© Getty Images

What is birth tourism? -

Birth tourism is when a pregnant person travels to another country to give birth there so the child can automatically acquire citizenship. Benefits that the child has access to can also extend to the parents in some cases and be very advantageous in terms of residency and public services.

© Shutterstock

Associated terms: jus soli -

Jus soli is a legal principle that grants individuals citizenship based on the soil of the particular country they're born in.

© Shutterstock

Restricted birthright citizenship -

In countries with restricted birthright citizenship, individuals must meet additional conditions beyond simply being born within the country’s territory. These conditions may include having at least one parent born in the country, two citizen parents, or a parent physically present in the country for a certain period before the birth.

© Shutterstock

Jus sanguinis -

On the other hand, jus sanguinis grants citizenship based on the nationality of one or both parents regardless of the place of birth.

© Shutterstock

News: birth tourism in the spotlight -

Phoebe Dong, a woman from California, was sentenced on Monday, January 27, 2025, to over three years in prison for a long-running birth tourism business. Previously, she would help women in China travel to the US to deliver babies who automatically became American citizens.

© Shutterstock

Sentencing -

US District Judge R. Gary Klausner sentenced Poebe Dong to 41 months in prison and ordered her to be placed in custody immediately.

© Shutterstock

Broader operations -

Months earlier, in September 2024, Dong and her husband were convicted of conspiracy and money laundering through their company, US Happy Baby. The company was part of a broader probe into businesses that were facilitating birth tourism for Chinese women.

© Shutterstock

Birthright citizenship and policy debate -

The sentencing occurred amid a debate over birthright citizenship in the US, sparked by President Trump's executive order to narrow its definition—a move later blocked by a federal judge as “blatantly unconstitutional.”

© Shutterstock

Places with citizenship options: Portugal -

Portugal has favorable citizenship laws and offers benefits to both the child and parents, assuming certain conditions are met.

© Shutterstock

Portugal -

Children who are born in Portugal can have Portuguese citizenship as long as one parent has been a legal resident in the country for at least one year before a child is born. Alternatively, one parent has to be a Portuguese citizen. 

© Shutterstock

Ireland -

Until 2005, Ireland offered jus soli citizenship. However, since then, some restrictions have been put in place.

© Shutterstock

Ireland -

Citizenship eligibility now depends on the parents' residency status. If neither parent is an Irish citizen, the child can still obtain citizenship if at least one parent legally resided in Ireland for three of the four years immediately before the child's birth.

© Shutterstock

Spain -

Spain doesn't offer residency or citizenship automatically, however, having a child with Spanish citizenship can mean the parent's residency application would fall under family reunification laws.

© Shutterstock

Spain -

If neither parent is a Spanish citizen, children can still be eligible if they live in Spain for one year continuously.

© Shutterstock

Luxembourg -

Luxembourg grants conditional birthright citizenship based on parental residency. A child born in Luxembourg can acquire citizenship if both parents were present in the country for 12 months before birth or if they have lived in Luxembourg continuously for five years before turning 18.

© Shutterstock

Luxembourg -

This policy makes Luxembourg appealing for birth tourism, and citizenship can aid family reunification. Luxembourg’s strong passport and EU membership further enhance its attractiveness for those seeking citizenship through birth.

© Shutterstock

Greece -

In Greece, you'll find most laws on jus sanguinis mean that citizenship is passed predominantly through Greek ancestry.

© Shutterstock

Greece -

However, if the child's parents are foreign nationals and have legal residency, then the child can apply for citizenship in Greece and must complete at least six years of Greek schooling.

© Shutterstock

Italy - Italy primarily grants citizenship by descent, making birthright citizenship highly restricted. Children of foreign nationals can apply at 18 if they have lived continuously in Italy since birth or at 21 if they have resided there for at least three years after turning 18.

© Shutterstock

Italy -

This delayed process requires long-term residency and integration, with alternatives like naturalization or citizenship by descent available for those who do not meet birthright conditions.

© Shutterstock

Canada -

In Canada, if your child is born there, then they are Canadian, regardless of the parent's nationality or legal status.

© Shutterstock

Canada -

Foreign diplomats who are stationed in Canada don't receive citizenship automatically.

© Shutterstock

Mexico -

In Mexico, citizenship is based on jus soli. This means that any child born in Mexico automatically acquires Mexican citizenship.

© Shutterstock

Mexico -

This is applicable to all children regardless of the parents' nationality, immigration status, or residency. 

© Shutterstock

Antigua and Barbuda -

Antigua and Barbuda give citizenship automatically to any child born there after October 31, 1981.

© Shutterstock

Antigua and Barbuda -

Exceptions are children of foreign diplomats and of foreign parents whose home countries are at war with Antigua and Barbuda.

© Getty Images

Costa Rica -

Children born in Costa Rica are granted automatic citizenship.

© Shutterstock

Costa Rica -

Parents also have advantages in that they can apply for permanent residency via family reunification laws.

© Shutterstock

USA -

As mentioned, there is a lot of political debate going on in the US about this topic. Until now, the US has unrestricted birthright citizenship for children born there.

© Shutterstock

USA -

It is also beneficial for the parents because when the child turns 21, then they can sponsor their parents so they can get a green card through family reunification.

Sources: (Global Citizen Solutions) (Britannica)

See also: Jus sanguinis: could this be your ticket to European citizenship

© Shutterstock