Blog · 2025-11-18

How to get a Certificado de Vida y Residencia in Paraguay in 2025

The Certificado de Vida y Residencia is an official Paraguayan document confirming that a person is alive and actually living at a stated address. It is issued by the police (the local comisaría) covering the applicant's place of residence and is frequently required for a range of legal and administrative procedures. Below we explain in detail what the document is, why you need it and how to obtain it.

What is a Certificado de Vida y Residencia?

The Certificado de Vida y Residencia (sometimes called a "certificate of life and residence") attests to two things: first, that the applicant is alive at the time of issuance, and second, that they live at a given address. In Paraguay the document is issued by the police station serving the district where the person actually lives. In some cases it can also be issued not by the police but by a justice of the peace (Juzgado de Paz) for the applicant's area.

Why you need a Certificado de Vida y Residencia

The Certificado de Vida y Residencia is widely used in official procedures. In immigration matters, for example - applying for temporary or permanent residency - you must prove your address in Paraguay, and the certificado de vida y residencia is the document usually required for this. It may also be needed to claim pensions and benefits, to marry, to adopt, to obtain a foreigner's first Paraguayan cédula (identity card), to replace documents, or in any other situation where you must prove your current address and that you are alive.

Where to obtain a certificado de vida y residencia

The certificate is issued by the Paraguayan police. You must apply in person at the local comisaría (National Police station) for your place of residence. It is the comisario - the station chief - who is authorised to issue the document.

If dealing with the police is difficult for any reason, an alternative is to obtain the certificate through the justice of the peace (Juzgado de Paz) for your area, though in practice certificates of life and residence are most often issued by police stations. To be sure, contact your nearest station in advance to confirm opening hours and the details of the procedure.

One special case is worth noting: a Paraguayan citizen who is abroad. Here Paraguayan consulates and embassies can issue an equivalent certificate. However, a consular certificado de vida y residencia is generally reserved for Paraguayan citizens and their spouses or relatives (to confirm a pension entitlement, for instance). This article focuses on obtaining the certificate within Paraguay, through the local authorities.

Requirements and documents needed

Before your visit to the station, it is important to gather all the required documents. The official requirements for the certificado de vida y residencia are set by the National Police and may vary slightly from one station to another, but generally include the following:

• A completed application (the Solicitud de Vida y Residencia form) - a dedicated form issued at the station. You can pick it up and fill it in on site (some stations also provide the form online for printing).
• Proof of the applicant's identity. For Paraguayan citizens, the original cédula de identidad and a copy; for foreigners, a passport (plus a residence permit if you have one) and a copy.
• Two witnesses - adults of sound mind and of Paraguayan nationality who are not relatives of the applicant, usually neighbours. The witnesses must appear in person or sign the application, and you must supply copies of their cédulas. Some stations require the witnesses to come with the applicant and sign the form in front of a police officer.
• Proof of address - a recent utility bill in the applicant's name (an ANDE electricity, ESSAP water or COPACO telephone bill, and so on) or a valid rental contract. The document must show the address where you actually live.
• For foreigners without a Paraguayan identity card, you must additionally provide a criminal-record clearance from Interpol in Paraguay (Certificado de Antecedentes de INTERPOL) and a certificate of entry into the country (Constancia de Ingreso al País) issued by the Department of Migration. The Interpol clearance can be obtained at the Interpol office in Asunción; it confirms there is no international arrest warrant or criminal record and is normally mandatory if you do not yet hold a Paraguayan cédula. The entry certificate is issued by the immigration service and confirms that you crossed the border legally (usually a stamp or a separate document showing the date of entry).

Important: all copies must be legible. When you apply, the originals are also presented for verification. The station may request additional information at its discretion - there is a regulation empowering the station chief to ask for whatever is needed to confirm residence - but the requirements listed above are standard nationwide.

The application procedure step by step

Obtaining a certificado de vida y residencia in Paraguay follows this standard sequence.

1. Prepare your documents

Gather all the documents listed above. Make sure you have copies of the identity cards (yours and the witnesses') as well as the utility bill or rental contract. Arrange with your two witnesses (neighbours) so that they are ready to confirm your identity and residence.

2. Go to your local comisaría

Visit the police station for your place of residence in person. Bring the original documents and their copies, along with your witnesses. On arrival you will usually be directed to the duty desk or the certificates window.

3. Complete the application

Collect the Solicitud de Vida y Residencia form. On it you will enter your personal details (full name, date of birth, nationality, document number, address, and so on). The details of your witnesses (full name, ID number, address and contact phone) and the reason you need the certificate are also recorded. The applicant and both witnesses sign the form. Important: the applicant must be present in person and sign the application in front of a police officer, otherwise the document will not be issued.

