The main reason why foreigners often plan to give birth in Brazil has to do with the fact that the newborn is granted citizenship immediately. It does not matter if the parents are Brazilian or have passports from another country. Childbirth in Brazil costs an average of USD 5,000 at a private institution. There are public hospitals where you can receive free services with valid insurance. People come here to give birth due to the high quality of medicine and comfortable climate, even in the winter, making it easier to start a new life in a safe and supportive environment. Additionally, the mother and father of a Brazilian child have the right to obtain a Brazilian residence permit based on kinship, and after one year, they can apply for citizenship.
However, given that parents of a newborn need to know Portuguese at a conversational level to obtain citizenship in Brazil, as well as the complexity of organizing a birth in this country, it is worth considering other countries for baby tourism.
Childbirth in Brazil with citizenship registration
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Pros and cons of giving birth in Brazil for foreigners
Here are some of the main reasons to have a child in Brazil:
- Citizenship for the newborn and his or her family members. The main advantage of giving birth in Brazil is that the child receives Brazilian citizenship immediately after birth, even if the parents are not Brazilian citizens. Family members can apply for a residence permit, and after one year, the mother and father can apply for a passport through a simplified naturalization process. Local legislation does not prohibit citizens from having two or more citizenships.
- High quality medicine and a wide range of free services available. International patients can apply for free hospital services if they have local medical insurance or opt for paid delivery in a private clinic. The quality of services is somewhat better in the latter, but it is also high in the former. A woman’s treatment during childbirth is not affected by the type of hospital she chooses, whether it is a public or private institution.
- Giving birth in Brazil is favored by the country’s climate, which remains mild even during the Brazilian winter, with air temperatures staying at 25 degrees Celsius. The warm weather and fresh fruits and vegetables allow women to feel comfortable and fill their bodies with necessary vitamins throughout their entire pregnancies.
Besides the positives, there are also some disadvantages to giving birth in Brazil. Parents do not immediately receive Brazilian citizenship. Instead, they must obtain a visa and a residence permit, live in the country for at least a year, and learn Portuguese. Although foreign women are entitled to free childbirth in public hospitals, they often do not reap these benefits because they cannot choose a particular doctor to oversee their pregnancy. Another disadvantage is the language barrier. In Brazil, few people speak English. All communication is mainly in Portuguese. Therefore, it is necessary to find a Portuguese-speaking translator to be present during labor.
Pregnancy and childbirth in Brazil: step-by-step for birth tourism
If you’re planning to have a baby in Brazil in 2025, it’s important to decide when to travel. Airlines have different policies regarding how far along a woman can be in her pregnancy before she is allowed to fly, but usually no later than 32-36 weeks. You should also study the list of documents that foreigners in Brazil will need for flights, accommodations, and hospital admission in advance. Additionally, research clinics and cities to live in. If you plan to use a company that provides accompaniment services or a translator, you should contact them in advance to discuss the details and learn about pricing for their services. A plan of action to ensure a comfortable pregnancy and childbirth in Brazil includes the following stages:
1. Choosing a maternity clinic
You can choose a hospital remotely via the internet. Hospitals typically have their own websites where they describe their prices and services, as well as their contact information. You can also visit forums where women share their experiences about different clinics. Contact the hospital to ask additional questions, such as whether they provide services to foreign citizens, what documents you need for childbirth, whether there are language-proficient specialists, and the total amount charged.
Keep in mind that local clinics are divided into public and private, and the level of comfort depends greatly on the type of clinic. In Brazilian public hospitals, childbirth is free. In private hospitals, you pay for the services of specialists and for your stay in the hospital. In a public clinic, you cannot choose a specific doctor to accompany you throughout your pregnancy and delivery; this doctor is assigned by the hospital. Services are only available with insurance; foreigners without a policy will not be registered. Private clinics work under a contract. There, you can choose a doctor for routine appointments. At the woman’s request, she has the right to ask for epidural anesthesia or a C-section and to design her own childbirth program.
2. Define the grounds for entry
According to their nationality, expats have the possibility to stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days. They can use these 90 days if they do not plan to stay in Brazil any longer. Otherwise, or if the planned stay exceeds three months, a visa will be required. Foreigners who want to return home after giving birth can use a visitor’s permit, which entitles them to stay in Brazil for up to 90 days within six months. If they want to stay and apply for a residence permit, they can apply for a special temporary residence permit based on one of the grounds, i.e., a work permit.
3. Document preparation
The list of required documents for an entry permit varies depending on the visa category chosen by the applicant. The basic list for a visitor visa includes a passport, application form, 3×4 cm photo, and round-trip airline tickets or proof of booking. You will also need bank statements showing your financial status and proof of hotel or hostel reservations or a rental agreement for accommodations in Brazil. Additionally, if you are a pregnant woman, you will need a document from a doctor stating that he or she authorizes your flight.
