The constitutional rules on who is Paraguayan: nationality by birth and by descent, naturalisation after three years’ residence, multiple nationality only by treaty, loss of nationality by naturalised Paraguayans, honorary nationality and citizenship. Full text in English with the Spanish original under every paragraph.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1992 | Constitution sworn in |
| 2007 | Supreme Court Acordada 464: procedure for naturalisation |
| 12 Jan 2023 | Law 7052 regulates Arts. 146, 147 and 149 |
The Constitution sets four conditions (Art. 148) and leaves the rest to the law, but no statute on naturalisation has been passed. The Supreme Court of Justice applies its own rules (Acordada 464 of 2007): the three years run from the grant of permanent residence, absences may not exceed three months a year, the applicant passes an examination on an official language, history and geography, and the full Court decides after an opinion of the Prosecutor General. Since October 2026 new applications are filed electronically.
The Constitution admits multiple nationality by treaty with reciprocity (Art. 149), and a naturalised Paraguayan who voluntarily acquires another nationality loses Paraguayan nationality (Art. 150). Paraguay has dual nationality arrangements with Spain and Italy. For Paraguayans by birth, Law 7052 of 2023 also accepts a second nationality acquired by naturalisation abroad.
Amendments to these articles.
No amending law found up to October 2026. Paraguay publishes no official consolidated text.
Entry, temporary and permanent residence, residence cards, the cédula, cancellation and fines.
NationalityLaw 7052 of 2023: nationality by option and dual nationalityNationality for children of Paraguayans born abroad, renunciation, multiple nationality.
NationalitySupreme Court rules on naturalisation: Acordada 464 of 2007Documents, counting the three years, the examination, the oath, cancellation.
Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay (1992), Part II, Title I, Chapter III.
Constitución Nacional de la República del Paraguay (1992), Parte II, Título I, Capítulo III.
PART II · THE POLITICAL ORGANISATION OF THE REPUBLICPARTE II · DEL ORDENAMIENTO POLITICO DE LA REPUBLICA
TITLE I · THE NATION AND THE STATETITULO I · DE LA NACION Y DEL ESTADO
CHAPTER III · NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIPCAPITULO III · DE LA NACIONALIDAD Y DE LA CIUDADANIA
Art. 146. NATURAL NATIONALITY. The following have natural Paraguayan nationality (nacionalidad natural):
1. persons born in the territory of the Republic;
2. the children of a Paraguayan mother or father who are born abroad while one or both parents are in the service of the Republic;
3. the children of a Paraguayan mother or father born abroad, when they settle permanently in the Republic, and
4. infants of unknown parents who are found in the territory of the Republic.
The right enshrined in item 3) shall be formalised by a simple declaration by the person concerned, where that person is over eighteen years of age. If the person concerned has not yet reached that age, the declaration of his or her legal representative shall be valid until that age, subject to ratification by the person concerned.
Art. 146.- DE LA NACIONALIDAD NATURAL. Son de nacionalidad paraguaya natural:
1. las personas nacidas en el territorio de la República;
2. los hijos de madre o padre paraguayo quienes, hallándose uno o ambos al servicio de la República, nazcan en el extranjero;
3. los hijos de madre o padre paraguayo nacidos en el extranjero, cuando aquéllos se radiquen en la República en forma permanente, y
4. los infantes de padres ignorados, recogidos en el territorio de la República.
La formalización del derecho consagrado en el inciso 3) se efectuará por simple declaración del interesado, cuando éste sea mayor de dieciocho años. Si no los hubiese cumplido aún, la declaración de su representante legal tendrá validez hasta dicha edad, quedando sujeta a ratificación por el interesado.
Art. 147. NO DEPRIVATION OF NATURAL NATIONALITY. No natural Paraguayan shall be deprived of his or her nationality, but may voluntarily renounce it.
Art. 147.- DE LA NO PRIVACION DE LA NACIONALIDAD NATURAL. Ningún paraguayo natural será privado de su nacionalidad, pero podrá renunciar voluntariamente a ella.
Art. 148. NATIONALITY BY NATURALISATION. Foreigners may obtain Paraguayan nationality by naturalisation if they meet the following requirements:
1. age of majority;
2. settlement in the national territory for at least three years;
3. pursuit in the country of a profession, trade, science, art or industry, and
4. good conduct, as defined by law.
