Flying Pregnant: A Birth Tourism Guide For Expecting Mothers

If you read my newsletter, chances are you know my three kids were born in three different countries. My daughter was born in the UAE, my second child was born in Brazil, and my youngest was born in Chile. Each experience has been unique and enriching (and we also got some second residencies in the process).

Birth tourism is an exciting opportunity, as you’re gifting your kid with a passport just by giving birth to them in a specific country. With the right professional guidance, that citizenship can be paired with yours or your spouse’s, giving your kid multiple passports—and all the benefits that come with it. 

Now, doing birth tourism is not easy, especially for the mothers. They’re carrying the baby for months and giving birth to them!

That’s why I wanted to write this article: to break down the specific needs of pregnant women considering birth tourism, including medical preparations, travel requirements and even a bit of my wife’s story.

WHAT IS BIRTH TOURISM? 

Birth tourism is more than going to a country to give birth. It is also about granting your kids citizenship of a country just for being born there. This practice is based on a principle called ‘jus soli’ (right of soil), which means a child’s citizenship is determined by where he or she was born. Examples of such countries are Latin American countries like Chile, Brazil, and Panama.

However, birth tourism is not only about getting a second passport. It also opens the door to multiple opportunities for your kid, such as the right to live, work and study in that country visa-free. Other massive benefits are the ability for your kid to get multiple nationalities and even expediting the residency process for parents. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits:

WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE BIRTH TOURISM

The reasons for choosing birth tourism are numerous:

• Better healthcare: By carefully choosing where you give birth, you can easily enjoy high-quality medical services at a fraction of the price you’d pay for private healthcare in your own country. For example, giving birth to our second child in an excellent Brazilian hospital just cost us around $2,500 USD.

• Citizenship for the child: This is one of the best gifts you can ever give your child. Essentially, they’ll be citizens by being born in a ‘jus solis’ country. Also, you might be able to help your kid get your own citizenship just because you’re his or her parent. For example, my Brazilian son can also get Canadian citizenship.

• Global mobility: The right passport will give your kids great mobility, helping them travel more freely. Also, by having a child in a certain country, you can often fast-track your residency, allowing you to establish a Plan-B. 

Ensure maximum comfort by investing in your seat. Choose an aisle seat with extra legroom for easy aisle access and short walks during the flight, making your journey more pleasant

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO TRAVEL PREGNANT

The process of giving birth abroad is certainly complex, as it requires couples to carefully plan many aspects: documents, planes, finding the right hospital, you name it. It may sound like a lot (and to some degree, it is), but don’t worry; in this section, we’ll break down the preliminaries you need to take care of for a successful birth tourism experience.

MEDICAL CLEARANCE AND PREPARATION

Here, we discuss the necessary medical documentation you must get before jumping on a plane:

DOCTOR’S APPROVAL

Before hopping on a plane, talk with your doctor for a medical certificate stating that you are fit to travel (especially in the third trimester of pregnancy). Although each airline’s policy may vary, they generally require this document after 28 weeks of pregnancy. For instance, right before flying to Brazil, my wife got a doctor’s approval at six months pregnant. 

MEDICAL RECORDS

Upon arrival at your destination, you might be required to hand in your complete prenatal care records, such as ultrasounds and test results. If needed, make sure the documents are translated into the local language.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Birth tourism allows you to get high-quality service for a fraction of the price you’d pay back home. However, to minimize costs, I also strongly recommend that you get comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers pregnancy, childbirth and potential complications, as well as neonatal care and the newborn.  

FLIGHT CONSIDERATIONS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

When purchasing your flight tickets, you need to carefully plan ahead to make sure the experience is as enjoyable as possible:

DURATION OF FLIGHT

During pregnancy, you just can’t have any flight. Everything must be planned carefully to make sure you’ll be fine. Find the best flights to your destination, taking into account factors like layovers and duration of flights. A short 4-hour layover may not be enough, so you might need to rest more before catching the next flight. 