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4. Visa opening
Foreigners must fill out a special form on the website of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attach scanned copies of documents. The payment receipt should be printed and submitted in person to the consulate or embassy, along with the application. Depending on the country, it can also be sent by mail. The application processing time is up to 10 days. The consular authority determines the type of visa based on the information provided by the applicant.
5. Flight arrangements
Explore the options for arriving in Brazil well in advance. Everything depends on the country of residence of the foreigner. From almost any European city, you can reach Rio de Janeiro in 7-18 hours. Ticket prices start at USD 1,000, depending on the route and airline. The most convenient flight from Istanbul to Rio de Janeiro lasts about 17 hours. Airlines offer routes with connections in São Paulo or Amsterdam. In this case, the approximate cost of tickets for two people is USD 1,700. Direct flights are available to São Paulo from Lisbon, Dubai, and New York.
6. Document issuance upon arrival
Upon arrival in Brazil, it is necessary to immediately obtain a CPF, which is an identification code. Without it, you cannot make an appointment at a clinic, obtain insurance, or register a birth. You can do this before traveling to Brazil if you wish. The applicant needs to fill out a special questionnaire and send a photo of their ID by email. The CPF costs about USD 1.4. The finished document will be sent to the applicant’s email address.
To obtain insurance that entitles you to free care at local clinics, apply to a selected hospital and fill out a special questionnaire (sometimes this can be done on the institution’s website). After two to three days, the applicant’s registration is confirmed, and a message with an appointment number is sent. The doctor will register the woman, give her an insurance card (SUS), and oversee her pregnancy.
7. Accommodation search
Although it is possible to stay in a hotel immediately upon arrival, you should begin looking for longer-term accommodations right away. Expats often use online services to search for apartments or houses. It is worth choosing sites where you can contact the landlord before meeting them. Typically, owners set inflated prices, however, in a personal message, a foreigner can negotiate the price. You can also ask immigrants who have lived in Brazil for a long time for help or advice, or use the services of agencies. It is important to carefully consider where to live. For example, there is an unspoken ban on childbirth on the island of Fernando de Noronha. Though this policy is not enshrined in legislation, the last maternity hospital on the island closed in 2004.
8. Pregnancy management
If a woman has insurance, she can schedule an appointment, but she will be seen by the doctor on duty on the day of her appointment. If she is registered with a private clinic, she and her doctor will agree on the dates of checkups individually. For free childbirth, after registration, they will ask the woman to take all the tests, even if she has brought her medical card with all the translated certificates. For paid appointments, a repeat ultrasound examination may be performed. Keep in mind that a doctor’s appointment at a private clinic is paid for separately. Each visit will cost about 110 USD. A limited knowledge of Portuguese makes it difficult to communicate with doctors and navigate childbirth. A paid clinic may be able to provide a translator, but otherwise, you will have to arrange one yourself.
9. Childbirth
Only one attendant is allowed to be present at the birth. An expectant mother from abroad may bring her husband, a translator, or a doula. When the pregnant woman arrives at the hospital, the on-duty doctor examines her and checks the frequency of her contractions. If the interval between contractions is long, she may be sent home instead of being admitted. Registration takes about an hour. Afterwards, a robe and slippers are provided, and the woman is shown to her room. You should not bring a lot of things; a couple of sets of clothes for the newborn, diapers, and the mother’s personal belongings will suffice. Both citizens and foreigners can receive child allowances.
Planning birth abroad is a complex process that requires attention because, in addition to choosing a clinic and housing, the mother and father need to deal with registering documents for their stay.
know how to properly organize all the necessary procedures, so consulting them can significantly simplify the process.
Postpartum in Brazil: what happens after giving birth
After giving birth, a woman’s newborn receives the necessary vaccines and vitamins, at which point they are cleared for discharge. Vaccination is mandatory in the Federative Republic of Brazil. Parents can write a waiver if they plan to have the vaccinations administered at a private clinic in the future. Foreigners should be aware that completely refusing vaccination may result in problems with the local guardianship authorities. In the hospital, the mother is given a special document for registering the birth certificate at the kartorio (Brazil’s version of a multifunctional center). In Brazil, hospitals usually discharge new mothers two days after giving birth.
Birthright citizenship and Brazilian passport by birth
Giving birth in Brazil allows parents to obtain dual citizenship for their child. Brazilian citizenship is granted upon birth and is evidenced by a certificate from the maternity hospital and a civil registration certificate, both of which are free of charge. If the child was born in Brazil and their father and/or mother are foreigners, they can apply to the consulate or embassy of their home country for another citizenship, as well as a passport or special return document, if necessary.
The following steps are required to obtain a Brazilian passport for a child:
- Submitting an application. Parents of minors must fill out an online form on the Federal Police website. The form has four sections: personal data, documents, additional information, and address. After submitting the form, the applicant receives a protocol number for which they pay a state duty of about 52-68 USD, depending on the urgency.
