraciones, Título III, Capítulo II. | Residence, retirement, tax |
| Cédula verde | Identity document for foreign residents (residence card). Distinct from the cédula de identidad of Paraguayan citizens. Issued after obtaining temporary or permanent residence. Mandatory for all procedures. Renewed every 2 years (temporary) or 10 years (permanent). Source: Ley N° 6984/2022 de Migraciones, art. 64. | Residence, identification, procedures |
| Marangatú | Online tax portal of the SET (Subsecretaría de Estado de Tributación). Allows declaring and paying IVA, IRP, consulting your RUC, issuing electronic invoices. "Marangatú" means "honest" or "virtuous" in Guaraní. Accessible at www.marangatu.gov.py. Source: SET, Resolución General N° 90/2020. | Tax, online declarations, invoicing |
| Despachante de aduana | Licensed customs broker. Essential for clearing a moving container (menaje de casa) or importing a vehicle. Fees: 500-1,500 depending on complexity. Verify the license with the Dirección Nacional de Aduanas. Source: Ley N° 2422/2004, Código Aduanero, art. 35-42. | Moving, customs, import |
| Inversionista | Residence status through investment. Several pathways: investment of at least 50,000 USD in a business or creation of at least 5 jobs. Procedure via SUACE. Advantage: accelerated path to permanent residence. Source: Ley N° 6984/2022 de Migraciones, Título III, Capítulo IV. | Residence, investment, entrepreneurship |
This glossary is living: it is updated at every legislative change or each new term reported by readers. If you encounter a term not in this list, send a message: it will be added with its definition and official source.
Why this glossary is essential (and what it does not replace)
This glossary helps you understand the terms: it does not replace a lawyer or an accountant. The Paraguayan administration is procedural, and the rules change. The current Ley de Migraciones (N° 6984/2022) replaced a 1996 law that had been in effect for 26 years. Financial thresholds (minimum wage, investment caps) are revised each year. Before undertaking any important procedure, verify the current amounts on the official website of the relevant institution.
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Editorial process: This page was written from verified, cross-checked and dated sources. Last updated 17 July 2026. Our editorial charter