As the U.S. Mission in Nigeria recently cautioned that pregnant travellers intending to give birth on American soil to obtain citizenship for their child will be denied visas, many Nigerian parents are seeking alternative pathways to secure foreign nationality for their newborns without facing legal friction.
Amid a tightening of U.S. policy, many nations continue to uphold unconditional jus soli—granting automatic citizenship to any child born within their borders, regardless of parental nationality, barring only diplomatic exceptions.
Here are Countries that grant citizenship by birth
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1. Canada
Canada offers entirely unrestricted birthright citizenship: any child born on Canadian soil immediately becomes a Canadian citizen, regardless of parental immigration status. The only exceptions are children of accredited foreign diplomats. Canadian citizenship opens access to a passport with visa‑free travel to over 180 countries, although parents must follow separate immigration processes to settle permanently.
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2. Mexico
Mexico’s constitution ensures automatic citizenship at birth for anyone born in the country except children of diplomats. While entry restrictions for pregnant visitors have increased, fully eligible newborns receive citizenship at birth. Parents can pursue residency and eventual naturalisation thereafter.
3. Brazil
From the moment of birth on Brazilian soil, citizenship is conferred unconditionally—diplomatic children excluded. Foreign parents may apply for permanent residency promptly and can become naturalised citizens after one year. Brazil’s passport offers extensive global mobility.
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4. Argentina
Every child born in Argentina is granted citizenship at birth without exception (except for diplomatic children). Parents generally qualify for residency after one year and may naturalise soon after. Argentina’s passport consistently ranks among the top 20 globally.
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5. Peru
Peru practices full jus soli with no conditions: any child born in its territory is a citizen. Parents can apply for legal residency post‑birth and, upon fulfilling residency rules, pursue naturalisation. The Peruvian passport provides visa‑free or visa‑on‑arrival access to over 130 countries, including Schengen nations.
6. Costa Rica
Costa Rica grants automatic citizenship to all born within its territory (excluding diplomats). While parents must reside for three years before applying for residency and fulfill a total of ten years to naturalise, the country’s stability and quality of life make it a sought-after destination.
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About 30 to 32 countries continue to offer unrestricted birthright citizenship. Aside from the six spotlighted countries, others include Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Fiji, Lesotho, Chad, Tuvalu and others. In practice, nearly all eligible nations are found in the Western Hemisphere.
