Surrounded by Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, Paraguay has about 6 million inhabitants. It offers much to do and many places to visit, but before getting there, several things must уbe considered, such as how to apply for a Paraguay visa? It is one of the doubts that arise when embarking on the trip, and here we will give all the information about it so you can visit the Guaraní land without any problem.
As you know, according to the international agreements that each country establishes, you will always find countries that do not need a tourist visa. Therefore, below you will find the Paraguay free visa countries list.
Paraguay is chosen by many to make wholesale purchases due to its cheap prices compared to others in South America. In addition, it is a country that has very beautiful cities where you can enjoy its regional music, taste its culinary delights and learn about its culture. If you could not find your country in the above list, it means you need a Paraguay tourist visa.
The Paraguay tourist visa is categorized as a short-term time visa because it is valid for 90 days. So, for this type of visa, you will need to have the following documents:
You need to make an appointment at the Paraguayan embassy or consulate in your country of residence and go on the day indicated with the documents detailed above. Also, depending on the passport you have, you may be interviewed.
On the other hand, according to the Paraguay visa policy, you will have to pay a fee to complete the process. The Paraguay visa cost is US $65 for a single entry, but the price also depends on your country of residency.
It should be clarified that the countries that are from Mercosur, who is also part of Paraguay free visa countries, do not need to have a passport but they must have:
The following countries can obtain the Paraguay visa on arrival at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (Asuncion) only:
The Paraguay visa requirements for this case are:
Now that you know about Paraguay visa policy (although if you have doubts you can always check the Pickvisa/visa policies section), we will give you extra information so that you know what you will find once you arrive in Paraguay.
We can say that Paraguay is in the middle line of security. In other words, it is a safe country but thefts do exist, so you have to be careful because its borders are weak and crossing them walking without any control is easy, which makes crime move without problems. Despite all this, as long as you are careful you can have a pleasant stay.
As the name of the local indigenous tribe, the currency of Paraguay is called ‘Guaraní’ and the exchange rate to date is 1 dollar = 6,759.90 guaraníes. In Paraguay, you will find coins of 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 guaranies. And notes of 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 guaraníes.
In border areas, you can pay both with Argentine pesos and Brazilian reales, but it is convenient to exchange the money for the national currency. The normal thing is to resort to a “money changer”, a man with a small bag who sits in a corner and informally will change your money; do not be afraid, this is the usual and everyone is used to it. It is also worth mentioning that many shops accept dollars in cash if you want to take them.
It is possible that at the borders, they do not ask for the yellow fever certificate and it is not a mandatory requirement for the visa process in case you go by air, but as it located in a tropical area, it is convenient to have this vaccine for the mosquitoes. In addition, taking into account your country of origin, they may ask you for the certificate.
It is subtropical, temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius easily. And in general, these areas are usually very humid and hot in summer, something to keep in mind above all to always have the right clothes in your suitcase; summer is from December to April which are the warmest days and from May to August are the coldest days of the year in Paraguay.
Although the temperatures are higher in January - February, it is highly recommended to visit during this time since it is carnival time, and Paraguay has the property of having some wonderful, extravagant carnivals, full of colors, music, and magic that cannot be seen anywhere and will make you enjoy Paraguay in another way.
Although there are small differences in prices between the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion, and small cities, eating in the South American country is cheap and paying between 4 and 25 dollars is normal. There is a great variety of foods, although the base product is cassava (manioc), corn in any of its forms: ground, cooked or fermented, rice and beef. Do not doubt eating a good river fish for which you can pay very little and you can eat very well.
Typical Paraguayan foods are the result of the combination of Hispanic culinary techniques and pre-Columbian Guarani techniques. They use native products and others introduced and acclimatized by the Spanish.
As in many countries, depending on the area you are in, the accommodation will vary in price and quality. If you are in Asuncion, you can pay between $15 for a basic hostel and about $150 (even less) for a luxurious room in a five-star hotel.
Now, apart from knowing how to apply for Paraguay visa, you also have basic information about the country. In addition it is important that you to know that the official language of Paraguay is Spanish and Guaraní, people on the streets and shops or restaurants do not speak in English, so know some basic words in Spanish can save you from having misunderstanding with locals.