Retiring in Paraguay: The Rentista Category
The reference income figure for retirees is not fixed in law. Where the number comes from, and what changed under DNM Resolution 407/2026.
Almost every piece written about retiring in Paraguay cites the same number: a reference monthly income of around US$1,300 to qualify under the Rentista category.
The number is not false. But it is worth understanding where it comes from — and why it should not be treated as a fixed, definitive statutory floor.
Where the US$1,300 figure comes from
The reference derives from earlier implementing rules, which tied income evidence to a multiple of monthly minimum wages — historically, something close to 60 minimum wages a year. The more recent regulations under Law 6984/2022, including resolutions issued in 2025, do not fix that amount as a single statutory figure. In practice it is the benchmark most practitioners handling these applications still use — but it has to be confirmed with the DNM at the time of filing, not assumed as a rule carved into the statute.
Note on scope: reference minimum income figures for the financial-means categories change by administrative resolution, not by statute in the strict sense, and can be revised without much advance publicity. We confirm the figure in force directly with the DNM before advising any client to assemble income documentation.
The Rentista category, and what it requires
The Rentista category (or “retirees and pensioners”, named explicitly as one of the 12 categories under DNM Resolution 407/2026, in force since 6 July 2026) is for applicants who can evidence regular, permanent income arising outside Paraguay — a foreign pension, an annuity, rent or investment income — sufficient to live in the country without becoming a public charge.
Standard documentation:
- Bank statements covering 6 to 12 months, showing recurring deposits consistent with the income declared.
- Evidence of the source of the income (pension award letter, lease agreement, investment fund statement).
- Apostilled personal documentation: identity, civil status certificate, criminal record.
One important feature of the category, inherited from the migration law since its original 1996 version: a rentista may, as a rule, not carry out paid activity either self-employed or as an employee, save with express authorisation from the immigration authority. It is a category designed for people living on passive income — not for people intending to work in Paraguay.
The alternative route: investor
Anyone with capital who would rather not depend solely on the Rentista category can consider the investor route — which gives direct access to permanent residency, with no temporary stage, from US$70,000 under the classic productive route, or through the new Investor Pass options launched in April 2026 (real estate, financial instruments, tourism). We set out all four routes in our article on residency by investment in Paraguay.
The real cost of retiring in Paraguay
Reference budgets for a couple, at 2026 prices, put a comfortable retirement — an apartment in Asunción, eating out twice a week, weekend domestic help, full private health cover — in the US$2,000 to 2,800 a month range.
On property: for a cash purchase, a two-bedroom apartment in Asunción typically runs from US$90,000 to 180,000; a house in residential districts, from US$100,000 to 300,000. Annual property tax is 1% of the assessed fiscal value — which usually represents 25% to 35% of actual market value — giving an effective rate of roughly 0.25% to 0.35% of market value per year.
Rentista vs. Investor, side by side
| Criterion | Rentista | Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Basis of qualification | Recurring passive income from abroad | Capital invested in Paraguay |
| Reference amount | ~US$1,300/month (not fixed in law; confirm with the DNM) | From US$70,000 (productive route) |
| Can work in Paraguay | No, save with express authorisation | Yes, depending on the nature of the investment |
| Goes through temporary residency | Yes, standard route | No — direct access to permanent |
| Typical profile | Retiree living on a pension or investment income | Someone with capital to deploy, with or without an intention to run a business |
Healthcare: public and private
Paraguay runs a dual system. The public network costs very little, but most long-stay foreign residents opt for the private network, with shorter waiting times and more modern facilities. Basic private health plans start at around US$50 a month for routine tests and general care; fuller cover varies with age band and level of coverage.
What this changes in practice
Do not treat the reference income figure as fixed in law. It is regulatory practice, subject to confirmation at the time of filing — planning with headroom above the benchmark reduces the risk of refusal on a subjective assessment by the reviewing officer.
The bar on paid work under the Rentista category is real, and routinely underestimated. Anyone intending to keep some paid activity in Paraguay, however small, should look at the investor route or another compatible category, not Rentista.
A projected cost of living has to include more than rent and groceries. Private health cover, property tax (for buyers) and a provision for domestic services are a realistic part of the budget for anyone intending to live comfortably, rather than merely get by.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum income fixed in law for the Rentista category?
There is no single fixed statutory figure. The market benchmark is around US$1,300 a month, but it should be confirmed with the DNM at the time of filing.
Can a rentista work in Paraguay?
As a rule, no — save with express authorisation from the immigration authority. The category is designed for people living on passive income.
What does it cost to retire comfortably in Paraguay?
Reference budgets for a couple put a comfortable life at between US$2,000 and 2,800 a month, covering housing, food, domestic help and private healthcare.
Is it better to enter as a Rentista or as an Investor?
It depends on the profile: Rentista suits someone living on passive income with no intention of working in the country; Investor suits someone with capital to deploy who may want to keep a productive link.
The starting point
The round US$1,300 figure is useful as a planning benchmark — not as a legal guarantee. The difference between the two is exactly the kind of error this article is meant to prevent: deciding on the strength of a number that looks like law but is administrative practice, subject to confirmation.
If retiring in Paraguay is on your horizon, it is worth mapping which category — Rentista or Investor — matches your actual income source, before assembling the documentation.
One conversation is enough to clarify that.
Informational content. It does not constitute legal, tax or immigration advice. The rules and figures cited were verified against the official and specialist sources indicated in July 2026 and may be amended or further regulated. Individual situations produce different outcomes and should be analysed case by case.