What Countries Have Birthright Citizenship in 2025? Your Complete Guide

What Are the Different Kinds of Birthright Citizenship? Let’s Take a Look!

Birthright citizenship gives any child born within a country’s borders automatic citizenship, regardless of their parents’ nationality. Currently, 33 countries and two territories offer full birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli, meaning the child gains citizenship simply by being born there. Additionally, 32 other countries have birthright citizenship with certain restrictions or requirements. Check the table below for more details on what countries have birthright citizenship and their specific rules.

Which Countries Offer Full Birthright Citizenship Automatically

What Countries have birthright citizenship? Countries that have birthright automatically grant citizenship to any child born within their borders. Some of the countries that have birthright citizenship include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

A Simple Look at What Birthright Citizenship Is and How It Works

Most countries offering birthright citizenship are in the Americas, a practice that dates back to colonial times. However, children of foreign diplomats usually don’t qualify for citizenship.

Some countries, like Luxembourg, Guinea-Bissau, Azerbaijan, and Chad, offer birthright citizenship in special cases, such as when a child is orphaned. In Chad and Tanzania, children must choose their citizenship at 18, deciding between the country’s citizenship or their parents’ nationality.

Why Living in a Country with Birthright Citizenship Makes Life Better

Living in a country with birthright citizenship is a big advantage. Any child born there becomes a citizen automatically, with no extra steps. This protects them from being unfairly removed and gives them access to important social services that can improve their life.

For many expecting parents, birthright citizenship is a valuable opportunity. By having their baby in a country that offers it, they can provide a safer start, better rights, and a brighter future for their child.

Birthright citizenship has its critics, especially in countries that practice it. Some argue that it allows foreigners to come just to give birth and secure citizenship for their child. They believe this takes away valuable resources that should go to citizens already living there. While ‘birth tourism’ is illegal in the U.S., enforcing the laws to prevent it can be challenging.

Countries offer citizenship in two main ways: jus soli and jus sanguinis. Jus soli, or the ‘right of the soil,’ means any child born on a country’s land automatically gains citizenship, regardless of the parents’ nationality. Jus sanguinis, known as the ‘right of blood,’ grants citizenship based on the nationality of the child’s parents, even if the child is born in a different country.

Curious about Jus Soli and Jus Sanguinis? Let’s dive into the key differences!

While jus soli grants citizenship based on birth location, jus sanguinis gives citizenship through the nationality of one or both parents. In countries like Poland, both parents must be citizens for their child to inherit citizenship. However, in nations such as Andorra, Bahrain, and Iran, only one parent’s citizenship is required. This system ensures that citizenship is passed down through family heritage, not the place of birth.

How Birthright Citizenship and Nationality Rules Work in Different Countries

Everything You Need to Know About Birthright Citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda

In Antigua and Barbuda, there are three paths to citizenship, and birthright is one of the easiest. If you were born in the country on or before October 31, 1981—the day the law came into effect, you automatically became a citizen from the moment you were born.

In addition to birthright citizenship, Antigua and Barbuda offer two other ways to gain citizenship. One option is through descent, where if you have a parent or grandparent who’s a citizen, you can claim citizenship as well. The other route is naturalization, which requires living in the country for a certain period—three years if you’re married to a citizen, or seven years if you’re single. Unlike birthright citizenship, which is granted automatically, these options involve a more proactive approach to becoming a citizen.

How Birthright Citizenship Works in Pakistan: Easy to Understand

In 1868, after the Civil War, the United States established birthright citizenship with the 14th Amendment. This law ensures that any child born on U.S. soil, whether in a state or territory, automatically becomes a U.S. citizen. It also granted full citizenship to former slaves, representing a key moment in American history. Many countries, including the United States, have birthright citizenship, meaning children born within their borders automatically gain citizenship.