PARAGUAY VS GEORGIA: THE WORLD’S EASIEST RESIDENCIES?

Policy Access, Documentation, and Compliance in Emerging Residency Frameworks

WASHINGTON, DC — Around the world, governments are rethinking how residency frameworks support economic development, foreign investment, and lawful mobility. Among the most discussed examples in 2025 are Paraguay and Georgia, two emerging markets on different continents that have become unlikely leaders in offering simplified legal residency routes. Both nations have attracted attention for their accessible application processes, flexible stay requirements, and low capital thresholds. 

Yet simplicity has raised more profound policy questions about verification standards, transparency, and long-term compliance. Amicus International Consulting’s independent analysis examines how these programs function, where they differ, and what their evolution reveals about the next phase of global migration governance.

The Rise of Low-Barrier Residency Programs

Residency-by-investment began as a policy experiment in the 1980s. Still, the current “easy residency” model stems from Latin America and the Caucasus, where governments sought to offset limited foreign direct investment with human-capital inflows. After the pandemic, remote work, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty accelerated demand for legal alternatives to traditional immigration. 

Families and professionals pursued second residencies not for immediate relocation but for optionality, tax efficiency, and mobility insurance. Both Paraguay and Georgia saw opportunity in this shift and introduced flexible legal structures emphasizing documentation rather than financial magnitude.

Paraguay’s Permanent Residency Framework

Paraguay’s residency system, rooted in its Migration Law 978/96 and reformed by Law 6984/2022, is widely considered one of the most straightforward in the Western Hemisphere. Applicants may obtain permanent residence through proof of economic solvency, employment, or investment. The process begins with an application to the Dirección General de Migraciones, supported by a police certificate, bank reference, health clearance, and proof of funds equal to roughly 35 minimum monthly salaries, deposited temporarily in a Paraguayan bank account. Once issued, residency remains valid for life provided the holder visits Paraguay at least once every three years.

Policy analysts emphasize that Paraguay’s framework reflects a balance between openness and control. The deposit requirement, while modest, ensures minimal financial transparency. Applications are verified through local police and Interpol coordination, though the system relies heavily on document authentication rather than deep forensic investigation. Amicus International Consulting’s research shows that processing time averages six to nine months, with a rising trend toward digital submission through the Ministry of Interior’s new online portal launched in 2024.

Paraguay’s appeal lies in predictability. There are no property-purchase mandates or complex income audits. Applicants may convert permanent residence to citizenship after three years of adequate residence, subject to Spanish-language and civic-knowledge exams. The government’s goal has been to attract entrepreneurs, retirees, and remote workers who contribute to the economy without burdening social systems.

Georgia’s Residence Permit System

Georgia, situated between Europe and Asia, offers an equally accessible yet structurally different path. The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons allows residency based on property ownership, business activity, or employment. The most common route is the “Investment Residence Permit,” granted to individuals who invest at least 300,000 lari (approximately 110,000 USD) in Georgian business or real estate. The program does not require continuous physical presence, and family members qualify automatically. Holders may renew after five years and apply for permanent residence upon demonstrating sustained economic contribution.

In practice, Georgia’s process is digital, centralized under the Public Service Development Agency. Applicants upload notarized documents, pay fees electronically, and receive decisions within 30 working days. Georgia also issues one-year residence permits to freelancers and digital nomads earning foreign income, making it one of the first post-Soviet states to adapt its migration framework to global remote-work trends.

Compliance oversight in Georgia has expanded since 2022. The Revenue Service now cross-references residency applicants against tax declarations and corporate filings to verify legitimate business activity. The National Bank coordinates with the Financial Monitoring Service to prevent misuse of investment routes for money laundering. This layered supervision, while relatively new, has improved program credibility in the eyes of European partners.

Comparative Access and Documentation

Both countries offer simplified access, but their administrative philosophies diverge. Paraguay emphasizes minimalism: straightforward documents, predictable processing, and limited ongoing obligations. Georgia prioritizes modernization: e-governance, digital records, and integrated financial oversight. Applicants to Paraguay submit paper files with notarized translations at embassies or directly within the country, while Georgia’s entire system operates electronically.

In Paraguay, applicants must appear in person for fingerprinting and medical evaluation. Georgia permits remote document pre-verification and biometric enrollment upon arrival. Each requires a clean criminal record, certified translations, and apostilles under the Hague Convention. Neither country imposes large investment quotas, which keeps barriers low but invites scrutiny from international compliance observers.

Taxation and International Coordination

Tax residence in Paraguay depends on physical presence exceeding 120 days per year. The country operates a territorial tax system, taxing only domestic income. Georgia applies a similar territorial principle for non-domiciled individuals. These models attract mobile entrepreneurs but have drawn attention from the OECD, which urges transparency in cross-border information exchange. Both governments have joined the Common Reporting Standard, committing to share foreign-income data with partner jurisdictions.