Art. 148.- DE LA NACIONALIDAD POR NATURALIZACION. Los extranjeros podrán obtener la nacionalidad paraguaya por naturalización si reúnen los siguientes requisitos:
1. mayoría de edad:
2. radicación mínima de tres años en territorio nacional;
3. ejercicio en el país de alguna profesión, oficio, ciencia, arte o industria, y
4. buena conducta, definida en la ley.
Art. 149. MULTIPLE NATIONALITY. Multiple nationality may be admitted by means of an international treaty, on the basis of reciprocity of constitutional rank between the State of origin of the natural national and the State of adoption.
Art. 149.- DE LA NACIONALIDAD MULTIPLE. La nacionalidad múltiple podrá ser admitida mediante tratado internacional por reciprocidad de rango constitucional entre los Estados del natural de origen y del de adopción.
Art. 150. LOSS OF NATIONALITY. Naturalised Paraguayans lose their nationality by reason of unjustified absence from the Republic for more than three years, judicially declared, or by the voluntary acquisition of another nationality.
Art. 150.- DE LA PERDIDA DE LA NACIONALIDAD. Los paraguayos naturalizados pierden la nacionalidad en virtud de ausencia injustificada de la República por más de tres años, declarada judicialmente, o por la adquisición voluntaria de otra nacionalidad.
Art. 151. HONORARY NATIONALITY. Foreigners who have rendered eminent services to the Republic may be distinguished with honorary nationality by law of Congress.
Art. 151.- DE LA NACIONALIDAD HONORARIA. Podrán ser distinguidos con la nacionalidad honoraria, por ley del Congreso, los extranjeros que hubiesen prestado servicios eminentes a la República.
Art. 152. CITIZENSHIP. The following are citizens:
1. every person of natural Paraguayan nationality, from the age of eighteen, and
2. every person of Paraguayan nationality by naturalisation, two years after having obtained it.
Art. 152.- DE LA CIUDADANIA. Son ciudadanos:
1. toda persona de nacionalidad paraguaya natural, desde los dieciocho años de edad, y
2. toda persona de nacionalidad paraguaya por naturalización, después de dos años de haberla obtenido.
Art. 153. SUSPENSION OF THE EXERCISE OF CITIZENSHIP. The exercise of citizenship is suspended:
1. by the adoption of another nationality, save where there is international reciprocity;
2. by incapacity declared in court proceedings which prevents the person from acting freely and with discernment, and
3. while the person is serving a judicial sentence involving deprivation of liberty.
The suspension of citizenship ends when the cause giving rise to it lawfully ceases.
Art. 153.- DE LA SUSPENSION DEL EJERCICIO DE LA CIUDADANIA. Se suspende el ejercicio de la ciudadanía:
1. por la adopción de otra nacionalidad, salvo reciprocidad internacional;
2. por incapacidad declarada en juicio, que impida obrar libremente y con discernimiento, y
3. cuando la persona se hallara cumpliendo condena judicial, con pena privativa de libertad.
La suspensión de la ciudadanía concluye al cesar legalmente la causa que la determina.
Art. 154. EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. The law shall lay down the rules on the acquisition, reacquisition and option of nationality, as well as on the suspension of citizenship.
The Judicial Branch shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear these cases.
Art. 154.- DE LA COMPETENCIA EXCLUSIVA DEL PODER JUDICIAL. La ley establecerá las normas sobre adquisición, readquisición y opción de la nacionalidad, así como sobre la suspensión de la ciudadanía.
El Poder Judicial tendrá competencia exclusiva para entender en estos casos.
Cite the article and paragraph, and link to the paragraph anchor. For example:
Unofficial translation by BCA LatAm for information. Only the Spanish text published in the Gaceta Oficial is authentic. Article headings are editorial; chapter, section and marginal headings are the law’s own. Text checked against the text of the Constitution published by the Biblioteca y Archivo Central del Congreso de la Nación (bacn.gov.py); these articles have not been amended on 27 October 2026. This page is not legal advice.
Residence history, the court file and the examination, prepared from Asunción. Fixed quote within one business day.
We use Google Analytics to see which pages help visitors, only if you agree. Security cookies and your choice are always stored. Cookie policy
Tell us what you need. We’ll reply within one business day.
We’ll reply within one business day, by email or WhatsApp.
or message us on WhatsApp
