In addition to a digital (i.e. not printed - to be sent by email) passport-style photo on a white background, there are two documents required, which you absolutely need to get Apostilled (no exceptions), in order to obtain residency in Paraguay. These are:
(1) Your Birth Certificate - this must be Apostilled by the country that issued the Birth Certificate (i.e. the country of your birth). For most people, this is the same country that issues your Passport, but if you were born in a different country, or hold multiple nationalities, you still must get the issuing country to Apostille your Birth Certificate.
Example: If you are British, but you were born in Italy, and therefore have a Birth Certificate from Italy, you must get Italy to Apostille your Italian Birth Certificate, even if you don't have an Italian Passport.
(2) Your Police Record - this can be from your home country (i.e. your country of nationality, who issues your passport), or your country of birth (i.e. where your Birth Certificate is from), or from any other country you have lived in for at least the last five (5) years.
If using a police record from any country which is not also issuing your Passport or Birth Certificate, the Police Record must show that it covers a time period of at least five years, and you must have one form of photo ID issued by that country (such as a residency permit, driving license, or national ID card, which you also then need to get Apostilled by the issuing country). In most cases, Police Records from most countries, for foreign nationals, show the date that you first started living in that country. As long as this date is more than five years ago, you can use it to obtain residency in Paraguay.
Example: If you have only ever officially lived in France, your Police Record must come from France, and be Apostilled by France.
Example: If you are German, but have lived in Mexico for more than five years, you have two options. You can use a Police Record from Germany without any further requirements other than it being Apostilled by Germany. Or, you can use a Police Record from Mexico, instead of one from Germany, as long as (a) it shows a start date of more than five years ago; (b) is Apostilled by Mexico; and (c) you have some form of official photo ID issued by Mexico, which you have also got Apostilled by Mexico.
Example: If you are Portuguese, and have lived in India for more than five years, and can get a Police Record from India, but do not have any photo ID issued by India, you still have to get your Police Record issued and Apostilled by Portugal.
Other documents which you may wish to get Apostilled, depending on your circumstances
(a) Marriage Certificate - if you are married, and want to have your Cedula (ID card) show you as married, get your Marriage Certificate Apostilled by the country which issued the Marriage Certificate. This can be useful for some functions, such as opening a bank account in joint names. An Apostilled Marriage Certificate is not a requirement to obtain residency in Paraguay, but might make your life easier in the future.
(b) University Degree (or other high-level academic or professional qualifications) - if you plan to use your qualifications to find a job in Paraguay, you may want to get your certificate(s) Apostilled by the country that issued them. This is not a requirement for getting residency in Paraguay, but might help you prove to an employer that your qualifications are genuine, if needed in the future.
(c) Driving License - if you would like to obtain a driving license in Paraguay, you can do this with or without already having a driving license from another country. However, it's easier and quicker to obtain if you already have a valid driving license from another country. To use a driving license from another country as a way to get a Driving License in Paraguay, get a copy of it Apostilled by the country which issued your Driving License. This is not a requirement to obtain residency in Paraguay, but can make your life easier if needed in the future.
How to get documents Apostilled
Click here for full information on how to get documents Apostilled. Please note that Apostilled documents have a validity of six (6) months from their date of issue.
How to get your Apostilled documents translated into Spanish
This can be done before or after you arrive in Paraguay. Please refer to our full article on this topic - click here for full information on getting your Apostilled documents translated into Spanish for residency in Paraguay.
Summary
That's it for preparing your documents - in most cases, just an Apostilled Birth Certificate, and an Apostilled Police Record. Got those, and a passport photo you can send by email? Congratulations! You're now ready to enter Paraguay and obtain residency here.
Next up, it's Step 2: Enter Paraguay.