How I Got Argentine Citizenship by Having a Baby

Why Argentina Has One of the Best Passports in the World

Yes, anyone can get an Argentine passport. Here’s how I did it 🇦🇷

Quick highlights: visa-free access to the EU, UK, Japan, and 172 other countries, delicious steaks, fast and surprisingly simple naturalization process, and a classy mushroom emblem on the cover. A great addition to my collection!

When a Baby Becomes a Global Strategy

There are countries where a baby gets a passport - and in a few, the parents do too. As ancient Jewish wisdom says: “A child is not a luxury, but a mode of transportation.”

Why Argentina Is the Smartest Place to Have a Baby

Of all the viable options for birth-based citizenship, there are really just eight decent ones: USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Chile, and Ecuador.

Canada and Portugal require prior residency before birth.

The U.S.? Risk of a hospital bill the size of a small plane, no passport for parents, and future banking headaches for the child. No thanks - I’ll just buy the plane.

Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador require several years of residency before the parents get citizenship.

Which leaves… Argentina.

How Citizenship-by-Birth Works in Argentina

Here’s the process: you fly in with your pregnant partner on a Russian passport, give birth, and the baby receives permanent residency and a passport within a week. Parents can apply for citizenship right away.

Fast-track court decisions can take 6 months. Worst-case? Up to 5 years stuck in bureaucracy. How to speed it up? File the right court motions, and show up to politely nudge the clerks: Hola, señor, how’s your day? (Pro tip: don’t do this in bad Spanish. Our team has experience - say the code word capybara or a discount if you’ve read this far.)

Medical Experience: Like a Top Private Clinic for $4K

Argentina’s healthcare is excellent - my wife was happy. We spent about $4,000 for a birth experience on par with elite clinics: a private two-room suite and an English-speaking doctor. Plus, they fully support partner births. I got a funny protective suit and walked right in.

Don’t Want Kids? You Can Still Get Citizenship (Slower)

If you’re not having a baby in Argentina, you can still get citizenship - but it’ll take about two years longer.

Argentina Feels Like Home Now

I’ve written more about life in Argentina (see links below). But I’ll say this: the country surprised me in the best way. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to come back to every European winter. Now I return - as a citizen.

Vamos, Argentina!