According to Amicus International Consulting’s comparative tax study, the combination of easy entry and light taxation positions Paraguay and Georgia among the most efficient legal residencies for global professionals. However, low entry thresholds necessitate robust due diligence cooperation to avoid reputational risk. Policy analysts note that both countries are expanding bilateral agreements to exchange criminal-record data and verify identity consistency across applications.

Compliance and Oversight Evolution

Historically, simple residency procedures risked attracting applicants seeking anonymity. To address this, Paraguay introduced biometric ID cards for foreigners and linked migration databases to the national civil registry. Georgia embedded its residency issuance within the same IT infrastructure used for domestic passports, ensuring uniform identity verification.

In 2024, both governments adopted international best practices recommended by the Financial Action Task Force. Paraguay mandated financial institution reporting of deposits related to residency applications, while Georgia required proof of banking relationships with regulated entities. These reforms represent a shift from procedural simplicity toward integrated compliance, ensuring that low-barrier access does not compromise transparency.

Case Study: A Family Navigates Two Residencies

In 2023, a professional family of four—an IT consultant, a marketing executive, and two school-aged children—decided to pursue residency in both Paraguay and Georgia to expand their global mobility options. The parents operated a remote business serving clients in Europe and Asia and sought legal residence outside their home region for strategic flexibility.

The family began in Paraguay, attracted by permanent status and low fees. Their documentation included authenticated marriage and birth certificates, police clearances from two countries, and a bank deposit of roughly 5,500 USD. Working with a local attorney, they submitted applications in Asunción. Within four months, they received residency cards. The process required minimal correspondence, though translation verification caused a brief delay.

Encouraged, they applied for Georgia’s residence permit the following year to establish a European foothold. They purchased a small apartment in Tbilisi valued at 320,000 lari and filed the necessary documents online through the Public Service Hall. Background verification took six weeks, including automatic tax-status checks. Residency approval arrived electronically, and digital ID cards were issued upon arrival.

The family’s experience highlighted key contrasts. Paraguay’s system favored simplicity but required physical presence for completion. Georgia’s system emphasized digital compliance but demanded greater documentation precision. Both delivered predictable outcomes with transparent communication, reinforcing confidence in state institutions. Their combined residencies allowed visa-free access across most of South America and the Schengen Area.

Risk, Perception, and International Reception

From a policy standpoint, both nations walk a tightrope between openness and scrutiny. Paraguay’s permanent residency has occasionally been labeled “too easy” by neighboring regulators, prompting calls for standardized due diligence procedures. Georgia’s program, though technologically advanced, faces questions from EU partners about data-protection safeguards.

Amicus International Consulting’s interviews with regional policymakers reveal that neither government views accessibility as incompatible with compliance. Instead, both emphasize progressive integration into global information-sharing frameworks. Paraguay’s 2025 National Migration Strategy explicitly references FATF recommendations, while Georgia’s Digital Governance Strategy prioritizes anti-fraud interoperability between ministries.

Broader Economic and Social Impact

Residency inflows have contributed to macroeconomic stability. In Paraguay, foreign residents now represent 4 percent of the population, supporting local consumption and entrepreneurship. In Georgia, foreign-owned small businesses increased by 28 percent since 2020. These trends demonstrate how residency liberalization can stimulate diversification beyond tourism.

Socially, integration has been smooth due to linguistic and cultural openness. Paraguay offers a low cost of living and access to Mercosur travel privileges. Georgia provides modern infrastructure and European proximity. Both governments frame residency as a mutual benefit: newcomers gain security, while host societies gain capital and human skills.

The Future of Easy Residencies

Global regulatory momentum suggests that even the simplest residency regimes must embed stronger verification mechanisms. Amicus International Consulting expects Paraguay to introduce online pre-screening and digital biometrics by 2026, aligning with regional partners. Georgia is likely to expand tax-reporting automation and integrate blockchain-based property registries.

At a strategic level, both countries may serve as templates for middle-income nations seeking balanced migration models that attract talent while preserving compliance credibility. Their evolution shows that accessibility and integrity can coexist when documentation, transparency, and technology are prioritized equally.

Comparative Summary

This comparison underscores that while both systems are among the most accessible globally, each follows a distinct philosophy. Paraguay leverages administrative predictability and permanent status to attract stable settlers. Georgia leverages technology and transparency to appeal to mobile professionals.

Outlook and Policy Implications

Amicus International Consulting’s independent analysis concludes that easy residencies will remain integral to global mobility as long as they evolve with international compliance expectations. Governments that combine low thresholds with credible verification will dominate the next decade of lawful migration. Paraguay and Georgia exemplify this balance, proving that openness does not necessarily equate to opacity.

Both countries illustrate the same lesson that defined modern investment migration: the legitimacy of access depends less on price than on process. The future of global residency belongs to jurisdictions that treat compliance as infrastructure, not as bureaucracy.

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