Paraguay - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: South America
Local Time: From 08 Mar 08 to 19 Oct 08 GMT -4
From 19 Oct 08 to 07 Mar 09 GMT -3
From 07 Mar 09 to 18 Oct 09 GMT -4
From 18 Oct 09 to 13 Mar 10 GMT -3
Capital City: Asuncion
Population: 5,760,000
Area: 406,752 square km, 157,048 square miles.
Language(s): Spanish, Guarani
Dialling Code: 595
Emergency: Police: 441 111 (911 in Asuncion). Fire: 132. Ambulance: 206 206
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence or International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Guarani (PYG)
Notes: PYG: 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000
Coins: PYG: 50, 100, 500

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the country

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1500 Mon-Fri
Office: 0800-1200 & 1500-1900, 0700-1300 (public offices)
Shops: 0900-1200 & 1500-2100 Mon-Fri, 0800-1600 Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Mar 1 Heroes' Day*, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 23 Easter Sunday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, May 1 Labour Day*, May 15 Independence Day, Jun 12 Peace of Chaco Day*, Aug 15 Founding of Asuncion*, Sep 29 Boqueron Battle Day, Dec 8 Immaculate Conception, Dec 25 Christmas Day
* Holidays falling on Sat/Sun are observed on the following Mon

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Spanish. Some executives speak English. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be reasonably punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 20 years

Tipping: 10-15% tips are normally added to restaurant & hotel bills

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate is required from travellers arriving from endemic areas & leaving Paraguay to go to endemic areas.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever*, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria risk is moderate in some areas of Caaguazu, Alto Parana & Canendiyu. There is little or no risk in other areas. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) For tourist visits by holders of a `Cedula de Identidad' (National Identity Card) issued to nationals of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile & Uruguay entering from their own country

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Costa Rica & Paraguay
2) For stays up to 30 days nationals of Colombia, Korea (south)
3) For stays up to 60 days nationals of Peru
4) For stays up to 90 days
a) Nationals of United Kingdom
b) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romaina, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay & Venezuela
4) Holders of a re-entry permit (Certificado de Retorno)

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country within 6 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding tickets and documents for their onward journey

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Climate

The northwest has a typical tropical climate with hot, humid summers and warm winters with the majority of rain falling in the hottest months from Oct-Mar increasing northwards in total. The southeast is also tropical although temperatures may be a little lower. Rainfall increases eastwards when in winter one in five days can be rainy. Temperatures can fall to 0C during mid-winter in Asuncion

Clothing

Lightweights or tropical from Nov-Mar. Mediumweights and light topcoat between Jun-Sep. Rainwear recommended at all times

Charts for Asuncion

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 35 34 33 29 25 22 23 26 28 30 32 34 Min Temp (C) 22 22 21 18 14 12 12 14 16 17 18 21 Humidity am (%) 81 82 84 86 89 88 84 79 76 73 74 73 Humidity pm (%) 56 55 55 59 62 61 56 53 48 50 53 50 Rainfall (mm) 140 130 109 132 117 69 56 38 79 140 150 158

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

Embassy
Embassy of Paraguay
3rd Floor, 344 Kensington High Street
London, W14 8NS
tel: +44 20 7610 4180
fax: +44 20 7371 4297
e-mail: embapar@btconnect.com
website: www.paraguayembassy.co.uk
hours: 0930-1600 (Mon-Fri)