4. Verification and a possible address check

Station staff will check the documents you submit. They may compare the copies against the original identity cards, confirm the immigration entry stamp (for foreigners) and verify that the Interpol clearance is valid. In some cases, at the station chief's discretion, an on-site address check may be carried out - an officer visits the stated address to confirm the applicant lives there, or questions the neighbours. Often, though, if the documents are in order and witnesses are present, no further check is needed.

5. Processing time

Once the application and all papers have been submitted, you will be told when to collect the finished certificate. As a rule, a certificado de vida y residencia is ready within 24 hours (one working day). The minimum processing time is 24 working hours from submission, and the document can often be collected the next working day. If the station is busy or additional checks are required, this can stretch to two or three days, but rarely longer.

6. Collecting the certificate

After the stated period, the applicant returns to the station and collects the original certificate in person. It is handed over only to the applicant (or to a legal representative holding a power of attorney, though officially the certificate is issued to the applicant). Bear in mind that if you do not collect the finished document within seven days, the station may destroy it as unclaimed, and you would have to go through the process again.

When you collect it, check the certificate's contents carefully: it should show your correct personal details, address and date of issue, along with the signature and stamp of the authorised official (the station chief or the responsible officer). The document is normally drawn up in Spanish on the official police form.

How long the certificate is valid

The validity of a certificado de vida y residencia is limited. The certificate states its date of issue, and many institutions treat it as valid for 90 days (three months) from that date. In some cases - particularly for foreign institutions or consular purposes - the document may be required to have been issued no more than 30 or 60 days before it is presented. We therefore recommend confirming with the organisation you plan to submit it to how recent the document must be. Under the police's internal rules, a certificate of life and residence is valid for three months from the date of issue.

Points to note for foreigners

The procedure for foreigners is almost identical to that for citizens, but there are a few nuances.

• Whether you hold a Paraguayan cédula. If you already have residency and a Paraguayan identity card, you apply for the certificate on the same terms as citizens - at your local address, presenting your cédula. If you do not yet have a local card, you will need to use your foreign passport and attach the extra documents (the Interpol clearance and the entry stamp) described above.
• Witnesses must be Paraguayan citizens. Foreigners usually turn to Paraguayan neighbours or acquaintances who are residents of the country to act as witnesses. Without witnesses the certificate cannot be issued, so it is important to build ties with the local community.
• The purpose of the request. The application states why the certificate is being requested. For a foreigner this is often immigration paperwork - for example, use wording such as "para trámites de radicación" (for residency procedures) or "para cédula de identidad de extranjero" (to obtain a foreigner's identity card). This helps staff understand the context and, if needed, point you to your next steps.
• The language. The process is conducted in Spanish. If you do not speak it, it is advisable to bring an interpreter or a Spanish-speaking friend to avoid misunderstandings when filling in the form and dealing with the police.
• Legality of your stay. The Constancia de Ingreso al País from the immigration service confirms that you entered legally. If your immigration status has lapsed (an expired tourist stamp, for instance), questions may arise. The police will usually issue the certificate anyway, since it merely confirms that you live there, but it is better to sort out your status beforehand.

In general, foreigners are advised to obtain a certificado de vida y residencia soon after arriving and renting a home, since it is needed at the very earliest stages of immigration procedures. The document then becomes part of the file for temporary or permanent residency and for obtaining a local cédula.

Practical tips

• Check the station's opening hours. Police stations usually serve the public on weekdays from early morning (7:00-8:00) until midday, sometimes in the afternoon too. Some stations open on Saturday mornings. Arrive early so you can submit your documents the same day.
• Prepare originals and copies. Make copies of all required documents in advance. Copies should be on separate A4 sheets (in Paraguay you are often asked for copies on "oficio" paper - a slightly longer format - though standard A4 is normally accepted as long as the margins are not cut off).
• Remember the child's birth certificate. If the certificate is for a minor, a similar form is usually completed but in the name of the parent or guardian. A child's birth certificate may also be required - bring the original and a copy.
• Keep a copy of the certificate. Once you have the original, make a copy just in case. Some institutions keep the original, so it makes sense to ask the station for two copies of the certificate if you plan to use it in several places (the second copy may be issued immediately or require a fresh request).
• Renew it in good time. Keep the roughly three-month validity in mind. If you expect a process to drag on, you may need a fresh certificado de vida y residencia so that it is current on the date you file your documents.

Obtaining a Certificado de Vida y Residencia in Paraguay is a relatively simple procedure once you have prepared all the necessary documents and met the requirements. The certificate confirms that you live in the country and will be needed for many official procedures, especially if you have recently moved to Paraguay. Always rely on official information and police instructions to avoid mistakes in the process.

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