Practical guide

Paraguay SIM Cards: Tigo vs Personal, Real Prices, and How to Register as a Foreigner

Eight days of unlimited data cost ₲40,000 on a local SIM. Seven days on a tourist eSIM cost $39.50. Here is how to get the local one with a foreign passport, what each carrier offers and where to buy.

The carriers, ranked for a newcomer

Tigo calls itself the country's largest network. In nPerf's September 2026 coverage barometer, Tigo led 4G coverage in Asunción and scored 84.91% nationally.

Personal scored 80.34% for 4G nationally in the same barometer and led in Alto Paraná, the Ciudad del Este side of the country. Its prices are the easiest to read online, which is why the table below uses them.

Claro topped the barometer: 86.67% for 4G and the only 5G score in the report (23.75% nationally, 77.7% in Asunción). Tigo and Personal won 5G licenses in July 2026, so that gap is closing. For maps, WhatsApp and video calls, 4G on any of the three does the job.

Can a foreigner buy a prepaid SIM?

Yes. Tigo's self-activating SIM takes a passport or foreign ID from 16 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador, the United States, Mexico, Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Lebanon and the United Kingdom.

How it works: put the SIM in your phone, open activate.tigo.com.py, scan the SIM's barcode, photograph your passport, take a photo of your face, enter the passport's expiry date and an address. Your new number arrives by text message from 611.

Personal also sells self-activating SIMs. Passport not on Tigo's list? Activate at a carrier store counter instead, and say "quiero activar un chip prepago con mi pasaporte."

What prepaid data costs

Unlimited packs are the local habit. Personal's unlimited packs, as listed on October 5, 2026, each include unlimited calls and free WhatsApp:

"Unlimited" means full speed up to 1.5 GB a day, then up to 512 kbps until midnight, when the quota resets. Personal's prepaid page also lists a welcome bonus: load ₲10,000 on a new line and you get 7 days of unlimited internet and calls.

Tigo's unlimited Paquetigos come at ₲10,000, ₲15,000, ₲20,000, ₲25,000, ₲35,000 and ₲40,000, with the same 1.5 GB daily full-speed cap. Need a hotspot for your laptop? Only the ₲25,000, ₲35,000 and ₲40,000 Tigo packs let you share data, up to 1 GB or 1.5 GB.

Tourist eSIMs: convenient, expensive

A tourist eSIM installs over Wi-Fi before you fly, so your ride app works the minute you land. (More on getting from the airport to the city.)

The catch is price. On October 5, 2026, Airalo charged $39.50 for 7 days of unlimited data in Paraguay. Personal's 8-day unlimited pack is ₲40,000, under $7 at the central bank's rate of ₲5,874 to the dollar on October 2, 2026. Use an eSIM for the first day or two if you like, then switch to a local SIM.

Where to buy and how to top up

Tigo sells its self-activating SIM at airports, points of sale, supermarket chains and pharmacies. Personal sells its version at supermarkets, pharmacies and convenience stores, and at its own customer offices.

Topping up Tigo: the Mi Tigo app, Tigo Money, your bank's app, *222#, or any shop with a Tigo top-up sign. Mi Tigo also takes debit and credit cards.

Topping up Personal: Personal Pay, Personal's website, home banking, its offices, or any Aquí Pago or Pago Express counter. Activate packs in the Mi Personal app or by dialing *454#.

Activate it yourself, or at a branch

Tigo self-activation: Tigo's guide covers Paraguayan identity cards and a list of supported passports and foreign IDs, so check yours is on it before you buy. Then:

1. Insert the new SIM. On a dual-SIM phone, insert only the SIM you're activating.
2. Open the activation page shown in Tigo's guide.
3. Scan or type the SIM barcode and choose your document type.
4. Do the document photo and face check.
5. Confirm your details. Tigo texts you your new number when it's done.

Claro and Personal: both sell chips you can activate yourself. Claro's self-activation asks for a Paraguayan cédula, so with only a passport, go to a Claro branch. Personal sells its self-activation chips in supermarkets, pharmacies and convenience stores. Claro's welcome benefit on self-activation: free WhatsApp, 6 GB of data and calls for 1 day (as of 28 Sep 2026).

At a branch, and eSIM: if self-activation won't take your document, take your passport or ID to a Tigo, Claro or Personal branch. All three set up eSIMs in store for compatible phones (Tigo, Claro, Personal). Personal gives you a QR code to scan, and your phone needs Wi-Fi to download the profile. The carriers describe eSIM mainly for existing customers, so ask whether a new prepaid line qualifies. Paraguayan law (Law 2340/2003, article 55) has whoever sells a line record your name, date of birth and ID number, so bring your passport.

Keep your home number alive

Keep your home SIM active for bank codes and two-factor logins. The setup that won't lock you out: a dual-SIM phone, or your home number on an eSIM plus a Paraguayan physical SIM. Your phone has to be unlocked, so check that before you fly.

FAQ

Can a tourist buy a SIM card in Paraguay?

Yes. Tigo's self-activating SIM accepts passports from 16 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Spain and Germany, and Personal sells self-activating SIMs too. Otherwise, activate at a carrier store with your passport.

Which is better in Asunción, Tigo or Personal?

Both work in the city. In nPerf's September 2026 barometer, Tigo led 4G coverage in Asunción and Personal led in Alto Paraná. Pick on price and on which one your friends use.

How much does mobile data cost in Paraguay?

On October 5, 2026, Personal charged ₲10,000 for one day of unlimited data and ₲40,000 for eight days, with full speed up to 1.5 GB a day. Tigo's unlimited packs run from ₲10,000 to ₲40,000.

Is an Airalo eSIM worth it for Paraguay?

For your first day, yes: it installs before you land. For longer stays, a local pack is far cheaper. Airalo charged $39.50 for 7 days of unlimited data on October 5, 2026, against ₲40,000 for 8 days on Personal.

First-week errands go faster with company. Join Open Asu on WhatsApp and ask which carrier works on your block.