O. R. SalahudeenIn this article, we are listing and explaining Countries that grant birthright citizenship unconditionally, and those that grant birthright citizenship with conditions.
Right of the soil or in Latin ‘jus soli’ simply means the right of citizenship of the place or country one is born. Citizenship at birth is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, in that some countries that used to allow it are backing down systematically. It is not uncommon today to see a pregnant woman being turned back at the point of entry, some were harshly denied departure to their chosen destination.
A few years back when you see a pregnant woman struggling to go abroad especially travelling all the way to North America just to give birth, an ordinary person may not know that there are some benefits people derive by giving birth overseas. For example, if you give birth in the United States, when the child attained 21 years he’s qualified to invite the parents which may allow them to process their naturalization.
Being a citizen of countries such as Uruguay, Panama, Argentina St. Kitts, and Nevis etcetera enables the person visa-free entry into almost all South and Central American countries. Also, the person has the freedom of traveling visa-free to all European Schengen areas.
Of all the advanced countries only the United States of America and their North American neighbor Canada practice automatic birthright citizenship. This translated to the fact that if an immigrant legal or illegal gives birth on their soil, the child unconditionally becomes a citizen.
If you’re embarking on birth tourism and find it difficult to obtain a visa for the two North American countries why not try Peru? The country’s passport allows your child freedom of visa-free entry into almost all Southeast Asian and South American countries.
COUNTRIES THAT GRANT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
The following is the complete list of countries that grant birthright citizenship unconditionally:
1. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2. CANADA
3. ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
4. ARGENTINA
5. BRAZIL
6. BARBADOS
7. BOLIVIA
8. CAMBODIA
9. BELIZE
10. CHILE
11. COSTA RICA
12. DOMINICA
13. ECUADOR
14. EL SALVADOR
15. FIJI
16. GRENADA
17. GUATEMALA
18. GUYANA
19. HONDURAS
20. JAMAICA
21. LESOTHO
22. MALAYSIA
23. MEXICO
24. NICARAGUA
25. PAKISTAN
26. PANAMA
27. PARAGUAY
28. PERU
29. SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
30. SAINT LUCIA
31 SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
32. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
33. TUVALU
34. URUGUAY
35. VENEZUELA
From the above list at a glance, it’s easy to see that the majority of countries that grant birthright citizenship are located in South, Central, and North America and it is heartwarming that the system is still operating despite challenges. For a potential birth tourist, it is advisable you do it without delay because many countries may want to reconsider their stand on it, in due course.
There are some countries that used to practice the principle of birthright citizenship called jus soli but dropped it due to certain circumstances and reasons. Countries such as India and Malta are good examples. India backs down due to abuse from Bangladesh. For Maltese, everything changed after her EU membership. Pressures from would-be applicants who are ready to do anything to key into the system and become European Union citizens tend to bastardize the system.
COUNTRIES THAT GRANT CONDITIONAL CITIZENSHIP
Some important countries in Europe and other places that do believe and grant citizenship by birth but with modifications and conditionality, for example:
FRANCE
In France, a child born to a foreigner can only become a citizen when he attained the age of 18 and living in France. Furthermore, a child born to a parent born in France does not have to wait for so long. The child is granted citizenship automatically.
GERMANY: A foreign child born in German territory gets citizenship only if one of the parents has been residing in Germany for at least 8 years legally. What the child will have to contend with in the future is the issue of dual citizenship because Germany does not practice dual citizenship.
UNITED KINGDOM
Birth tourism is not operating in Britain, to be considered for citizenship the child’s parents must be residing legally or one of them must be a citizen. If a child is born without legal parents, he must reside for 10 years to qualify for citizenship.
ITALY
Just as they have it in France a foreign child born in Italy automatically qualified for citizenship at the age of 18 provided he is living in Italy all the way. The important thing is that he must apply before his next birthday.
HONG KONG
The majority of outsiders going to Hong Kong for birth tourism are Chinese from the mainland because Chinese born in Hong Kong have the right of abode and there seems nothing the authority here can do about it. Hong Kong is not a country but a Chinese territory.
AUSTRALIA
A child born in Australia cannot become a citizen unless one of the parents is a permanent resident or a foreign child born in Australia who stays for 10 years is granted automatic citizenship whether the parents are legal or illegal residents.
SPAIN
A child born in Spain could be granted citizenship if the parents are legally resident in Spain but the parents can only apply after the first birthday of the child.
IRAN
The Islamic Republic of Iran allows citizenship at birth provided one of the parents is born in Iran, although they may be foreigners.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Searching for a better future or a better life for your child and you the parent, in the long run, could be a big deal, but there are many factors a potential person going on birth tourism should take into consideration
1. The cultural differences, think of the way of life or culture of the area you’re focusing on, it is better to be certain that the child will be able to fit in.
2. The United States tax system, is so exorbitant and unfair. In a situation where the system taxes a citizen who has not set foot in the United States, it’s better to consider the merit and the other side of the whole system, before embarking on it.
3. In your quest for a better future for the child embarking on birth tourism, should not delude you from thinking of safe birth and the quality of medical facilities available where you’re heading.
Finally, excluding the children of diplomats and servicemen from birthright citizenship unconditionally makes the system biased and unreasonable practices. A diplomat staying in a particular country for more than five years and having children should be allowed to become a citizen unconditionally.
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