How to open a company in Paraguay as a foreigner: step-by-step guide (2026)

Opening a company in Paraguay as a foreigner is a common, well-regulated process: the law allows companies with 100% foreign capital, and an EAS can be incorporated online in an agile process of about 10 days. This guide is for foreign entrepreneurs and investors, and also for Paraguayans going into business with partners abroad. It explains which type of company to choose, who can be the legal representative, which documents are required, how long each stage takes and what obligations come afterwards, with official data checked on 26/09/2026.

Can a foreigner open a company in Paraguay?

Yes. According to SUACE's FAQ (SUACE is the government's one-stop shop for opening companies), you can incorporate a company with 100% foreign capital and no Paraguayan partner. Nor do you need to live in Paraguay to be a shareholder. What every company does need, whether EAS, SRL or S.A., is a legal representative who holds a Paraguayan cédula (identity card); in an EAS, if that person is a foreigner, they must also have permanent residency.

Before you start, it is worth settling three decisions:

• The type of company: EAS, SRL or S.A. (see the table below).
• Who will be the representative: you, if you already have or will apply for residency and the cédula, or another person who meets the requirements.
• An address in Paraguay: the company needs one to be incorporated and registered in the RUC.

The EAS is a widely used structure: 7,618 were incorporated in 2025, according to figures published by La Nación (13/01/2026).

Which type of company is best: EAS, SRL or S.A.?

It depends on how many partners there are and how much formality the business needs. The EAS (Empresa por Acciones Simplificada, a simplified stock company) allows a single shareholder, has no minimum capital and is incorporated online through SUACE, in the most agile process. The SRL (limited liability company) and the S.A. (corporation) need at least 2 partners, a public deed and registration in the RUN.

Data from the SUACE/MIC Guide for foreign investors (May 2025), Law 6480, art. 2 and the EAS FAQ, checked on 26/09/2026. Timeframes are reference figures based on EC Paraguay's experience.

If you are going into business alone, there is also the sole proprietorship (an individual with a RUC), but it requires a Paraguayan cédula: the DNIT only registers foreigners in the RUC if they hold one.

Who can be the company's legal representative?

Every company (EAS, SRL and S.A.) needs a legal representative who holds a Paraguayan cédula. In an EAS, a foreigner must also have permanent residency to sit on the management body: temporary residency is not enough.

A foreign partner without residency can still be a shareholder and appoint the representative through an apostilled power of attorney. In practice there are three routes:

1. Be the representative yourself. You need a Paraguayan cédula and, for an EAS, permanent residency. The usual path is to start with 2-year temporary residency and then apply for permanent residency, under Immigration Law 6984/2022. Direct permanent residency exists only with the Paraguay Investor Pass or SUACE's investor residency.
2. Appoint a trusted person who holds a Paraguayan cédula (and, for an EAS, who is Paraguayan or a foreigner with permanent residency).
3. Hire a legal representative service that acts under a power of attorney with a scope defined in writing.

Important: legal representation does not replace real operations in Paraguay. Be wary of "representatives" who only lend their name: the power of attorney must be clear, limited and documented.

What documents do you need to open the company?

To incorporate the company you need each partner's identity document or passport, an address in Paraguay and, if a partner signs from abroad, a special power of attorney apostilled in their country. Add the details of the representative with a Paraguayan cédula and the bylaws. Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised, and a power of attorney granted in another language must be translated into Spanish.

Requirements according to the SUACE FAQ and the EAS FAQ, checked on 26/09/2026.

After incorporation, the company must also register its beneficial owners (Law 6446/2019). The deadline and procedure are confirmed case by case.

What are the steps to open a company in Paraguay?

The process has six stages: define the type of company and the representative, gather the documents, incorporate the company (online through SUACE for an EAS, or by deed and registration in the RUN for an SRL or S.A.), register it in the RUC at the DNIT, set up electronic invoicing and, finally, open the bank account.

1. Assessment. Type of company, partners, capital, corporate purpose and who will be the representative.
2. Documents. Partners' documents, an apostilled power of attorney if someone signs from abroad, and an address in Paraguay.
3. Bylaws and incorporation. An agile process: the EAS online through SUACE; the SRL and the S.A. by public deed, registration in the RUN and publication.
4. RUC at the DNIT. The RUC (Registro Único del Contribuyente) is the tax ID; the final signature is in person and is done by the representative.
5. Electronic invoicing. Since 01/04/2025, every new legal entity registered in the RUC can only issue electronic documents (e-Kuatia or e-Kuatia'i); the DNIT no longer grants paper invoice books (RG DNIT 21/2024, art. 9).
6. Bank account and labour registrations. The company's bank account and, if you will hire staff, registration with the IPS and the MTESS.

