Guide to Paraguay
American expat in Paraguay
Forum posts
43
About me
American
Lives in Asuncion, Paraguay
Speaks English, Spanish, Guaraní
Registration: 10 March 2009
GOOOOOOOOOAL!!! - Let's Talk Football Teams by FreeRangeJoel
So in reading DiscoveringParaguay.com, I realize that I'm gonna need to pick a team, if I'm to fit in. Given that I'm a Libertarian, and see the move to Paraguay as a boost in our family's level of freedom (pay raise, less taxes etc.)... I'm ...
Don´t let fear of hooliganism keep you from watching a live match! Soccer games are usually safe to go to if you take the proper precautions. Don´t sit in the "barra brava" sections - the cheap section behind the goal - that is where the hard core ... Read More
GOOOOOOOOOAL!!! - Let's Talk Football Teams by FreeRangeJoel
So in reading DiscoveringParaguay.com, I realize that I'm gonna need to pick a team, if I'm to fit in. Given that I'm a Libertarian, and see the move to Paraguay as a boost in our family's level of freedom (pay raise, less taxes etc.)... I'm ...
For those of you who didn´t see that particular post about choosing a soccer team, here is the direct link: http://discoveringparaguay.com/home/futbol-club/ Personally I am a Cerro Porteño fan. Mostly this is because we were San Lorenzo fans in ... Read More
Bringing babies to Asuncion by FreeRangeJoel
My wife and I are very seriously considering moving to Asuncion, PY, soon. An opportunity has arose that will be hard to turn down. The catch is, we have a 4 month old son. Now, we've already broken the news to his grandparents, and they are sad ...
Hello Joel, My thoughts on your questions: 1) Will we need to obtain a separate non-resident Visa for him for the scouting mission we plan to do before the big move? Not sure about this one. In general each individual needs their own visa, ... Read More
Healthcare in Paraguay by Julien
Hi, how does the healthcare system work in Paraguay ? Is it efficient ? What are the main differences between public and private sectors? Is it recommended to purchase private health insurance in Paraguay? Thanks in advance for sharing ...
Just posted this in another thread but realized it is applicable here too: If you are going to be here long term (more than a year) you might consider getting private health insurance. Unlike in the US health insurance here covers the small stuff ... Read More
Doctors in Asuncion
If you are going to be here long term (more than a year) you might consider getting private health insurance. Unlike in the US health insurance here covers the small stuff - doctor´s visits, etc but not large things like dialysis. If you want to ... Read More
Hotel Accomodation in Asuncion
Though the hotel is comfortable, as someone else mentioned, it is not very central. I would not recommend it unless you will have private transportation or the budget to take a taxi everywhere (there are few buses that go to this area of town). I ... Read More
What type of apartment can I find for $100 - $250 USD around asuncion? by stevewoods
It doesn't have to be huge and luxurious, it can be small, but clean and in a safe area.
You may need to be more specific about what you consider small, clean and safe. Your standards may differ greatly from those of other expats or locals. Small: how many rooms, bathrooms, etc Clean;do you mean everything in spit spot condition or ... Read More
Visiting Iguazu Falls from Cuidad del Este by Gabtar
After putting off visiting Iguazu Falls in Brazil because of visa issues I decided to use the visa I obtained to visit Bonito to finally visit the falls as a daytrip from Cuidad del Este. The short version - I didn't need to wait. I took a taxi ...
There are several options for visiting the falls without a Brazilian visa. You will only be able to visit the Argentine side but to some this side is better than the Brazilian side anyway. Please note that while checkpoints are sometimes lax on ... Read More
Chinese Restaurants/Chinese Food
For the real deal you have to head to Mercado Cuatro. There is a "barrio chino" there with restaurants and stores. It is mostly along República Francesa. Fu sin is good and so is El Paraiso. The contact info is here: ... Read More
Residence permit / paper work and documents by barrister_py
For the process, it is basically as follow: - first go to a bank an open a bank account with at least 5,000 USD. this would help you prove you have sufficient funds on your application for residency. I recommend you Banco Vision for a saving ...
