Canada Sees Rise in Birthright Citizenship Law by “Birth Tourism”

A rising number of women from other countries are coming to Canada while pregnant. Their goal is to give birth here so their children can become Canadian citizens. This practice is called birth tourism.

Many of these women come on tourist visas. Once the baby is born, the child automatically becomes a citizen under Canada’s current law.

What the Law Says

Canada follows a policy called jus soli, which means anyone born in the country gets citizenship. Section 3(1)(a) of Canada’s Citizenship Act allows this. The only major exception is for children born to foreign diplomats.

Unlike other countries, Canada doesn’t require one parent to be a citizen or a permanent resident. This has made the country a hotspot for people seeking citizenship for their children.

How Birth Tourism Works

Some women pay for special “birth packages” before they arrive. These packages offer housing, hospital arrangements, and transportation. In British Columbia, private homes have even turned into “birth houses” that cater to these women.

Countries like China, India, and Nigeria have seen many families choose this option. They hope their children will benefit from Canadian education, healthcare, and later bring their families here through sponsorship.

Healthcare System Under Pressure

Hospitals in cities like Richmond and Calgary have seen a jump in non-resident births. In Richmond alone, over $6 million in hospital fees came from these births in 2017–2018. More than $1 million went unpaid.

Doctors say this practice takes up beds and staff time, which could otherwise help local patients. They worry the growing number of cases could hurt Canada’s already stretched healthcare system.

Other Countries Have Made Changes

Canada’s approach is different from countries like the UK, Germany, and Australia. These countries changed their rules. Now, at least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident for a child to get citizenship.

The U.S. has also taken steps. It passed the Ban Birth Tourism Act in 2025 and placed tighter rules on visas for pregnant women. A recent court ruling even allowed part of this policy to be enforced.

Should Canada Change the Law?

Many Canadians think the law should change. A survey showed that 64% of people support denying citizenship to babies born to tourist visa holders.

Experts suggest changing the law to require at least one parent to be a citizen or permanent resident. This would stop the system from being misused while still being fair.

Tracking the Problem Is Hard

Right now, Canada doesn’t keep track of parents’ immigration status on birth records. This makes it tough to know how big the issue is.

Experts say provinces should ask for proof of medical insurance or a deposit from non-resident mothers. This would help cover medical costs and ease the burden on hospitals.

Time to Act

Birth tourism is a growing concern. The number of non-resident births has jumped since the pandemic. In 2023–2024 alone, Canada recorded over 5,000 such births.

If Canada wants to protect its healthcare and immigration systems, it needs better data, clear rules, and strong financial safeguards. Making changes now could prevent bigger problems later.