Ecuador asks for less money; Paraguay gets you further, faster. Here are both investor routes in 2026 — the amounts, the steps, the rules on time abroad, the path to citizenship — and the tax difference that usually decides it.
Both countries offer residence to investors, and both lead to citizenship. Ecuador asks for less money — about US$48,200 in 2026 — but starts you on two years of temporary residence with limits on time abroad, and taxes residents on worldwide income. Paraguay’s Investor Pass asks for more, from US$70,000 in a real business, but grants permanent residence straight away and taxes only Paraguayan-source income.
For a founder who wants a second residence, a lighter tax base and a passport within a few years, Paraguay usually wins. For someone who plans to live in Ecuador and wants the cheapest legal route in, Ecuador does. The table below sets them side by side.
| Ecuador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | US$48,200 (100 basic wages, 2026) | US$70,000 business with 5 jobs; US$150,000 tourism; US$200,000 securities or rental property |
| What qualifies | Term deposit (2 years+), property, shares in an Ecuadorian company, contract with the State | Productive business, tourism project, financial instruments, income-producing real estate |
| First status | Temporary residence, 2 years | Permanent residence directly (Investor Pass) |
| Permanent residence | After 21 months of temporary residence | From approval |
| Citizenship | 3 years after permanent residence — about 4 years 9 months in total | 3 years after permanent residence — about 3 years in total |
| Time abroad | Limits: about 90 days a year while temporary; 180 days a year in the first 2 permanent years and during the naturalisation period | No day-count rule found in the law |
| Government fees | US$320 temporary; US$275 permanent; US$400 naturalisation | Temporary residence about Gs 2.8 million; Investor Pass fees vary |
| Tax on residents | Worldwide income, once resident (183+ days) | Territorial: Paraguayan-source income only |
Law and practice: Ecuador: Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, arts. 59–63 and 70–72; fee schedule, Ministerial Agreement 0000026 of 2023; basic wage US$482 for 2026. Paraguay: Law 6984/2022; Resolution MIC 283/2026 (Investor Pass); Constitution, art. 148.
US$48,200 in 2026: a term deposit of at least 730 days, property, or shares registered with the Superintendencia.
With criminal records for every country of residence in the last five years and proof of lawful means.
Long absences while temporary are fined and can block the next step.
File before the temporary visa expires.
With no more than 180 days a year abroad, plus a history, culture and Spanish exam.
Ecuador also offers a remote-worker residence for people earning at least three basic wages a month (US$1,446) from abroad. It is a temporary residence with the same path to permanence, and it is often simpler than the investor route for someone who does not want to tie up capital.
Law and practice: The day-count limits come from the Movilidad Humana law’s infringement rules as applied in practice; confirm the current interpretation with the Foreign Ministry before planning long absences.
Since April 2026, Paraguay’s Investor Pass lets the Ministry of Industry and Commerce certify a qualifying investment within five business days, and that certificate supports direct permanent residence. Citizenship can be applied for three years after permanent residence is granted.
Without an investment, the general route still works: temporary residence first, then conversion to permanent with proof of economic solvency under the migration authority’s 2026 rules. It takes longer — about five years to citizenship — but costs no capital. Details are in our Paraguay residence guide.
Becoming tax-resident in Ecuador means declaring and paying Ecuadorian tax on worldwide income, at progressive rates up to 37%, and moving money out pays 5% ISD. Paraguay taxes only Paraguayan-source income, at 8–10%, and has no tax on money leaving the country.
A founder with income from several countries who actually lives in the residence country will usually pay far less in Paraguay. Someone living elsewhere and holding the residence as a back-up will want to check what their current country of residence thinks about it either way.
You will live in Ecuador
Ecuador’s investor or remote-worker residence is the natural route.
You want residence with little time in the country
Paraguay: no day-count rule found, permanent from the start.
You want a second citizenship soonest
Paraguay through the Investor Pass: about three years.
You have international income
Paraguay’s territorial system usually wins.
You want the lowest entry ticket
Ecuador: US$48,200, or no investment at all with remote income.
100 basic wages, which is US$48,200 in 2026, in a two-year term deposit, property, shares in an Ecuadorian company or a contract with the State.
After 21 months of temporary residence. Citizenship can follow three years after permanent residence.
A programme launched in April 2026 under which a qualifying investment (from US$70,000 in a business with five jobs) is certified within five business days and supports direct permanent residence.
Paraguay via the Investor Pass, about three years from permanent residence granted at the start. Ecuador takes about four years and nine months.
Yes. Temporary residents face limits of about 90 days a year abroad, and permanent residents 180 days a year in the first two years and during naturalisation.
Ecuador taxes residents on worldwide income; Paraguay taxes only Paraguayan-source income.
Temporary, permanent and citizenship, step by step.
Route finder and fixed quote.
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