Paraguay maintains open border policies with most Western visitors. Citizens of the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand receive automatic entry stamps valid for ninety days on arrival by air or land. The entry stamp appears in passports at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque or at land crossings at Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, and Pedro Juan Caballero. Paraguayan immigration officers generally do not request proof of onward travel or accommodation, but these documents satisfy entry if questions arise. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.mre.gov.py publishes the complete visa exemption list and requirements for nationalities that need advance visas. Visitors overstaying ninety days pay a fine calculated per day at immigration offices in Asunción before departure. Extensions beyond ninety days require application at the Dirección General de Migraciones in Asunción with supporting documents that vary by nationality and stated purpose.
The border infrastructure at Ciudad del Este connects directly to Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil via the Friendship Bridge and to Puerto Iguazú in Argentina through Brazilian territory. Travelers moving among these three cities cross immigration twice when routing through Brazil. The actual border consists of a bridge with Paraguayan immigration on the west bank and Brazilian posts on the east bank. Pedestrians walk across, buses stop at both posts, and private vehicles queue in lanes that separate by nationality. The Encarnación crossing into Posadas, Argentina uses the San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge with immigration facilities at each end. The northern crossing at Pedro Juan Caballero shares a street grid with Ponta Porã, Brazil, where Avenida Internacional runs down the international line with houses on one side in Paraguay and the other in Brazil. This crossing processes less traffic but maintains the same entry requirements as Ciudad del Este.
Paraguay uses the guaraní, abbreviated PYG, with current exchange rates near seven thousand guaraníes per US dollar. The central bank issues banknotes in denominations of two thousand, five thousand, ten thousand, twenty thousand, fifty thousand, and one hundred thousand guaraníes. Coins exist in denominations of fifty, one hundred, five hundred, and one thousand guaraníes, but coins below five hundred rarely circulate. Money changers operate in street-level offices throughout central Asunción, particularly along Palma and Chile streets, and at the bus terminal. These establishments display electronic boards with buy and sell rates for US dollars, Argentine pesos, Brazilian reais, and euros. The spread between buying and selling typically runs one to two percent. Money changers accept worn or marked US dollar bills that banks reject, but at reduced rates. Banks in Paraguay maintain conservative practices with foreign cards, and many branches do not exchange currency for non-account holders.
ATMs in Asunción and major cities accept Visa and Mastercard debit cards on the Plus and Cirrus networks. The machines dispense guaraníes in maximum withdrawals of two million guaraníes per transaction, equivalent to roughly three hundred US dollars. Banco Continental, Banco Regional, BBVA Paraguay, and Itaú maintain ATM networks in Asunción, Luque, San Lorenzo, Ciudad del Este, and Encarnación. ATM availability drops sharply outside these urban centers. The machines charge withdrawal fees between twenty thousand and thirty thousand guaraníes per transaction, and home banks add their own international fees. Some ATMs in shopping centers and airports offer the option to complete transactions in US dollars with dynamic currency conversion, which applies unfavorable exchange rates. Credit cards see limited acceptance outside hotels and large retailers in Asunción and Ciudad del Este. Restaurants and shops in smaller cities operate on cash.
United States dollars circulate unofficially throughout Paraguay, especially in Ciudad del Este where cross-border commerce with Brazil and Argentina dominates the economy. Hotels list room rates in dollars, tour operators quote in dollars, and real estate transactions settle in dollars. Vendors quote prices in guaraníes for everyday purchases but accept dollars at rates they determine, usually less favorable than official exchange rates. This dual-currency practice means carrying both currencies serves travelers better than relying on one. The dollar bills must be in good condition. Tears, heavy folds, or stamps result in rejection or discounted rates. Paraguay has no currency export restrictions. Amounts exceeding ten thousand US dollars require declaration on entry and exit.
Paraguay operates mobile networks through Tigo, Claro, Personal, and Copaco. Tigo holds the largest market share with 4G LTE coverage in Asunción, Luque, San Lorenzo, Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, and along major highways connecting these cities. Claro and Personal provide comparable urban coverage but weaker signals in rural areas. Prepaid SIM cards cost between ten thousand and twenty thousand guaraníes and sell at carrier stores, pharmacies, and small shops throughout cities. Activation requires presenting a passport and completing a registration form. Top-up credit sells in amounts from ten thousand to two hundred thousand guaraníes at the same retail locations. Data packages begin at approximately fifty thousand guaraníes for five gigabytes valid thirty days. Coverage in the Chaco deteriorates rapidly west of the Trans-Chaco Highway, with long stretches between towns holding no signal from any carrier.