Human Rights
Countries with Birthright Citizenship 2026
Total Count
81
Total number of countries with unrestricted or restricted birthright citizenship policies.
Type of Birthright Citizenship
Restricted
Unrestricted
Type of Birthright Citizenship
45 countries
36 countries
Countries with Birthright Citizenship
Country | Type of Birthright Citizenship↓ | Additional Birthright Citizenship Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | United States | Unrestricted | |
 | Pakistan | Unrestricted | With exceptions (e.g., children of diplomats). |
 | Brazil | Unrestricted | |
 | Mexico | Unrestricted | |
 | Tanzania | Unrestricted | Except for children of a father who has diplomatic immunity, or parents who were enemy aliens. |
 | Argentina | Unrestricted | |
 | Canada | Unrestricted | |
 | Peru | Unrestricted | |
 | Venezuela | Unrestricted | |
 | Chad | Unrestricted | Unrestricted, but child chooses to opt in or out at age 18. |
 | Chile | Unrestricted | Child can choose to opt in or out. |
 | Guatemala | Unrestricted | |
 | Ecuador | Unrestricted | |
 | Bolivia | Unrestricted | |
 | Honduras | Unrestricted | |
 | Cuba | Unrestricted | |
 | Nicaragua | Unrestricted | |
 | Paraguay | Unrestricted | |
 | El Salvador | Unrestricted | |
 | Costa Rica | Unrestricted | |
 | Panama | Unrestricted | |
 | Uruguay | Unrestricted | |
 | Jamaica | Unrestricted | |
 | Lesotho | Unrestricted | |
 | Trinidad and Tobago | Unrestricted | |
 | Fiji | Unrestricted | |
 | Guyana | Unrestricted | |
 | Belize | Unrestricted | |
 | Barbados | Unrestricted | |
 | Saint Lucia | Unrestricted | |
 | Grenada | Unrestricted | |
 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Unrestricted | |
 | Antigua and Barbuda | Unrestricted | |
 | Dominica | Unrestricted | |
 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Unrestricted | |
 | Tuvalu | Unrestricted | |
 | India | Restricted | If one parent is citizen and the other a citizen or legal migrant. |
 | China | Restricted | If child is born to stateless parents who have settled in China. |
 | Indonesia | Restricted | If at least one parent is Indonesian citizen. Citizenship can also be granted to a permanent resident who has lived in Indonesia for a given period of time through naturalization, as long as the parents are stateless, or unknown. |
 | Japan | Restricted | If born to "stateless" or unknown parents. |
 | Egypt | Restricted | If one parent was also born in Egypt, or if parents are unknown. |
 | Iran | Restricted | If one parent was born in Iran. |
 | Germany | Restricted | If at least one parent has a permanent residence permit and has lived in Germany at least 5 years. |
 | Thailand | Restricted | If parents are legal residents for at least five years. |
 | United Kingdom | Restricted | If one parent is citizen or legally settled in the country or if child has lived in country for 10 years. |
 | France | Restricted | If one parent is French citizen or born in France. Or upon 18th birthday if you've lived in France at least 5 years since age 11. |
 | South Africa | Restricted | If parents are citizens or permanent residents. |
 | Italy | Restricted | If one of parent's descendant was a citizen, or if child has lived in country untill 18th birthday, or if child is 21 and has lived in country for 3 years. |
 | Colombia | Restricted | If one parent is citizen or legal resident. |
 | Sudan | Restricted | If father was born in Sudan. |
 | Spain | Restricted | If one parent was born in Spain or if parents are stateless. |
 | Ukraine | Restricted | If parents have refugee status in Ukraine, or if child is stateless. |
 | Morocco | Restricted | If parents were born in Morocco, child can register for citizenship. |
 | Malaysia | Restricted | If one parent is a citizen or permanent resident. |
 | Australia | Restricted | If one parent is citizen or permanent resident or if child has lived in country for 10 years. |
 | Taiwan | Restricted | If parents are Taiwanese citizens or if parents are stateless or unknown. |
 | Netherlands | Restricted | If one parent is a citizen and lives in the country at the time of the child's birth, or if a grandparent had their main residence in the country on the day of the parent's birth. |
 | Cambodia | Restricted | If parents are born and living legally in Cambodia. |
 | Tunisia | Restricted | If father and grandfather were born in Tunisia. Child must claim citizenship before age 20. |
 | Belgium | Restricted | If one parent was born in Belgium and has lived there for 10 years, or 5 years before child's birth. |
 | Dominican Republic | Restricted | Mildly restricted, for children born to individuals were "in transit". |
 | Sweden | Restricted | If one parent is citizen (for children born before April 1, 2015). |
