Can I enter Paraguay with my DNI as US citizen?

[Delaluz26]

I am wondering if my daughter and I can travel to Paraguay with just our DNIs or if we have to use our passports. Also, would it make a difference if we drove vs. flew? Thanks for any help!

 

[camel]

If you cross in Clorinda you don't need any documents! Unless they've changed it

 

[MarshallE]

Under the Mercosur agreement residents of the signatories are able to use their Cedula/DNI or similar document to travel from one to another so long as their original nationality doesn't require a visa. So that means if you're an American you could travel from Argentina to Uruguay for example with just your temporary/permanent resident DNI. But if you're going to Brazil you cannot enter with your Argentine resident DNI, because American citizens are not visa free. That's the official rules, now whether a border guard making $3 an hour is going to know that is another matter. Why can't you use your US passport?

 

[LongtimeExpat]

I travelled to Colonia, UY, once on the Colonia Express boat with only my DNI, and when we arrived at the terminal the boat was leaving in half an hour. It was evening and wouldn't have normally been a problem time-wise, but at first they were telling me I needed my passport to return to Buenos Aires. They did not want to accept my DNI. By the time someone in charge told them that my travelling with my DNI was not a problem, the last ferry had gone and we had to sleep on the hard benches of the terminal all night, as much as we could. Also, Colonia Express told me that my ticket was the problem of Colonia Express in Argentina and we had to buy one way tickets back to Buenos Aires, doubling the cost of the trip.

I know that a lot of these details don't cover the OP's situation, but I wanted to let people know that travelling with just a DNI as an extranjero may not always be the same as travelling as an Argentine citizen. It caused us a very unpleasant night. I should have brought my passport.

 

[Che1990]

I’ve crossed to Brazil and UY many times with my DNI, but always with my passport in my back pocket just in case.

Only once had an issue, which was in Colonia in 2018, but that was when I had temporary one and they asked to see my passport which I had with me.

Personally, I wouldn’t risk it.

It all comes down to who attends you, and also the wording they use in the Mercosur laws/constitution to refer to free movement is “ciudadano” and we aren’t citizens. I might be missing something though, like what MarshallE refers to.

Best over land if you don’t have a passport, as worst comes to worst, you just walk/drive back into Argentina.

If you go by air, in theory, if there were any problems; they wouldn’t let you board in BA. But in Argentina, the DNI is gospel, so they would probably let you board thinking it’s ok. and then any issues you’d have would be in Paraguay after landing.

The other challenge is one adult/parent travelling with a child, but I think they relaxed that law recently.

 

[FrankPintor]

If you cross in Clorinda you don't need any documents! Unless they've changed it

View attachment 10926

That was funny There might be some swimming (or at least wading) involved. And if you don't have your entry ticket to Paraguay, it's a USD 100 fine.

 

[MarshallE]

The authoritative source from the Mercosur website

ARTÍCULO 1

DOCUMENTOS DE VIAJE​

Reconocer la validez de los documentos de identificación personal de cada Estado Parte y Asociado del MERCOSUR establecidos en el Anexo I del presente como Documentos de Viaje hábiles para el tránsito de nacionales y/o residentes regulares de los Estados Partes y Asociados del MERCOSUR por el territorio de los mismos.

ARTÍCULO 2

VISA CONSULAR​

Los extranjeros con residencia regular en algún Estado Parte o Asociado del MERCOSUR podrán transitar con los documentos establecidos en el Anexo I, por el territorio de los Estados Partes y Asociados del MERCOSUR, siempre que, por motivo de su nacionalidad, la visa consular no fuese requisito en el Estado al cual ingresa. En este último supuesto deberá utilizar el pasaporte de su nacionalidad y visado correspondiente.