Guide on How to Apply for a Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa
Do you travel to Paraguay very often? Are you looking for cheaper options to make these trips without applying for a new visa each time? The Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa has got you covered here.
Paraguay is a country landlocked in South America. It shares borders with Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia. Being one of the countries in Latin America, Spanish is one of their official languages; the other one is Guarani. Paraguay receives thousands of visitors and immigrants yearly, thanks to its various immigration and visa programs. We’ll talk about one of such programs in this article.
This piece covers all you should know about the Paraguay Multiple Entry visa, how to get it, how long you can use it, and what you need to get it. But, first, let’s start with what the visa itself is.
About Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa
A Paraguayan visa is an authorization by the consular authorities that lets foreign nationals legally enter Paraguay for a specified period and carry out specified activities. The most common Paraguay visas are short-stay visas which let you enter the country for up to 90 days at a time. Some short-stay visas include; tourist visas, business visas, training visas, etc.
The short stay visas, therefore, are divided into two kinds;
- Paraguay Single Entry Visa
- Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa
The Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa, as the name depicts, is a short-stay Paraguay visa that allows you to enter the country more than once. However, you can only stay for 90 days out of 180 days with each entry. This visa is usually valid for up to 10 years.
Exemptions From Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa?
Any foreign national who wants to enter Paraguay needs a visa. However, the multiple entry visa is for those who intend to visit Paraguay frequently and wish to save themselves the cost and trouble of getting a single-entry visa each time. Even then, not everyone needs this visa.
Paraguay has agreements with various countries that allow their citizens to enter the country without needing a visa. Therefore, citizens of such countries do not need to get a multiple entry visa, as long as they only intend to stay 90 days at a time out of 180 days. Some of the groups exempt from Paraguay visas include;
- Citizens of all EU/EEA/EFTA states.
- Citizens of all nine fellow South American states; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Uruguay.
- Diplomatic passport holders from Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Philippines, Vatican City, and Vietnam.
Other visa-exempt foreigners include citizens of these countries;
- Andorra
- the Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Israel
- Liechtenstein
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Russia
- Singapore
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- the United Arab Emirates
Singapore and South Korean citizens are only allowed to come in for 30 days at a time without a visa, while Dominicans can only come in for 60.
Required Documents for Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa
When applying for a Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa, there are certain documents you need to present. These documents will help the consular authorities determine whether or not you qualify for the visa.
#1. National Passport
A national passport is a travel document your country issues to you to identify you as a citizen in a foreign country. For example, when you’re in Paraguay, your national passport identifies you as a foreign national. It is so important that even visa-exempt foreigners must have it as their travel document. Meanwhile, citizens from visa-exempt South American countries don’t need a passport to visit Paraguay. They only need recognized ID cards to be admitted to Paraguay.
You need to present your valid national passport to the Paraguayan embassy in your country because it is the document that will contain the visa you’re applying for. For the National passport to be considered valid, it must remain valid for your entire period of stay in Paraguay and six (6) months beyond. In addition, it must have at least two blank pages, one of which will carry the approved visa sticker. If you have previous visas to Paraguay, present those as well.
#2. Application Form
Filling out the application form might be the most tasking part of applying for your Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa Application. This form will ask for your details, travel details, the type of visa you need, and many other such questions. Ensure you answer them correctly because wrong or mismatched answers could disqualify you.
#3. Passport-Sized Photograph
You’ll need to submit a recent 2″x2″ passport-sized photograph; the photo must be no more than six (6) months old at the time of your application. It must also have a plain white background and show the entire outline of your face, ears inclusive, with no glasses on.
#4. Itinerary
Since you’re applying for a Paraguay multiple entry visa, the itinerary you present should have proof from the embassy that you must enter Paraguay repeatedly. Also, that must be for a good reason too. The most common reason people obtain a multiple entry visa is for business. Therefore, you will need to explain to the embassy why you need to enter the embassy repeatedly. You should also present travel tickets for your first trip and explain how long you plan to be there.
#5. Proof of Funds/Accommodation
Next, you will provide a bank statement showing you can afford to stay in Paraguay for the time you intend to stay in Paraguay. The statement should also demonstrate a steady flow of income that shows you can fend for yourself for the foreseeable future whenever you choose to visit Paraguay again, using multiple entry privileges.
As for accommodation, you only need to provide proof of accommodation for your next trip. This could be in the form of hotel tickets, proof of property ownership, or a letter from a Paraguayan citizen/resident willing to host you during your stay.
Application Procedure for Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa
The Paraguay multiple entry visa application procedure is not very complex, all things considered. You can use the following steps as a guide;
- Gather all the documents above; ensure you have them because they’re all essential to the application procedure.
- Fill out the application form. You can down the application form here and fill it out. Make sure you do so legibly and tick all the right boxes. If you’re a minor citizen, your parents or legal guardians will have to
- Contact the Paraguay embassy in your country to confirm they do not have any additional requirements. Some embassies allow application by mail, so you’ll have to mail the documents to them, along with a prepaid mailing envelope (for sending back your documents) and your visa fee receipt. If you’re applying in person, make an interview appointment with them.
- Get the embassy’s bank details when you contact them; if you’re mailing them your documents, you’ll have to enclose the visa fee receipt; if you’re applying in person, you’ll also go with it.
- Show up on the day of your appointment with all your documents and submit them to the embassy. Or, if you submitted by mail and got an interview invite, just show up. They’ll already have your documents.
- Wait for the verdict. If your visa is approved, you’ll be notified. Your documents will be mailed back to you with the visa stamp on your passport, done using the prepaid envelope with your address.
After the embassy approves your application, you have six months to use the Paraguay multiple entry visa for the first time, or it expires.
Visa Fee and Processing Time
The Paraguay Multiple Entry Visa takes five and thirty days to process. However, you should apply no more than six (6) months beyond your intended travel date. That way, you cover for possible delays and ensure you travel before the 6-month window elapses.
The multiple entry visa costs USD 165. However, you must confirm from the embassy in your country whether there are additional fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. How long can visitors stay in Paraguay?
Visitors in Paraguay are allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days from 180 days. Beyond this, they will need to apply for a longer stay visa.
#2. How long can I stay in Paraguay without a visa?
Depending on your country, it could be 90 days, 60, or even 30. However, suppose you are not a citizen of any of the visa-exempt countries in Paragua. In that case, you cannot stay in the country without a visa.
#3. How safe is Paraguay for tourists?
Paraguay is not particularly a terrorist-ridden country, but it has a significant level of street crime. So if you’re coming in, ensure you stay alert to avoid pickpockets and other petty criminals.
#4. Does Paraguay allow dual citizenship?
Yes, they do. Foreign nationals who become citizens of India don’t have to give up their former country’s citizenship to have a Paraguayan one.
#5. Do they speak English in Paraguay?
Spanish and Guarani are the most popular languages in Paraguay. However, there is a slight chance that you might encounter someone in Paraguay who speaks English.
Conclusion
There are many reasons to want to visit Paraguay. However, if you think you need to go back there often, getting the Paraguay multiple entry visa is a great way to save cost and time for future purposes. So, if the cap fits you, begin your application as soon as possible.
