1961 Hague Convention · Paraguay MFA
Simplified legalization of public documents under the 1961 Hague Convention, handled by the Legalization Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We assist with Paraguayan documents for use abroad and foreign documents for use in Paraguay. We also arrange international shipping of the apostilled document — physical by courier or digital in PDF.
Legal Framework · 1961 Hague Convention
The Apostille Convention, adopted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) in 1961, facilitates the circulation of public documents between member states without additional consular action. The competent authority in Paraguay is the Legalization Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Main Office: Alberdi and Haedo, Asunción).
Used when the document will be valid in one or more countries party to the Hague Convention. It is a simplified certification that requires no further consular action — the document is presented directly to the institution that requested it.
Used when the destination country is not party to the Hague Convention, or the document type does not qualify for apostille. After signature certification by the Legalization Directorate, the document must also be submitted to the corresponding Diplomatic or Consular Representation.
The Paraguayan apostille is for use abroad only and has no validity within national territory. It applies only to public documents, signature authentications and certified copies issued by competent authorities.
To use your documents abroad
If you need to present a document issued in Paraguay before a foreign authority (citizenship, education, notarial procedures, powers of attorney), the MFA Legalization Directorate verifies the signature and issues the apostille.
It must be the original, issued by the competent Paraguayan authority. Simple photocopies are not apostilled; if a copy is needed, it must be notarized by a public notary.
The signature of the issuing authority (or notary) must match the signature registry of the MFA Legalization Directorate. Illegible signatures or seals are the most common reason for rejection.
Completed apostille application form, together with a copy of the applicant's ID card and payment of the corresponding fee.
Medical certificates generally must first be endorsed by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPyBS) before they can be apostilled.
To use foreign documents in Paraguay
This is key for your Residency, ID card or citizenship procedures in Paraguay.
If your document (criminal record, birth certificate, etc.) comes apostilled from your country of origin, it does NOT need consular action or further legalization in Paraguay — it must be accepted directly by the requesting institution (Migration, Identification Department, etc.).
If your country of origin is not party to the Hague Convention, the document must be processed by the Paraguayan Consulate in your home country and then legalized by the MFA Legalization Directorate in Asunción.
If your country of origin has no Paraguayan consulate and is not a member of the Apostille Convention, alternative routes exist (third-country legalization or specific procedures) that we evaluate on a case-by-case basis.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay — Legalizations/Apostille, HCCH (1961 Convention).
2026 Costs and Timelines
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay charges a standard fee per apostilled document. Processing time depends on how complete the submitted documentation is.
Reference exchange rate: August 2026 (Central Bank of Paraguay). Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay. For foreign documents, apostille costs depend on the country of origin — for example, in Argentina USD 20-40 depending on the province, in Brazil R$ 100-200 per document via cartórios.
How we work
We determine whether you need an apostille or legalization based on the destination or origin country.
We confirm that the signatures and seals on the document are legible and verifiable against the MFA registry.
We submit the document, form and payment receipt at the Legalization Directorate (Alberdi & Haedo).
The MFA issues the apostille within 2 to 5 business days (or same day with complete documentation).
We send you the apostilled document in PDF and arrange international physical shipping (DHL or another courier) or pickup in Asunción. It is ready to use abroad with no further steps.
Additional Service
Once the apostille is complete, we deliver the document wherever you are — in Paraguay or abroad.
You receive the apostilled document scanned in PDF via WhatsApp or email, immediately.
We arrange shipping of the original document via DHL Express (full tracking, delivery in 3 to 7 business days depending on destination), or other couriers such as FedEx or UPS based on your preference.
If you are in Paraguay, you can also pick up the document in person in Asunción or Luque.
We coordinate shipping from Paraguay to Spain, Italy, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and the rest of the world. Courier cost is quoted based on weight, destination, and urgency.
Frequently Asked Questions