Another wrinkle: it is very difficult to open a bank account here if you don't have an official employer. If you are able to provide proof of steady income (from a job or pension) you are fine but if you plan to work informally (teaching english ... Read More
Residence permit / paper work and documents by barrister_py
For the process, it is basically as follow: - first go to a bank an open a bank account with at least 5,000 USD. this would help you prove you have sufficient funds on your application for residency. I recommend you Banco Vision for a saving ...
Something to keep in mind once you are in Asuncion: if you feel like you are getting the runaround in the Immigration office you can ask to speak to someone in the Asesoría Jurídica. They are often more informed than the desk clerks at reception in ... Read More
Residence permit / paper work and documents by barrister_py
For the process, it is basically as follow: - first go to a bank an open a bank account with at least 5,000 USD. this would help you prove you have sufficient funds on your application for residency. I recommend you Banco Vision for a saving ...
Don´t bother with the local police certificate, it won´t be acceptable. The reason they want an FBI certificate is because they want a national police check - your local police report would not include any information from other states. I would ... Read More
Residence permit / paper work and documents by barrister_py
For the process, it is basically as follow: - first go to a bank an open a bank account with at least 5,000 USD. this would help you prove you have sufficient funds on your application for residency. I recommend you Banco Vision for a saving ...
If you are coming from the US you will need an FBI issued background check (the US version of a "national police check"). If you can get this done in the US prior to coming to Paraguay that is best. If you are already here the US Embassy has more ... Read More
Exiting Paraguay While Awaiting Approval of Cedula Application by majbjb
Does anyone know if it's permissable to leave/exit the country while your waiting for your cedula application to be approved, or does it somehow invalidate the application? Thanks!
You should be fine as long as your visa/residency is in order. Even once you have a PYan cedula it is your visa/residency that will be needed to enter and exit the country. Only Paraguayans can use their cedulas as legal travel documents within ... Read More
Motores de Búsqueda de Internet Paraguay by Mike.M
Sabe alguien un motor de búsqueda, o un method a usar Google para a buscar dentro Paraguay? Gracias ******** Does anyone know of a search engine, or a method to use Google to search within Paraguay? Thanks
www.google.com.py/ Yagua.com is a Paraguayan search engine. Read More
Building a house by Sapper
Hi everybody, I want to have a house built near Caacupe and trying to find a good company with the price of US$200 per square meter. Some companies in Asuncion are offering US$250 or US$300 and talking about first class material, etc... but I still ...
Asuncion has it´s fair share of neat buildings as well. Here is a post with a slideshow I put up about them: http://www.guidetoparaguay.com/2009/08/buildings-of-asuncion-edificios-de.html I´ll let you know once I put up photos of Concepción´s cool ... Read More
Wages In Paraguay
I believe the legal minimum wage is about 1.4 million Guaranies which is about US $290 per month. Of course this is the LEGAL minimum wage - there are many people who are paid much, much less. For example I recently was told that the going rate for ... Read More
Building a house by Sapper
Hi everybody, I want to have a house built near Caacupe and trying to find a good company with the price of US$200 per square meter. Some companies in Asuncion are offering US$250 or US$300 and talking about first class material, etc... but I still ...
Mike, If you do go to Concepcion check out all the neat old houses that were built by Italian immigrants in the 1920's and 1930's. Some are falling to pieces but there is an organization called Escuella Taller (I think) has been restoring buildings ... Read More
What's So Weird About Living In Paraguay? by Mike.M
I hope everyone has a sense of humor! Doug Casey on Protecting Your Cash [quote]Doug: Exactly. Argentina is excellent from that point of view; rights to real property are, if anything, better than those in the U.S. In many ways, Argentina is ...
Doug Casey and John Gimlette must have a lot of fun sitting around knocking Paraguay together :D The things that make Paraguay weird are also what make it interesting. Geographic and political isolation (re: dictatorships that keep nationals in and ... Read More
Building a house by Sapper
Hi everybody, I want to have a house built near Caacupe and trying to find a good company with the price of US$200 per square meter. Some companies in Asuncion are offering US$250 or US$300 and talking about first class material, etc... but I still ...
