Paraguay just became a lot more reachable for one large emerging-market audience. On 11 May 2026, the Philippines and Paraguay signed a visa-waiver agreement for ordinary passport holders. Filipinos do not have to wait for it to take effect: a December 2025 Paraguayan decree already lets them visit for up to 30 days without a visa. For Philippine passport holders, that removes one step before a first visit.
Update, 13 September 2026: no start date for the May treaty had been announced by mid-September, so visa-free entry for Filipinos currently rests on the December 2025 decree. Mercosur's rotating presidency, which Paraguay held when the deal was signed, passed to Uruguay for the second half of the year.
What Was Signed, and by Whom
The agreement was signed at Malacañang Palace in Manila, witnessed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro signed for the Philippines and Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano for Paraguay.
Once in force, it covers ordinary passport holders traveling in both directions, so Filipinos could enter Paraguay, and Paraguayans the Philippines, without arranging a visa first. Neither its start date nor the maximum stay had been published, so confirm the current allowance before you book. Until then, the operative rule is the December 2025 Paraguayan decree that lets Philippine passport holders stay visa-free for 30 days.
Why It Matters for Filipinos Eyeing Paraguay
Until recently, a Filipino looking at Paraguay faced the same friction as applicants from India or much of Africa: the entry visa came before anything else, and arranging it was the step where plans stalled. Visa-free access removes that first hurdle for short visits and scouting trips.
It does not, by itself, grant residency. Living in Paraguay long term still runs through the ordinary residency process, and the territorial 0% on foreign income still follows genuine tax residency rather than a plane ticket. What changes is that the first look, the visit to see the place and start the paperwork, no longer needs a consulate. Our country guide, Paraguay for Filipinos, covers the residency and tax picture in detail.
Filipino and weighing a move to Paraguay? We guide the residency file from the first visit to the cédula, with a realistic timeline for each step. Get in touch.
The Bigger Picture
The deal is partly diplomatic timing. Paraguay held the pro-tempore presidency of Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, when the agreement was signed (Uruguay took it over at the bloc's summit in Asunción at the end of June 2026), while the Philippines chairs ASEAN, giving both an incentive to deepen ties. For ordinary travelers, the practical upshot is simpler access.
It also fits a pattern worth watching if you hold another emerging-market passport. Paraguay has been easing short-term entry for several nationalities, so visa policy is a moving target. If your country still needs a visa, our guide to Paraguay residency for visa-required countries and the step-by-step Paraguay tourist visa guide explain how that route works today.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Visa Waiver
Do Filipinos need a visa for Paraguay now?
No, not for short visits. A December 2025 Paraguayan decree lets Philippine passport holders enter visa-free for up to 30 days. The May 2026 visa-waiver agreement for ordinary passport holders had no announced start date by mid-September 2026, so check the current rules before traveling.
Does visa-free entry give Filipinos residency in Paraguay?
No. The waiver covers short visits, not residency. To live in Paraguay you still complete the ordinary residency process, and the 0% territorial tax on foreign income follows genuine tax residency, not a tourist entry. The waiver simply makes the first visit and the early steps far easier. Anyone who also holds US citizenship or a green card stays taxable by the IRS on worldwide income regardless.
How long can Filipinos stay in Paraguay visa-free?
Up to 30 days, under the December 2025 decree. The May 2026 treaty is meant to make visa-free travel reciprocal for ordinary passport holders once it takes effect, but neither its start date nor its maximum stay had been published, so check the current figure with an official source before you plan a longer trip.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Visa and entry rules change and are applied at the authorities' discretion. Confirm current requirements for your nationality before you travel or rely on them.
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About the author
Yannick Schroth
Founder · Paraguay relocation support
Spends regular time in Paraguay and, with his team on the ground in Asunción, guides international nomads, entrepreneurs and investors through residency, the cédula and the RUC paperwork.
