More Russian Women Choosing to Give Birth in Brazil, Why?
Yulia and Dmitri, pseudonyms used for security reasons, flew from Russia to Brazil this summer so that their child could be born there. Yulia was 32 weeks pregnant during the journey.
“Of course, we did not disclose that I was pregnant during the border checks,” Yulia told DW.
Their daughter was born in a private clinic in Santos, a city in southern Brazil. Anyone born in the country automatically becomes eligible for Brazilian citizenship. The family is now processing various documents.
“We have achieved our minimum goal,” said Dmitri. With a Brazilian passport, his daughter can travel to almost every country in the world without a visa. She will also not need to apply for the expensive and time-consuming Schengen visa. “We want her to be able to decide for herself where she studies, works, or lives.”
Dmitri mentioned that a colleague also travelled to Brazil in early August with his pregnant wife for the same reason.
Yulia and Dmitri reported spending approximately 10,000 euros (around 11,500 USD) during their first six weeks in Brazil. This cost included several days of intensive care for their daughter. Dmitri even resigned from his position at a bank for the trip, hoping to return to work once the family returns to Moscow.
However, they will not return until their daughter’s documentation is complete, which can take months. Meanwhile, a number of other Russian families have decided to settle in Brazil.
According to organisations and lawyers assisting Russian citizens in Brazil, the number of Russian immigrants has increased, particularly since the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following this, several countries tightened visa requirements for Russian citizens.
Argentina Tightens Visa Rules
Birth tourism to Brazil has also risen after Argentina, previously a primary destination for those seeking automatic citizenship for newborns, tightened its regulations. Now, those wishing for their child to obtain Argentine citizenship must have resided in the country for at least two years. From 2025, access to free healthcare for those without permanent residency will also be restricted.
According to the Russian media outlet RBC, more than 7,000 Russian citizens applied for residency in Argentina in 2023. By mid-2025, this number had dropped to approximately 1,800.
In contrast, nearly 500 Brazilian passports were issued to Russian citizens in 2024, a figure that rose to over 600 the following year. More than half of these new citizens were women. Under certain conditions, parents of children born in Brazil can apply for and obtain residency within one year.
Yana, a pseudonym, and her husband chose this path in 2023.
“The events of 2022 certainly played a role, but we had actually been considering giving birth abroad for a long time,” Yana told DW. “Many things could happen in Russia. I always wanted a second passport and wanted to give birth to my child in another country. When I suddenly became pregnant, we only had to decide which country made the most sense.”
Yana gave birth to a son in a public hospital in Florianopolis, the capital of the southern state of Santa Catarina. The family lived in Brazil for approximately three years.
“Obtaining a passport for us and our child was very important. I also enjoyed living there and learning Portuguese,” said Yana. She added that for many years, she and her husband lived as digital nomads across various countries.
While they no longer reside in Brazil, they want their son to maintain a connection to his birthplace. “We read books in Portuguese and often talk about Brazil. I want him to be able to travel visa-free and remain open to the world.”
A Large Russian Community in Florianopolis
One of the largest Russian communities in Brazil is in Florianopolis and continues to grow. According to local health authorities, 119 Russian women utilised prenatal consultation services in the first six months of this year. Throughout 2025, this number reached 136 women.
A lawyer, who requested anonymity, told DW that Brazil does not explicitly prohibit or permit foreigners to enter the country for the purpose of giving birth. Pregnant women often do not disclose their reasons for travel to border officials. Once in Brazil, they can access public hospitals and healthcare facilities for free, regardless of their immigration status.
As birth tourism from Russia increases, a service industry has emerged to cater to it. Newly arrived Russian immigrants often act as intermediaries, helping newcomers find accommodation or medical services. They also assist with complex administrative processes and language barriers. Depending on the services provided, costs can reach thousands of dollars.
However, service providers, lawyers, and volunteers say Brazilian authorities are now increasing oversight, particularly in cities with large Russian communities like Florianopolis. They noted that officials are requesting more documentation than before.
“The police are conducting more thorough checks to ensure that individuals are actually residing at the addresses they provide,” said one lawyer. According to them, previously, some people provided false addresses to expedite the residency process.
No Evidence of Systematic Rejection of Russians
However, DW found no evidence that Russian citizens are being massively denied entry to Brazil. At the end of July, the Russian Telegram channel Baza reported that 10 pregnant women were “deported” from Brazil. This information was subsequently reported by several media outlets. However, Brazilian police denied those reports to…