The Cheapest Second Citizenship by Birth: Flight Costs and Where the Rules Actually Apply

If investors are planning a “Plan B” for the next generation, the Americas remain one of the most favorable regions for citizenship by birthright. In almost every country in the Western Hemisphere, a child born on the territory of a state receives citizenship automatically—regardless of the parents’ nationality and their legal status.

This is a major exception compared to the rest of the world. In Europe, unconditional jus soli is rarely used: after Ireland’s 2004 reforms, most European countries largely moved away from automatic citizenship based on place of birth. In Asia, Africa, and Oceania, citizenship is more often tied to ancestry—essentially the “bloodline.”

Below is a practical overview of which countries in the Americas still grant citizenship at birth, where the rule applies with conditions, and when parents may receive additional immigration advantages. For a full comparison of citizenship routes worldwide, IMI publishes the Citizenship Catalog: 843 pathways across 195 jurisdictions.

Basic rule: almost everywhere in the Americas

Unconditional jus soli applies in Central and South America (with three exceptions), as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and in many independent Caribbean states. A child becomes a citizen at the moment of birth. The standard—and rare—exception is children of foreign diplomats accredited to the host country.

That’s why, within this region, there are more than 30 jurisdictions where a child gains citizenship at birth regardless of what passports the parents hold. No other part of the world offers comparable coverage, which is why nearly all countries practicing “right of birth” are located in the Western Hemisphere.

Three countries with conditions instead of an “automatic” outcome

Colombia, Chile, and the Dominican Republic are the key exceptions. Formally, citizenship at birth is recognized, but in these countries it depends on the parents’ status and circumstances.

Colombia. The Constitution (Article 96) requires that at least one parent is Colombian by birth or naturalization, or that at least one parent has legal domicile in Colombia at the time of the child’s birth. In practice, “legal domicile” usually means having a valid visa or a legal basis to live in the country—tourist status by itself typically does not qualify.

Law 2332 of 2023 strengthened the approach: domicile is presumed for foreigners who fall under Colombia’s temporary migration protection mechanisms, including the Estatuto Temporal de Protección para Migrantes Venezolanos (which replaced PEP in 2021). Additional discretionary protection may be granted for children who would otherwise be left stateless.

Chile. The Constitution excludes two narrow categories: children of foreigners present in the country on official government service, and children of “transit foreigners.” Under the 2021 immigration law, this definition covers short stays and transit. At the same time, a child of a foreign resident typically receives citizenship automatically. If the child is born to tourists, there is a possible “activation” route through a procedure within one year after turning 18. An additional safeguard helps prevent cases where a child would otherwise be left without citizenship.

Dominican Republic. The strictest model among the three. Under Article 18 of the 2010 Constitution (reinforced by Constitutional Court ruling TC 168-13 in 2013), children born to foreigners who are in the country “illegally” or “in transit” are excluded. In practice, this often results in citizenship being denied to children of undocumented migrants—including many children of Haitian origin. Such policies are regularly criticized by international organizations due to the risk of statelessness.

An important caveat for the United States

The United States still grants citizenship to almost all children born on U.S. territory under the 14th Amendment. On January 20, 2025, Executive Order 14160 was signed in an attempt to narrow the guarantee: citizenship was proposed for children who have at least one U.S. citizen parent or a parent who is a lawful permanent resident.

However, federal courts blocked the order before it took effect (February 19, 2025). In April 2026, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara. A decision is expected by the end of the Court’s term—roughly late June or early July 2026.

Until the ruling, birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. applies as it has for more than a century. If you’re considering a multi-jurisdiction citizenship plan that includes a U.S. birth, it’s critical to verify the legal status as of the birth date.

Argentina: citizenship for the child remains, but it’s tougher for parents

Argentina still grants unconditional citizenship to any child born on its territory under Ley 346 (Ley de Ciudadanía)—a law implementing the citizenship powers established in Article 75 of the Constitution.

But the “benefits” for parents changed noticeably in 2025.