COMFORT AND SAFETY DURING FLIGHTS

You want to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible. If there’s something you should invest in handsomely (apart from health insurance and the best hospitals), that is your seat. If possible, lock in an aisle seat with extra legroom; that way, you can easily get up and take short walks during the flights to avoid blood clots. Lastly, wear compression socks to improve circulation and prevent swelling.  

Research accredited hospitals, choose experienced obstetricians and understand local healthcare systems to ensure a smooth medical experience abroad

DUE DILIGENCE: HEALTHCARE AND HOSPITALS ABROAD

Once you figure out the medical documents and the flight tickets, it’s time to check out the hospitals in your target country. You’ll probably come across multiple options, and picking just one will be hard. Here’s a list to simplify your search: 

RESEARCHING HOSPITALS

You want to make sure that the hospital of your choice meets certain criteria. For instance, an internationally accredited hospital could give you more peace of mind than a regular hospital. Also, check that the hospital has a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in case of complications or preterm delivery. Before arriving at Florianopolis, Brazil, we had already done our due diligence and chosen the hospital where my second son would be born.

Related content: Brazilian Healthcare Demystified: A Guide For Expats

SELECTING AN OBSTETRICIAN

Could you imagine being assigned a professional on the spot without knowing them beforehand? That’s why it is important to arrange virtual consultations with multiple doctors to make sure they’re trustworthy and will do a good job. Try going for doctors who can speak your language and have vast experience with international patients. 

UNDERSTANDING THE LOCAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Generally, countries offer public healthcare if you are a resident, and you can also opt for private healthcare, but expats tend to opt for the latter for faster service and better facilities. You should also research the process of registering for healthcare services and the associated costs. Check if you need a social security number or whether you need to apply in person or online. 

Chile combines a strong passport, outstanding hospital care, and quick one-week newborn passport processing, making it a great choice for birth tourism

OUR BIRTH TOURISM JOURNEY

By taking care of the medical documentation, the plane tickets and the hospital, you increase your chances of enjoying a successful birth tourism experience. But if you’re still unsure, let me share our birth tourism journey in three different countries. Before suggesting anything, I want to make sure I try it myself. Here’s a sneak peek into our story:

GIVING BIRTH IN THE UAE

At the time, we had our first child, and we were living in the UAE. The facilities were excellent, and so was the staff, but the UAE doesn’t grant birthright citizenship. This prompted us to look for new birth tourism options for future children. 

GIVING BIRTH IN BRAZIL

In 2020, we were already living in Panama but wanted to give birth to our second child in Brazil. My wife, being Chinese, needed a visa, which we expedited with professional help. We finally travelled when she was 6 months pregnant to allow enough time before the due date. 

We chose Florianopolis after researching the best hospitals. The facilities and staff were excellent, and as I said, the total cost for the birth was a meagre $2,500 USD. After our son was born, we stayed in Brazil for six months to apply for residency. Even though the 2020 restrictions delayed some of the processes, it was worth it, considering the lifetime benefits our son can enjoy with his Brazilian citizenship. 

GIVING BIRTH IN CHILE

At the beginning of 2024, we flocked to Chile to give birth to our third kid. We chose this country because it offers the strongest passport in Latin America, with visa-free access to over 161 countries, including the U.S. and Canada.

The experience at the hospital was excellent. The doctors and nurses were great, the views from our spacious private room were breathtaking, and even the food was delicious (you know the joke that hospital food is often bad). Finally, getting the passport for our kid was shockingly fast and much smoother than Brazil’s; it only took us one week. 

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS

To further help you enjoy a smooth birth tourism experience, in this section, I’ll share with you some practical tips that helped us every time we went abroad to give birth:

WHEN YOU SHOULD TRAVEL

Picking the right time to travel is perhaps one of the most important steps to make sure you can fly without complications. To that end, travelling in the second trimester is the best and most comfortable option. Also, avoid travelling too close to your due date. Not only do airlines typically restrict travelling after 36 weeks of pregnancy, but flights can also be uncomfortable in late pregnancy. 

