Cadastral record in Paraguay: how to identify a plot by padrón and finca
Before putting a single guaraní into a plot, you have to know exactly which plot it is. In Paraguay every property has an official identity in the cadastre and in the registry. Understanding the padrón, the finca and the cadastral record is the difference between buying a verified farm and buying a problem.
What is the cadastral record?
It is the document from the National Cadastre Service (SNC) that summarizes all the official data of a parcel: identification (department, district, padrón), cadastral code, GIS area, registry data (finca, registration number), management file and centroid coordinates. It is the plot's "identity card".
Padrón, finca and cadastral current account: they are not the same
Padrón: the cadastral identifier of rural properties, made up of department + district + padrón number.
Finca: the number under which the property is registered in the property registry; it identifies legal ownership.
Cadastral current account (CCC): the identifier of urban properties (zone, block and lot within a district).
A sound plot has these identifiers consistent with each other: what the title says (finca) must correspond to what the cadastre says (padrón) and to what exists on the ground. When they do not match, a survey with a georeferenced plan is needed before any transaction.
How do you look up a padrón?
The SNC (catastro.gov.py) lets you look up rural properties by department, district and padrón, and urban ones by cadastral current account. The search returns physical, economic and legal data, and in many cases a view on the official mapping. For purchase or subdivision decisions, that basic search is complemented with verification of area, overlaps and registry status. You can also locate your plot directly on satellite imagery in our interactive cadastral map, free and without registration.
The identifier: the cadastral record ready for decisions
At Paraguay Land Development we prepare identifiers: the complete cadastral record of a plot based on its padrón and finca, delivered as a PDF with a location map, verified area, georeferenced centroid and cadastre and registry data. It is the format in which we deliver each property of our databases of specific plots.
You can download three real sample identifiers:
- Identifier · Finca 25362 — Asunción, Capital, 581 m² (PDF)
- Identifier · Padrón 6623 — Capitán Miranda, Itapúa, 9 ha (PDF)
- Identifier · Padrón 791 — Yguazú, Alto Paraná, 117 ha (PDF)
What is it for before buying or subdividing?
With the identifier in hand you know, before signing anything: whether the area on the title matches the cadastre, exactly where the plot is (verifiable coordinates), whether there is an open management file and what its registry status is. It is the first step of the legal requirements to subdivide and the basic input of any economic feasibility analysis.
How do I request the identifier for my plot?
Send us the padrón or finca number on WhatsApp at 0987 137 000 and we generate your identifier in 24–48 hours. If you do not have a plot yet, ask us about the land databases according to your investment criteria.
Frequently asked questions about padrón and the cadastral record
What is the cadastral padrón number?
It is the official identifier of a rural property: department + district + padrón number. With those three data points the property is looked up in the SNC.
What is the cadastral finca or finca number?
The number under which the property is registered in the Property Registry. The padrón identifies the parcel physically; the finca identifies who the legal owner is.
What is the cadastral current account?
The identifier of urban properties (zone, block and lot within a district) — it serves the same function as the padrón, but in urban areas.
How do I look up a finca or a padrón in the cadastre?
At catastro.gov.py, by department, district and padrón (rural) or by cadastral current account (urban). It returns area, location on the official mapping and basic registry data.
How do I know if a plot has a property title?
By cross-referencing the finca number on the title with the Property Registry and verifying that area and location match the cadastral padrón. If there are differences, a land survey is needed before buying.
Is a plot the same as a property?
Yes: in cadastral and registry terms, a plot is a property, with its own padrón (or cadastral current account) and finca, whether or not it has buildings.