Before Decree 366/2025 (May 2025), foreign parents of a child born in Argentina received permanent residency based on family reunification. Under the new rules, the process starts with temporary residency: then additional requirements must be met (proof of sufficient funds, a criminal record certificate) to move to permanent status.

Temporary status may be revoked after absence of more than six months, and permanent status after absence of more than one year. The baseline naturalization timeline remains the same: two years of continuous lawful residence are required. At the same time, “continuous presence” is enforced—any trips effectively reset the clock.

In other words: jus soli in Argentina remains, but the family-based immigration route for parents is less generous.

Where parents benefit the most: Brazil

Brazil combines unconditional jus soli with one of the fastest “family” tracks for parents. A child born in Brazil becomes Brazilian by birth. The exception is children of foreign parents present in the country on government service.

Parents can apply directly for permanent residency under the family reunification category (often referred to as VIPER), without the mandatory temporary-stage step that many other routes require. This category can remain valid indefinitely as long as the family relationship is maintained. During the permanent residency stage, Brazil typically does not set minimum thresholds for investment, income, or language.

Then comes the quick move to citizenship: parents gain the right to naturalize after one year of permanent residency (versus the usual four years).

Still, applicants must demonstrate Portuguese proficiency and provide evidence of no criminal record. In practice, the full process may take closer to two years when you account for document preparation and administrative steps, but legally it is one of the shortest naturalization routes.

If the family times pregnancy and immigration steps correctly, a Brazilian passport (with visa-free access to many European countries, Russia, the UK, Japan, and South Korea) often becomes a realistic prospect within 2–3 years after birth.

The next strong option for parents: Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Constitution (Article 13) grants citizenship to a child born in the country, provided the registration formality is completed: the parent can finalize it while the child is still a minor, or the child can complete it up to age 25. At the same time, immigration legislation (Law 8487) creates a separate track for parents.

Parents of a child born in Costa Rica may obtain permanent residency under Article 73 as first-degree relatives of a Costa Rican citizen. The category is permanent from the start—without the three-year temporary residency wait that is common across most other routes, including the Costa Rica Investor Visa and visas based on “sufficient means.”

Each parent files separately as the main applicant, and minor children can join as dependents. After the card is issued, work authorization is typically not restricted.

However, Costa Rica does not provide an “acceleration” specifically for naturalization: the standard 7 years of residence and the Spanish language requirement still apply.

The value is elsewhere: a stable right to live and work, access to the healthcare system, and a more direct path to entrenching status—without the constant need for repeated extensions. For parents, that is one of the strongest benefits in the region.

Short accelerations also exist in other countries

Mexico. Parents of a child born in Mexico can reduce the naturalization timeline from the usual 5 years to 2 years under Article 20 of the Ley de Nacionalidad. Applicants still must prove Spanish proficiency and basic knowledge of Mexico’s history and culture.

Panama. The system is narrower than it may look at first glance. The Constitution (Article 10) reduces the standard naturalization period from 5 years to 3 for foreigners who have a Panamanian spouse or children “born on Panamanian national territory to a Panamanian father or mother.” If both parents are foreign and the child became Panamanian only through jus soli, the reduction usually does not apply and the standard five-year period remains.

In general, the reduction applies only if at least one parent is Panamanian by birth or naturalization, or if a foreigner is married to a Panamanian citizen. Formally, the Constitution requires renouncing prior citizenship, though in practice dual citizenship does occur.

Across the rest of South America, parents’ naturalization timelines for citizen children are often shortened by 1–2 years compared to the standard, but administrative practice can vary significantly. In the Caribbean, smaller states frequently offer parents residency rights via family reunification, but almost nowhere does that combine with a “Brazil-like” track where the passport can be obtained in one year.

Practical takeaway: check exceptions before you buy tickets

The key is to know the exceptions before paying for flights. If a foreign couple gives birth in Colombia without a legitimate basis to reside, in Chile while crossing the border on a tourist stamp, or in the Dominican Republic without a documentable legal status, the child may not receive citizenship automatically.

For the U.S., the rule applies as of April 2026. The Supreme Court’s summer 2026 decision will determine whether the approach will continue for future births.

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