 | Azerbaijan | Restricted | If one parent is citizen. |
 | Portugal | Restricted | If child is born with no other nationality, or child petitions for citizenship and one parent lived in Portugal for 1+ years before child's birth. |
 | Greece | Restricted | If parents live in Greece 5-10 years and child attends preschool, or if child has unknown or no other nationality at birth. |
 | Israel | Restricted | Children born in Israel who have no other citizenship can apply for Israeli citizenship between ages of 18-21. |
 | Hong Kong | Restricted | Complicated compatibilities with mainland China. |
 | Singapore | Restricted | If one parent is Singaporean. |
 | Finland | Restricted | If mother is citizen and born in country or if father is a citizen and married to mother. |
 | Ireland | Restricted | If one parent has legally resided for 3 of the previous 4 years before birth. |
 | New Zealand | Restricted | If one parent is citizen or permanent resident or if child is stateless. |
 | Mongolia | Restricted | If parents are valid residents or unidentified. Child can apply for citizenship at age 16. |
 | Namibia | Restricted | If one parent was also born in or regularly lives in Namibia. |
 | Latvia | Restricted | If parents are residents. |
 | Bahrain | Restricted | If father was born in Bahrain. |
 | Cyprus | Restricted | If one parent is citizen or born in country. |
 | Macau | Restricted | Complicated compatibilities with mainland China. |
 | Luxembourg | Restricted | If at least one parent was born in country, or if child has lived in country 5 straight years after the age of 12. |
 | Malta | Restricted | If one parent is citizen or born in country. |
 | Sao Tome and Principe | Restricted | If parents are residents. |
 | American Samoa | Restricted | If t least one parent is a US citizen. |
- Unrestricted birthright citizenship is also known as jus soli.
Key Findings
What Is Birthright Citizenship (Jus Soli)?
-
Birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli, is a policy under which any child born within a country's borders is automatically granted citizenship, regardless of their parents' nationality.
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Approximately 33 countries and two territories have unrestricted birthright citizenship, while another 32 nations have some form of restricted birthright citizenship.
What Countries Have Birthright Citizenship?
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Thirty-three countries offer unrestricted birthright citizenship, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.
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The vast majority of these nations are located in North and South America, a pattern that traces back to colonial-era policies designed to encourage settlement and population growth.
Restricted vs Unrestricted Birthright Citizenship
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Unrestricted birthright citizenship grants automatic citizenship to any child born on a country's soil with no conditions. Restricted birthright citizenship may require at least one parent to be a legal resident, or may delay citizenship until the child reaches a certain age.
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Some countries, such as Chad and Tanzania, grant conditional birthright citizenship that requires the child to choose their citizenship upon turning 18.
Jus Soli vs Jus Sanguinis
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Jus soli (right of the soil) grants citizenship based on birthplace, while jus sanguinis (right of blood) grants citizenship based on parentage.
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Nearly every country that does not offer jus soli uses jus sanguinis, requiring one or both parents to be citizens for a child to receive citizenship.
Definitions & Methodology
What Is Jus Soli? Jus soli is Latin for 'right of the soil.' It is a legal principle under which a person's citizenship is determined by their place of birth. Countries with unrestricted jus soli grant citizenship automatically to anyone born within their borders.
What Is Jus Sanguinis? Jus sanguinis is Latin for 'right of blood.' It is a legal principle under which citizenship is inherited from one or both parents rather than determined by birthplace. This is the most common citizenship system worldwide.
Birth Tourism and Anchor Babies Some countries with birthright citizenship have faced debate over birth tourism, in which expectant parents travel to a jus soli country specifically to give birth and secure citizenship for their child. The United States has laws against this practice, although enforcement and interpretation vary.
Last Updated: June 16, 2026