I believe once you get past a certain economic level most people hire architects. If you are not from here you should definitely hire an architect. Some people hire an architect and then a separate construction crew but it might be easier to just ... Read More
Building a house by Sapper
Hi everybody, I want to have a house built near Caacupe and trying to find a good company with the price of US$200 per square meter. Some companies in Asuncion are offering US$250 or US$300 and talking about first class material, etc... but I still ...
Just some general tips... If time is a factor then you should be prepared to stay on top of your architect and construction crew. I've been told that construction crews are used to being paid per day so there is very little incentive to hop to it. ... Read More
US Dollars->Guaranis->Paraguayan Bank Account by Mike.M
Has anyone had any experience with bringing cash from the United States to Paraguay? What is the best way to convert to Guaranis? How much cash is advisable to bring through the airport? In the past I have bought Traveler's Cheques. Can a little ...
What is the best way to convert to Guaranis? http://www.guidetoparaguay.com/2008/12/getting-most-out-of-high-exchange-rate.html#links How much cash is advisable to bring through the airport? To be honest I´m not sure how much the legal limit is - ... Read More
Do and don't in Paraguay by expat.com
Are you living in Paraguay? We need you to share your experience of the local customs :) Is it difficult to adjust to the local customs in Paraguay? Could you please share with us a list of the [b] do's and don't's in Paraguay?[/b] Thanks!
Hello Mike - your question is a good one. I am going to post a reply as a new topic since it's complex and interesting enough to merit it's own thread. Read More
Motorcycles in Paraguay. by BillFromEngland
Hi, I´m travelling to Paraguay from Rio in the next couple of weeks. I have ridden my motorcycle from the USA, and will need to sell it in Paraguay when I get there. Is that a problem there? I know that it is not possible to import used bikes into ...
Hi Bill, In order to sell your bikes legally you'll have to officially import them through Aduanas (Customs). You can do this through a broker or go yourself. For cars I believe they charge 30% of the value and they require the original bill of ... Read More
Cost of living in Paraguay by expat.com
Hi everybody, It would be very useful to talk about the cost of living in Paraguay. Don't forget to mention where in Paraguay you are living. How much does it cost to live in Paraguay? > accommodation prices > public transportation fares (tube, ...
Thought this might be an interesting reference point for food prices in Asunción. This lists the prices of a wide variety of foods found at the Mercado Abasto in Fernando de la Mora. If you are planning on buying a lot of something (say 100 oranges ... Read More
Cost of living in Paraguay by expat.com
Hi everybody, It would be very useful to talk about the cost of living in Paraguay. Don't forget to mention where in Paraguay you are living. How much does it cost to live in Paraguay? > accommodation prices > public transportation fares (tube, ...
Paraguay is one of the best places in Latin America to buy electronics. It is not as cheap as the US and the selection is not quite as extensive. However in comparison to the rest of Latin America the selection is good and the prices are good. ... Read More
Cost of setting up house in Paraguay
Bristol is one of the major retailers here so I suggest you check out their website for prices on appliances (I think they have some furniture as well). www.bristol.com.py The current exchange rate is Gs.5,000 - http://www.abc.com.py/ will have ... Read More
Cost of living in Paraguay by expat.com
Hi everybody, It would be very useful to talk about the cost of living in Paraguay. Don't forget to mention where in Paraguay you are living. How much does it cost to live in Paraguay? > accommodation prices > public transportation fares (tube, ...
The current exchange rate is about Gs. 5,100 to the dollar. I am currently living in Villa Morra, Asunción. Bus prices are now Gs. 2,100 per trip within Asunción. Health insurance: There are several private health insurance companies in ... Read More
Do and don't in Paraguay by expat.com
Are you living in Paraguay? We need you to share your experience of the local customs :) Is it difficult to adjust to the local customs in Paraguay? Could you please share with us a list of the [b] do's and don't's in Paraguay?[/b] Thanks!
Obviously many Paraguayan customs are similar to those in the rest of Latin America. If you have had experiences in other Latin American cultures you should have no problem adapting. your Paraguayan experience will vary greatly depending on whether ... Read More