Shipping to Paraguay from the USA is open on both USPS and UPS in 2026, with no USPS service suspension. USPS Priority Mail International (up to 66 pounds to Paraguay) usually takes 6 to 10 business days and Priority Mail Express International (up to 55 pounds) about 3 to 5, while UPS Worldwide services give door-to-door express with customs brokerage. Paraguay is strict on paperwork: every parcel with goods needs a commercial invoice, the correct postcode and the recipient’s ID or RUC number, or it can be returned.
This guide covers the services that run the lane, transit times, Paraguay’s customs requirements, the unusually long list of items USPS prohibits, and how to prepare a parcel. To price a specific box, compare live USPS and UPS rates to Paraguay in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Which carriers ship from the US to Paraguay?
USPS hands Paraguay-bound mail to Correo Paraguayo, the national post, and UPS delivers on its own network. USPS’s International Service Alerts page lists no suspension for Paraguay. Global Express Guaranteed, a former USPS express option, has been suspended worldwide since September 29, 2024.
| Service | Expected delivery | Max weight to Paraguay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Worldwide Express / Worldwide Saver | Express transit; check UPS time in transit for the city | Per UPS package limits | Business documents, spare parts, high-value goods |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited | A few days slower than Express | Per UPS package limits | Heavier parcels that need door-to-door tracking |
| USPS Priority Mail Express International | 3 to 5 business days to many major markets (USPS) | 55 lb; Flat Rate Envelope 4 lb | Urgent documents and insured small parcels |
| USPS Priority Mail International | 6 to 10 business days (USPS) | 66 lb; Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes 20 lb | Gifts and personal parcels |
| USPS First-Class Package International Service | Varies | 4 lb | Light, low-value items |
Insurance to Paraguay is available only on Priority Mail Express International merchandise, not on Priority Mail International. USPS also notes that general-use printed matter, such as blank forms, receipts, invoices and statements, isn’t admitted in Priority Mail International parcels.
Through ParcelPath you can buy USPS labels at up to 89% off retail and UPS labels at up to 85% off, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum volume. If this is your first international parcel, our guide on how to ship a package covers boxes, labels and drop-off.
How long does shipping to Paraguay take?
USPS states 3 to 5 business days for Priority Mail Express International to many major markets and 6 to 10 business days for Priority Mail International, noting that customs can add time. Asunción and the Central department are the quickest to reach, and parcels to towns in the Chaco or the interior can take longer for final delivery.
UPS express services are typically the fastest door-to-door choice. Delivery times depend on the destination city, so check the UPS time-in-transit estimate for the recipient’s address. Customs offices don’t work weekends or public holidays, so a parcel arriving late in the week can wait until Monday to clear.
What customs rules apply when shipping to Paraguay?
Paraguay’s customs authority applies the Mercosur Common External Tariff, which the U.S. International Trade Administration says averages 11.5% and ranges from 0 to 35% ad valorem, with VAT (IVA) charged on top. The USPS International Mail Manual adds three rules that decide whether a parcel clears:
- Commercial invoice for all goods. Regardless of mail class or contents, items containing goods require a commercial invoice, even gifts.
- Recipient ID or RUC number. Enter the importer’s identity document number or RUC (tax number) in the “importer’s reference” field of the customs form. USPS warns that missing this can get the item returned to the sender.
- Correct postcode. Every item must carry the right Paraguayan postcode, which you can look up through the DINACOPA postcode service.
Medicines and drugs need a permit from Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Health, and used linen must travel with a disinfection certificate. Describe each item precisely and include the six-digit HS code, which USPS has required for commercial items since September 1, 2025.
What can’t you ship to Paraguay?
Paraguay has one of the longest prohibited lists in the USPS International Mail Manual. These items can’t be mailed to Paraguay:
- arms and munitions, except under permit
- batteries
- most food products, including dairy, sweeteners, peanuts, salt, vegetable oils and fats, rice, fresh fruit and tomato juice
- plastic toys and soaps
- stockings and socks, except those made of jersey
- suitcases and leather bags
- used clothing and apparel
- wool blankets
Many of these are common gift items, so check the list before you pack a family box. Electronics with batteries installed fall under the battery ban for mail, which makes UPS the more practical choice for devices, subject to UPS’s own lithium battery rules.
How do you prepare a parcel for Paraguay?
- Get the recipient’s ID or RUC number. Ask for their cédula de identidad or RUC before you buy the label and enter it on the customs form.
- Look up the postcode. Use the full street address, neighborhood (barrio), city and department, plus the postcode, with “PARAGUAY” on the last line.
- Write a commercial invoice. Include it for every parcel containing goods, with quantity, value and country of origin for each item.
- Remove prohibited items. Take out batteries, food, soap, plastic toys and used clothing before sealing a USPS parcel.
- Add a phone number. A mobile number helps Correo Paraguayo or UPS arrange delivery or notify the recipient.
Shipping to neighboring countries too? Our guide to shipping to South America compares carriers and customs across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USPS ship to Paraguay?
Yes. USPS ships to Paraguay with Priority Mail Express International (up to 55 pounds), Priority Mail International (up to 66 pounds) and First-Class Package International Service (up to 4 pounds). Its International Service Alerts page lists no suspension for Paraguay. Insurance is available only on Priority Mail Express International merchandise shipments.
How long does shipping to Paraguay take?
Shipping to Paraguay takes about 6 to 10 business days with USPS Priority Mail International and 3 to 5 business days with Priority Mail Express International to major markets, according to USPS. UPS express services are usually faster door to door. Missing ID numbers or invoices, and weekend customs closures, are the usual causes of delay.
What information is required on a customs form for Paraguay?
For Paraguay, the customs form must show the recipient’s identity document or RUC number in the importer’s reference field, and every item containing goods needs a commercial invoice. Each parcel must also carry the correct Paraguayan postcode. USPS warns that a parcel without the ID or RUC number could be returned to the sender.
Can you ship used clothing to Paraguay?
No, not by mail. The USPS International Mail Manual lists used clothing and apparel as prohibited in mail to Paraguay, along with batteries, most food products, soaps, plastic toys, suitcases and leather bags, and wool blankets. Used linen is allowed only with a disinfection certificate, so check the full list before packing a family parcel.
Sources
- USPS International Mail Manual: Paraguay country listing
- USPS International Service Alerts
- USPS: Priority Mail International
- USPS: Priority Mail Express International
- U.S. International Trade Administration: Paraguay import tariffs
- UPS: International Shipping Services
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Part of our South America guide. Related: Colombia, Chile, Brazil.