Plan to stay for at least 2 to 3 months, arriving well before the due date and allowing enough time after birth to go through all the paperwork necessary for your kid to get their baby’s birth certificate and passport, as well as your residency permit. 

ACCOMMODATION AND POST-BIRTH RECOVERY

The last thing you want is to be far away from your hospital. Take your time to find accommodation that has suitable facilities for a newborn while providing easy access to your hospital. For instance, after my wife gave birth, we were back in our Airbnb in Florianopolis within three days, which gave us time to recover comfortably. 

Apart from doctors and nurses, there’s another figure that will make your experience much more bearable: the doula. This person does not replace any other health professional, but they specialize in meeting your emotional and physical needs before, during and after pregnancy. Also, they can help you better understand any complex medical terms you may hear and ease the pressure your family, friends and partner may experience. 

Plan for birth tourism: register your baby’s birth, apply for their passport, explore residency options, and budget for delivery, accommodation, and healthcare expenses

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS AFTER BIRTH

To finally give your child a passport, you need to stay in the country for 2 to 3 months. However, you can speed up the process of getting the necessary documents:

REGISTERING THE BABY’S BIRTH AND APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP

Take your due diligence seriously and understand the steps to register your child’s birth beforehand. Right after the birth, start the process of registering the birth with local authorities. For instance, in Chile, you need to do this at the Civil Registry or online. After registering the birth, apply for your child’s passport as soon as possible, ensuring you have all the necessary documentation. 

APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY 

Some countries fast-track access to residency if your kid was born there. You might be interested in pursuing a second residency for yourself. In my case, Chile was not a good option, as it requires staying in the country for a long time (you’d need to stay there 22 months out of 24 to get permanent residency). In contrast, with Panama’s qualified investor visa, you can keep your permanent residency active just by visiting the country once every two years.

COMING BACK HOME WITH YOUR BABY

Most airlines will require your newborn to be at least 14 days old before you can take your flight back home. Also, to smoothly go through immigration both where you give birth and in your country of residence, your child must have their own passport. How long it takes you to get it depends mostly on each country’s registration and application process.  

FINANCIAL AND HEALTHCARE COSTS

Birth tourism, though cheaper and more beneficial for yourself and your kid, comes with a series of expenses you need to take into consideration:

COST OF DELIVERY

Delivery costs vary widely depending on the country and the hospital you choose, as well as other factors like the time of year and the experience of the whole medical team. I recommend expecting to pay $1,500 to $5,000 USD. Giving birth in Chile costs around $3,500 USD, while we pay $2,500 USD in Brazil. 

ADDITIONAL COSTS

During your stay, you’ll incur other expenses, such as accommodation, food, transportation and legal fees for paperwork. To minimize costs, try booking accommodation and plane seats well in advance and research the overall cost of living of the place where you want to do birth tourism. 

HEALTHCARE AND INSURANCE

Most birth tourism destinations have public and private healthcare, but it’s often recommended just to go private. Even if you have to pay, the service will usually be faster and higher quality. Check with your insurance company if the delivery costs and other related expenses like postpartum care are covered. 

Birth tourism is challenging but rewarding, offering life-changing opportunities for your child’s future. Plan ahead and consult experts to ensure a smooth process

CONCLUSION

Travelling while pregnant is no easy feat. You must take care of medical documents and paperwork and, of course, deliver a child. However, the benefits of securing a second citizenship for your kid can be life-changing, not only for them but also for your family. 

We’ve experienced tourism in three countries (the UAE, Brazil and Chile), and each experience has been unique and rewarding. If you’re an expecting mother who wants to do birth tourism, I encourage you to start planning ahead. Consult with experts to make sure you understand the medical, legal and travel requirements. With proper preparation, you will open up new opportunities for your kids and secure their future.