Countries › Americas › Paraguay
Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Paraguay?
Nicotine pouches are sold openly in Paraguay (Asunción, Alto Paraná and elsewhere) without a finished legal framework: the health regulator DINAVISA put a draft resolution on sanitary registration of 'bolsas de nicotina' out for consultation in April to May 2024, and in September 2025 a senator asked the Ministry of Health to report whether pouches are prohibited, regulated or registered. Tobacco snus is legal as a tobacco product under Law 5538 (2015), with an 18-year age limit and a ban on internet sales; GSTHR lists snus as allowed. Travellers have a USD 1,000 duty-free franchise by air; no tobacco-in-grams limit is published.
South America
Paraguay at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Unregulated (sold openly) | Legal |
| Possession and use | Legal | Legal |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Unclear | Unclear |
| Online sale inside the country | Unclear | Not allowed |
| Regulated | not specifically regulated | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | No specific limit found | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | No flavour restrictions | Unclear |
| Excise tax | Unclear | Yes |
| Legal basis | – | Ley No. 5538/2015 de control del tabaco; Ley No. 7508/2024 |
| In force since | – | 1 January 2015 |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 2. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Paraguay
Unregulated, sold openly; registration rules pending.
Senate request for information (Esperanza Martínez, 9 Sept 2025) states pouches are sold in shops in Asunción, Alto Paraná and other departments 'inclusive con facturas legales', without sanitary stickers or labels, and asks DINAVISA whether they are prohibited or regulated, whether they hold sanitary registration and what nicotine limits apply. DINAVISA's draft resolution 'Por la cual se establecen los requisitos y procedimientos para trámites de inscripción de los productos denominados bolsas de nicotina' was in public consultation 30 April to 19 May 2024; no evidence found that it has been adopted. Law 7508 (2024) extended tobacco rules to e-cigarettes but does not name oral pouches.
Sources: Dirección Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (DINAVISA), Honorable Cámara de Senadores, Paraguay (SILpy expediente 183253)
Tobacco snus in Paraguay
Legal, 18+, no online sale.
Tobacco Control Laws: sale of tobacco products prohibited to under-18s; sale of tobacco products via the internet and vending machines prohibited; smokeless tobacco not specifically addressed. GSTHR lists snus as 'Allowed' with products marketed (2014 industry data). Swedish-style snus is not a significant retail product.
Tax: Impuesto Selectivo al Consumo applies to tobacco products; the rate for smokeless tobacco was not confirmed.
Sources: Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Paraguay
| For personal use | Allowed General duty-free franchise of USD 1,000 for arrivals by air or river and USD 300 overland, plus USD 500 from duty-free shops. DNIT's traveller notice lists no specific quantity for cigarettes or tobacco; snus and pouches are not itemised. |
| Declaration | Unclear |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
Personal-use quantities within the franchise are not taxed. A quantity limit for tobacco may apply under the baggage regime but could not be confirmed from an official page.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Paraguay?
Buying snus and pouches in Paraguay
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
Pending and proposed changes
- DINAVISA draft resolution establishing registration requirements for nicotine pouches (manufacture, import and sale); public consultation closed 19 May 2024, adoption not confirmed. Senate request for information on pouch regulation filed 9 Sept 2025. Status: consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in Paraguay?
They are not prohibited and are sold openly with legal invoices, but there is no finished rule. DINAVISA drafted a sanitary-registration resolution in 2024 and the Senate asked in September 2025 whether pouches are regulated at all.
Is snus legal in Paraguay?
Yes. Snus is a tobacco product under Law 5538 of 2015: sale to under-18s is banned and tobacco may not be sold online or from vending machines. GSTHR lists snus as allowed.
How much snus or tobacco can I bring into Paraguay?
Travellers arriving by air have a USD 1,000 duty-free franchise (USD 300 overland). DNIT publishes no specific tobacco quantity; a personal supply of snus or pouches is not prohibited.
What is the age limit for nicotine pouches in Paraguay?
No statutory age limit specific to pouches exists yet. Tobacco products, including snus, cannot be sold to anyone under 18.
Nearby in the atlas
- Antigua and Barbuda – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal with restrictions
- Argentina – pouches legal with restrictions, snus no specific rule found
- Bahamas – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Barbados – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Belize – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Bolivia – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Brazil – pouches banned, snus banned
- Canada – pouches legal with restrictions, snus legal
- Chile – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Colombia – pouches legal with restrictions, snus legal
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by country
Sources
- Paraguay: Legal Summary – Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“The law prohibits the sale of single cigarette sticks, small packs of cigarettes, and tobacco products by the internet and vending machines.”
- Using snus in Paraguay – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Regulatory status: Allowed”
- Proyectos Reglamentarios DINAVISA (draft resolution on registration of 'bolsas de nicotina') – Dirección Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (DINAVISA) (Regulator, 30 April 2024; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“POR LA CUAL SE ESTABLECEN LOS REQUISITOS Y PROCEDIMIENTOS PARA TRÁMITES DE INSCRIPCIÓN DE LOS PRODUCTOS DENOMINADOS 'BOLSAS DE NICOTINA' PARA LA FABRICACIÓN, IMPORTACIÓN Y LA COMERCIALIZACIÓN DENTRO DEL TERRITORIO NACIONAL”
- Proyecto de Resolución que pide informe al MSPBS (DINAVISA) sobre la comercialización de productos denominados 'bolsas de nicotina' en Paraguay – Honorable Cámara de Senadores, Paraguay (SILpy expediente 183253) (Government, 9 September 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Estos productos se encuentran disponibles en locales comerciales de Asunción, Alto Paraná y otros departamentos, inclusive con facturas legales, pese a no poseer las calcomanías, etiquetas sanitarias ni los mecanismos de control correspondientes”
- DNIT recuerda normas vigentes para viajeros – Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios (DNIT) (Customs, 4 February 2026; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“franquicia de hasta USD 1000 o su equivalente en moneda nacional”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.