Sending business payments from the US to Paraguay
A US company pays a Paraguayan supplier, contractor or subsidiary by SWIFT wire, usually in US dollars to a dollar account, through the Paraguayan bank's correspondent in New York or Miami. You need the legal name, RUC, bank and SWIFT code, the dollar account number and a clear purpose, because Paraguayan banks report transactions above US$10,000.
- Paraguay has no controls on foreign exchange transactions, apart from bank reporting requirements for transactions of more than US$10,000.
- Importers and exporters in Paraguay can buy and sell foreign exchange freely at banks, finance companies and exchange houses at the market rate.
- Nearly all Paraguayan banks have correspondent arrangements with US banks, primarily in New York and Miami, and Citibank is the only US bank operating in the country.
- A dollar invoice paid into the supplier's dollar account avoids conversion, because Paraguayan companies can hold and sell dollars freely.
- The Banco Central del Paraguay has stated that cryptocurrencies have no legal tender status and no state guarantee.
Details to collect from a Paraguayan recipient
Paraguayan banks offer accounts in US dollars and guaraníes. A payer abroad sends a SWIFT wire to the bank's US correspondent quoting the bank's SWIFT code and the company's account number. Ask for the RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes), Paraguay's taxpayer registration number, with the bank details, so you can match the account to the company that invoices you.
| Detail | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | Legal company name as on the account | Must match the account holder |
| RUC | The company's taxpayer number | Matches the bank details to the invoicing company |
| Bank and SWIFT code | 8 or 11 characters | Routes the payment |
| Account number and currency | The USD account, not the guaraní account | Avoids conversion on arrival |
| Correspondent bank | The US bank the Paraguayan bank uses, usually in New York or Miami | Reduces extra hops |
| Purpose | Invoice number and goods or service | Supports the bank's reporting above US$10,000 |
Source: International Trade Administration, Paraguay; other rows reflect standard SWIFT practice. As published on 29 October 2026.
For the Paraguayan side of the account question, see USD business accounts in Paraguay.
Pay in guaraníes or in US dollars?
The International Trade Administration states that Paraguay has no controls on foreign exchange transactions, apart from bank reporting for transactions of more than US$10,000, and that importers and exporters can buy and sell foreign exchange freely at commercial banks, finance companies or exchange houses at the going market rate. A Paraguayan company can therefore keep your dollars in a dollar account and sell them when it chooses.
Most Paraguayan exporters of soy, beef and other goods price in dollars, so a dollar invoice paid to a dollar account is the usual route. A guaraní invoice puts the conversion and exchange risk on you.
| Invoice | What you send | Who converts |
|---|---|---|
| USD to a USD account | Dollars by SWIFT | Nobody |
| USD to a guaraní account | Dollars by SWIFT | The supplier's bank, at its rate |
| PYG | Guaraníes, converted before sending | You or your provider |
Source: International Trade Administration, Paraguay Country Commercial Guide. As published on 29 October 2026.
If you pay a Paraguayan subsidiary, decide which entity carries the exchange risk and write it into the intercompany agreement, so the subsidiary's bank sees consistent amounts and currencies on every transfer.
For guaraní values, see the USD to PYG currency page.
Rails and arrival times
There is no local payout rail from the United States to Paraguay; payments travel by SWIFT. The International Trade Administration notes that nearly all banks have correspondent arrangements with US banks, primarily in New York and Miami. When your provider and the Paraguayan bank share a correspondent, the payment can avoid extra hops. For the transit leg, Swift reports that almost 100% of gpi payments are credited within 24 hours.
| Stage | What controls timing |
|---|---|
| Release from the US | Your provider's cut-off on a US business day |
| Correspondent in New York or Miami | Screening and the number of banks in the chain |
| Credit at the Paraguayan bank | Paraguayan business day, complete details and any questions on large amounts |
Sources: Swift gpi; International Trade Administration. As published on 29 October 2026.
Documents and reporting
Because Paraguayan banks report transactions above US$10,000, expect the supplier's bank to ask what larger payments are for. Give the supplier your invoice, the purchase order and the SWIFT confirmation on the day you pay.
Do not settle invoices in cryptocurrency. The Banco Central del Paraguay has stated that cryptocurrencies have no legal tender status and no state guarantee, and that the guaraní is the sole legal currency.
On the US side, every payment to a Paraguayan company must pass sanctions screening: OFAC states that all US persons, including all US incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with US sanctions, so the payer, the recipient and the recipient's bank are checked before the money moves.
Costs: Helm fees, intermediary deductions, SHA and OUR
Paraguayan banks publish their own fees for receiving transfers, so ask the supplier what its bank deducts. On a SHA wire, the US correspondent and any other intermediary may also deduct their charges before the money reaches Asunción. Every SWIFT wire carries a charge code. OUR means the sender pays all charges, so the full amount should arrive. SHA means charges are shared: the sender pays its own provider, and intermediary banks may deduct their fees in transit. BEN means every charge comes out of the amount sent. Helm international payments show the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm, and the account manager confirms the route for each corridor.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
Why payments to Paraguay are held or returned
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Payment above US$10,000 with no clear purpose | Quote the invoice and goods or service |
| Dollars sent to a guaraní account | Ask for the USD account number |
| Name or RUC mismatch | Copy details from the supplier's bank letter |
| Correspondent not stated | Include the US correspondent the bank names |
| SHA deductions | Send OUR |
Source: International Trade Administration, Paraguay. As published on 29 October 2026.
A supplier that asks to be paid into an account outside Paraguay, or in another company's name, needs a written explanation and a phone call to a contact you already know before you change anything. Payment detail fraud usually arrives as a routine email announcing new bank details, and the account name check is your best defense.
Checklist before you send
- Collect the legal name, RUC, SWIFT code and dollar account number.
- Include the bank's US correspondent in New York or Miami.
- Quote the invoice and goods or service, especially above US$10,000.
- Confirm any request to pay outside Paraguay by phone.
- Send OUR for full-value invoices.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
Does Paraguay have exchange controls?
No. The International Trade Administration states there are no controls on foreign exchange transactions, apart from bank reporting for transactions of more than US$10,000.
What details do I need to pay a company in Paraguay?
The legal name, RUC, bank name and SWIFT code, the dollar account number, the bank's US correspondent and a payment purpose.
Should I pay a Paraguayan supplier in dollars or guaraníes?
Most exporters invoice in dollars and hold dollar accounts. Dollars sent to a guaraní account are converted by the supplier's bank.
Why did a Paraguayan bank ask about my payment?
Paraguayan banks report transactions above US$10,000 and document the purpose of large transfers. A clear invoice reference answers most questions.
How long does a wire to Paraguay take?
Swift reports almost 100% of gpi payments credited within 24 hours; the Paraguayan bank then credits the account on a local business day.
References
- International Trade Administration: Paraguay Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing
- Última Hora: El BCP ratifica advertencias acerca de criptomonedas
- Swift: Fast, transparent and trackable payments (gpi)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC: Who must comply with OFAC sanctions? (FAQ 11)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.