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Connections at ASU: the honest numbers
The indicative minimum international-to-international connection at Asunción Silvio Pettirossi is 60 minutes on a single booking with bags checked through. On separate tickets, add roughly 90 minutes: you'll collect bags, recheck them, and re-clear security — and no airline is obliged to help if the first leg runs late.
Transfer specifics
- Silvio Pettirossi is a single mid-sized terminal handling both international and domestic flights, about 15 km from central Asunción in Luque. It is small, calm and open 24 hours, and connections need no shuttle or terminal change.
- Most Western passports do not need a visa at all. 90-day visa-free entry covers all EU member states, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel and most of South America. Worth noting for planning: the waiver for US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand nationals runs under a bilateral programme currently extended through 13 August 2027 — the old US$135 to US$160 reciprocity fees no longer apply to them. Mercosur citizens (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay) can enter on a national ID card alone.
- For nationalities not covered by a visa-suppression agreement, Paraguay operates a visa on arrival — and the detail that matters is that it is available only at this airport. Arrive by land, by river or at any other entry point and you must have obtained a visa from a Paraguayan consulate beforehand.
- Two things catch people out with the visa on arrival. It costs US$160 and is cash only — credit cards are not accepted, so the money has to be in your pocket before you land. And it grants a single-entry stay of up to 90 days, so it is not a re-entry document. Passports should have at least six months' validity.
Leaving ASU during a layover
Most Western passports get 90 days visa-free, so leaving the airport is straightforward. Nationalities without a waiver can get a visa on arrival here — US$160, cash only, this airport exclusively. Immigration usually runs 20 to 45 minutes, longer if several long-haul flights land together; completing the Pre-Registro Migratorio online beforehand speeds it up noticeably. The city is about 30 minutes away and Uber and Bolt both operate legally. The city is about 30 minutes away one-way; as a rule of thumb you want 5+ hours before exiting is worth the queues, and you should be back through security 90 minutes before boarding.
Worth your hours in Asunción
- The Costanera riverside promenade along the Paraguay River is the most pleasant short trip and close enough to justify a moderate layover.
- The historic centre around the Panteón Nacional and Palacio de López is compact and walkable, giving you the colonial architecture in a single loop.
- Mercado 4 is the working market and the better choice if you want the city rather than the postcard — busy, sprawling and genuinely local.
Staying airside instead
- The terminal is modest but efficient, with duty-free, cafes, free wifi, currency exchange, ATMs and paid lounge access. It has had recent upgrades and is comfortable for a few hours rather than a long wait.
- Shops sell ñandutí, the traditional Paraguayan lace whose name means spider web in Guaraní — one of the few genuinely local things you can buy in an airport on this continent.
- Most staff speak Spanish rather than English. Carry cash in guaraníes or US dollars, because some taxi services do not take cards and SIM kiosks may be closed for late-night arrivals.
Sleeping, showers and lounges at ASU
Sleep: There is no airside transit hotel. Hotels sit near the airport and in the city, and since most Western passports enter visa-free, reaching either is uncomplicated. The airport is open 24 hours but is not built for sleeping. Airport hotels & sleep pods
Showers: Facilities are limited and shower access is not something to plan around here. On a long connection a nearby hotel is the realistic answer given the short drive.
Lounges: There is paid lounge access available in the single terminal. Provision is modest, in keeping with an airport handling around 1.3 million passengers a year. Book an airport lounge for your layover
Dietary needs: Paraguayan staples lean heavily on corn and cassava — chipa and sopa paraguaya are both corn-based, which helps coeliacs, though chipa contains cheese. No legal right to written allergen information.
Overnight reality: Asunción's international schedule clusters into early-morning arrivals from Panama, Madrid and Lima and evening departures. The airport is open around the clock and taxis and Uber run 24/7, but exchange bureaus and SIM kiosks close, so land with small US dollar bills or a working card.
ASU layover FAQ
Do I need a visa to visit Paraguay on a layover?
Probably not. Paraguay grants 90 days visa-free to all EU states, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel and most of South America. The waiver for US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand nationals runs under a bilateral programme extended through 13 August 2027. Mercosur citizens can enter on a national ID card alone.
How does Paraguay's visa on arrival work?
It is available at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport and nowhere else in the country — arrive by land or river and you need a consular visa arranged in advance. It costs US$160, is cash only with no cards accepted, and grants a single-entry stay of up to 90 days. Your passport needs at least six months' validity.
How long does immigration take at Asunción?
Usually 20 to 45 minutes, extending past an hour when several large flights land together — the busiest arrival bank is the long-haul wave from Panama, Madrid and Lima. Completing the Pre-Registro Migratorio online before you arrive speeds processing significantly.
How do I get from Asunción airport to the city?
Uber and Bolt are fully legal and operational in Paraguay and are the recommended option at roughly US$7 to US$10, GPS-tracked. Drivers may ask to meet you at the Departures level to avoid taxi marshals. The city centre is about 15 km away, around 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Some links above are affiliate links — they cost you nothing and fund keeping this data verified. We only link products we'd use on the layover in question.
Minimum connection times are indicative and vary by airline, terminal pair and season; visa notes are simplified general guidance, not immigration advice. Facts on this page were last verified on 2026-08-17. If anything has changed, tell us and we'll fix it fast.