- Visiting a unit of the Federal Police. The applicant must make an appointment online for a visit. On the appointed date and time, the foreigner must arrive at the specified address and bring the necessary documents (ID card, authorization to issue a passport for a minor, and a photo of the child).
- Obtaining a passport. The document is issued in person to the applicant provided that he or she presents an ID. Delivery by mail is not available. The entire process takes six to ten days.
How parents and siblings get a brazilian citizenship after birth
One of the main advantages of having a child in Brazil is that the relatives are eligible for family visas and residence permits. The mother and father can also apply for citizenship on an expedited basis. Siblings undergo standard naturalization, which requires a four-year stay in the country. Citizenship is not granted to children under 18 in this case. Registration of a residence permit is not mandatory. Brazil allows its citizens to have multiple passports, so foreigners can undergo naturalization without renouncing their original passport. Since parents usually open a visitor visa for childbirth in Brazil, which does not allow for subsequent permanent residency, and then leave the country, citizenship registration follows a different process for them:
- Obtaining a temporary visa. Based on a family relationship with a Brazilian citizen, a VITEM XI temporary entry permit is requested. The applicant must fill out the online application form, print and sign it, collect the dossier, pay the state duty, and apply to the embassy or consulate of the Republic. The fee amount must be specified by the state body and depends on the country of application. The document is valid for no more than 12 months.
- Registration process. After entering Brazil, immigrants have 90 days to register their stay at the Federal Police unit. The application is filled out online. The time of the visit is booked at the same stage. You must have an ID card with you when visiting the public authority. On average, the registration card is issued to the immigrant at the police station after 30 working days. This process costs about USD 42.
- Residence permit registration. The application is submitted online on the Federal Police website, and the time of the office visit is booked in the same way. The state duty fee is about USD 34. Applicants need to prepare a list of documents including a passport, a certificate of criminal record, proof of kinship with a Brazilian citizen, and a receipt for payment of fees. Depending on the circumstances, the dossier may be supplemented. The Federal Police Station estimates that it will take up to 180 days to issue the finished residence permit card to the applicant.
- Obtaining Brazilian citizenship. The country’s legislation provides for simplified citizenship for parents of Brazilian citizens. They can apply for naturalization after living in the country for one year with a residence permit. Applicants must know Portuguese at a conversational level and have no criminal record. Applications are submitted online through the government portal and are followed by a personal visit to a Federal Police unit. Processing takes up to 180 days, and there is no fee for the application.
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How much does it cost to give birth in Brazil
Pregnant women planning a trip to Brazil should prepare in advance by researching local prices and calculating anticipated costs. Health insurance is free in Brazil. When applying to a public hospital, there is no fee for prenatal care or childbirth. However, if foreigners choose a private medical institution, the cost of giving birth in Brazil is about USD 5,000 (depending on the clinic). The price includes pregnancy management, labor and delivery, and a stay in a hospital room. Additionally, consider paying for a translator or specialists who provide comprehensive support, if necessary.
The approximate monthly cost of living for two people in this country, excluding rent, is USD 1,200. Dinner for two at a medium-sized restaurant costs around USD 29. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around USD 400.
Legal help and support for giving birth abroad
With the support of experienced specialists, the organization of childbirth abroad becomes as easy as possible. Lawyers who specialize in immigration law can advise on the best entry visa, help properly prepare documents for the child and parents, as well as maximize the benefits of childbirth abroad.
The company iWorld has who will analyze the applicants’ wishes and personal circumstances, explain the available options, and help choose the best one.
Feedback and experiences from expats who have given birth in Brazil
After analyzing reviews from expat parents who have traveled to this republic to give birth and discussing their experiences on various forums, it is clear that they most often faced two problems: a language barrier and selecting a suitable clinic. Processing documents after childbirth is also difficult, usually due to a lack of knowledge of local legislation and language. On the positive note, medical personnel are highly qualified, even in municipal clinics, providing good food and a positive attitude towards foreign women.
Many women recommend consulting lawyers when planning childbirth abroad, especially if they plan to give birth to a child who will obtain citizenship for them and their family members. Experienced specialists can help organize the process with minimal effort from the pregnant woman, including handling the paperwork.
Organizing childbirth abroad requires careful consideration of various aspects, such as selecting a clinic, understanding the legal framework, calculating the budget, and knowing the rights and benefits the family will receive afterwards. Specialists’ assistance helps exclude the risk of newcomers making mistakes due to ignorance of legal aspects and reduce the cost of time and effort.
Childbirth in Brazil with citizenship registration
- Brazilian passport for child, parents and relatives
- Visa-free access to 160+ countries around the world
- Comfortable and safe childbirth in the best clinics
- Comprehensive support 24/7
Leave an application and get a consultation with an immigration specialist
