Paraguay Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide

There are tourists from across the world who are willing to travel to Paraguay for tourism and other leisure purposes. A tourist visa for Paraguay is issued for those foreigners who are looking forward to travelling to Paraguay for activities like sightseeing, attending concerts, cultural trips and others. The validity of the permit will depend on the type. For a single-entry permit, the validity is 180 days and as for the case of the multiple-entry visa, the validity would differ and the stay permitted per visit will be 90 days. There may be some changes in the validity as per the case.

Before the application, you need to make sure that you are eligible for the same. The process of application for a Paraguay tourist visa from India is mainly offline. The application is made directly to the Consulate. The step by step process to get a tourist visa for Paraguay is as follows:

1. Download the visa application form.
2. Fill out the required details.
3. Collect all the required documents.
4. Submit the application form and the documents to the Consular.
5. Pay the required Paraguay tourist visa fees.
6. Attend an interview with the Consular Officer.

When you are filling out the application form to get a tourist visa for Paraguay, you must ensure to avoid any possible errors. If any of the information is found to be false or unverifiable, the application will then be inadmissible and even get rejected. Such a visa rejection can affect your future application to get a tourist visa for Paraguay or to any other country.

It is essential that you match the eligibility criteria in order to apply for a Paraguay tourist visa from India. Some of the important parameters that you need to match are listed as follows:

• You must possess proof of purpose of visit

• If you are visiting your acquaintances, you must have an invitation letter from the resident in Paraguay.
• You must visit for tourism only, or visiting acquaintances and not searching for or taking up any kind of employment.
• You must meet the health requirements

• • • You must be healthy enough to travel to Paraguay.
    • You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof (if asked).
  • You must be of good character, you may not be granted the visa if -
    • You have a history of a criminal conviction.
    • You have been deported or banned from another country.
    • You are found to be a threat or risk to the country.
• You must have sufficient funds
  • • You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Paraguay.
    • Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

There are different kinds of requirements based on the nationality of the applicant. The Paraguay tourist visa requirements citizens are listed below:

• Passport valid for at least one year ahead of travel.
• Completely filled and duly signed application form.
• Itinerary
• Photo as per the photo specifications.
• Confirmed flight tickets.
• Proof of purpose of visit - exhibition pass, invitation letter, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement for the last three months, etc.
• Proof of character - Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Apostille by Ministry of External Affairs, India.

• One copy must be provided
• Photo size: 2 x 2 inches.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions.
• Both the ears must be visible.
• Teeth should not be visible.
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The processing time required for the issuance of a tourist visa Paraguay is about a couple of weeks or more taking into consideration the time required for the interview. There are several factors that affect the processing time of the permit. Such as the workload at the embassy office, the staff availability, whether the documents are complete or the rest of the documents are yet to be submitted and others.

The fee to get a tourist visa for Paraguay must be paid to the Consulate of Paraguay directly. It can be paid in cash and should be paid at the time of the submission of the application form and the documents. There are several factors that affect the estimation of the fees. For instance, type of visa, the number of entries permitted, the validity of the visa and other similar factors.

After the submission of the documents, there are a few things that you need to know. Some of the pointers are given as follows:

• When you are submitting the documents, you need to make sure that they are in good condition.
• The documents must be submitted personally only as fax or emailed documents are not acceptable.
• You can email the scanned copies to the Consular Officer only if asked by the Consular Officer on indiaembaparsc@mre.gov.py.com.
• If there are any kind of changes to be updated in the application, the Consulate must be informed accordingly.
• In case there is a change of plans and you need to withdraw the application, the Consulate must be known accordingly.
• The visa fee is generally non-refundable.

In order to check the status of the permit, it can be done offline by contacting the Embassy office. Else, if you have applied through an agency, you can check the status through the agency’s website.

After the completion of the whole process, the visa will be processed by the embassy and you can collect it from the Embassy office on the given timings. When you have your visa, there are a few things that you need to know -

• Before you travel

• Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
• You should travel to Paraguay within the validity of your visa.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company for safety.
• At the Border

• • • Get your documents checked and your passport verified by the border officers.
    • Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
    • Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Paraguay
  • • Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do unpaid volunteer work.
    • The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
    • Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.