Why Russian Women Are Traveling to Brazil to Give Birth

Brazil's jus soli citizenship law, which grants automatic Brazilian nationality to any child born on Brazilian territory regardless of the parents' citizenship status, has attracted a niche but growing industry of birth tourism — and Russian families have become one of the most prominent groups taking advantage of the policy.

The trend predates the 2022 invasion of Ukraine but has accelerated dramatically since then. With Russian passports becoming increasingly restrictive for travel to Europe and North America, a Brazilian passport — which offers visa-free access to the EU and many other destinations — has become an attractive asset for families seeking to provide their children with greater mobility options.

Specialized agencies in Russia now market Brazilian birth tourism packages, typically involving travel to cities like Florianópolis or São Paulo, coordinated medical care, and legal assistance for the child's citizenship documentation.

Brazilian authorities have begun reviewing the scale of the phenomenon and its implications for immigration policy, while critics in both countries have raised ethical questions about the commercialization of citizenship rights.