How long does it take to open a company in Paraguay?

As an EC Paraguay reference, the EAS is the most agile process and is incorporated in about 10 days. The S.A. and the SRL take 45 to 50 business days, because they require a public deed, registration in the RUN and publication. The RUC, electronic invoicing and the bank account come afterwards.

EC Paraguay reference timeframes, based on its experience, as of 26/09/2026. They are not official deadlines: no one can guarantee how long a public body or a bank will take.

What are the RUC, the DNIT and the RUN?

The RUC is the company's tax registration. It is managed by the DNIT (Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios, Paraguay's national tax authority), created by Law 7143/2023. The RUN (Registro Unificado Nacional, the unified national registry), created by Law 7.424/2025 and in operation since 14/01/2026, is where companies and real estate are registered. The EAS does not go to the RUN.

• DNIT: the body to which the company files IVA (VAT), IRE and IDU returns, records its receipts (RG 90) and issues electronic invoices.
• RUN: where the SRL and the S.A. are registered. The EAS, by contrast, is registered with the DGPEJBF of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, through SUACE.
• Foreign individuals: can only register in the RUC with a Paraguayan cédula, and their RUC number is their cédula number (RG 133/2023). That is why a sole proprietorship requires a cédula.

Can a foreigner open a business bank account?

Yes, but the decision always rests with the bank and no one can guarantee it. In addition to the company documents, banks ask for the source of funds and a signatory with a Paraguayan cédula who appears in person. For owners who live outside Paraguay, that signatory is often the main bottleneck in the process.

Requirements published by a Paraguayan bank for corporate accounts:

• RUC and tax compliance certificate
• registered bylaws and the minutes appointing the representative
• partners' documents
• proof of the source of funds and of the business address

For a personal account, check with each bank whether it accepts your foreign document or requires a Paraguayan cédula.

What obligations does the company have after opening?

Once incorporated, the company files IVA and the RG 90 receipt register every month, settles the 10% IRE once a year and submits its financial statements (EEFF). If it hires staff, it pays IPS contributions every month and complies with the MTESS, which requires the Labour Information Books to be confirmed once a year. In addition, every new company issues electronic invoices.

Rates from Law 6380/2019 and the IPS, checked on 26/09/2026. The minimum wage has been Gs 3,044,000 since 01/07/2026 (MTESS).

With employees, the employer also registers in the MTESS employer register (REOP), updates its details every year between 1 January and 31 March, reports hires and terminations within 30 business days and reports salaries every month. Each tax is explained, with examples, in our guide to taxes in Paraguay. If you prefer to delegate the monthly routine, see our accountant in Ciudad del Este service.

Can I open the company without living in Paraguay?

Yes. The company can be opened remotely with an apostilled special power of attorney, as long as there is a legal representative in Paraguay who holds a Paraguayan cédula; for an EAS, if that person is a foreigner, they also need permanent residency. But opening a company does not change your tax residency: if you still live in another country, that country may tax the dividends you receive.

• What the representative does in person: the final signature for the RUC at the DNIT and, usually, the signature at the bank.
• What you can do from your country: gather and apostille your documents and grant the power of attorney.
• Tax residency: for the DNIT, an individual is a tax resident when they hold permanent residency (Decree 3181/19, art. 2). The cédula alone is not enough.
• Double taxation: if your country has a treaty with Paraguay, it appears on the DNIT's list of treaties.

Important: EC Paraguay advises on the Paraguayan side. How the dividends of a Paraguayan company are taxed in your country must be confirmed by a qualified accountant in your country of residence.

A company in Paraguay usually makes sense when there are real operations in the country: manufacturing, trade, logistics or an owner who relocates. It is less attractive if the owner remains a tax resident of a country that taxes foreign income.

What costs are involved in opening a company in Paraguay?

There is no single official fee. The cost combines the advisory fees and the official expenses, which vary by type of company: the SRL and the S.A. add notary fees, publication and registration in the RUN. After opening, the usual recurring costs are monthly accounting and, if you need someone in Paraguay, legal representation.

To find out what your case would cost, write to us with the type of company, the number of partners and the business activity: we will send you a detailed quote, with official expenses listed separately.

General information, updated on the date shown. It does not replace a review of your case by a licensed professional.