Following the geopolitical disruptions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Brazilian authorities have noted a rise in immigration from Russia, with birth tourism emerging as a prominent trend. Families are traveling to the South American nation to secure Brazilian nationality for their children, which grants visa-free access to much of the world and provides greater long-term flexibility for education and work.
Yulia and Dmitri, whose names have been altered for safety, traveled from Moscow to Santos in southern Brazil this summer when Yulia was 32 weeks pregnant. At border control, they did not disclose the pregnancy. Their daughter was delivered at a private clinic, and the family is now finalizing the necessary paperwork to secure her Brazilian citizenship.
“We’ve achieved our minimum goal,” Dmitri told Deutsche Welle. “With a Brazilian passport, our daughter will be able to travel without a visa to almost any country in the world. She won’t have to apply for an expensive and time-consuming Schengen visa. We want her to be able to decide for herself where she studies, works or lives.”
The couple spent approximately €10,000 ($11,500) during their first six weeks in Brazil, a sum that covered living expenses and several days of intensive care for their newborn. Dmitri left his banking job in Moscow to accompany his family and plans to seek new employment after they return, though he acknowledges the process of obtaining all documents could take months.
The trend reflects a broader shift in migration patterns. Historically, Argentina was a primary destination for birth tourism; however, it recently tightened its regulations. Since 2025, access to free healthcare for non-permanent residents has been restricted, and citizenship applicants now require at least two years of residency. Consequently, applications for residence permits in Argentina dropped from over 7,000 in 2023 to roughly 1,800 by mid-2025.
In contrast, Brazil issued nearly 500 Brazilian passports to Russians in 2024 and more than 600 in 2025, with women comprising over half of the new citizens. Any individual born on Brazilian soil is automatically entitled to nationality, and parents can often apply for residence permits within a year.
Florianópolis, the capital of the state of Santa Catarina, has become a key hub for this community. Local health data indicates that 119 Russian women utilized prenatal services in the first half of this year, compared to 136 for the entirety of 2025. The city hosts one of the largest Russian expatriate communities in Brazil, leading to the emergence of an intermediary industry that assists newcomers with housing, medical care, and administrative procedures.
Yana, another Russian mother who gave birth in Florianópolis in 2023, noted that while the events of 2022 influenced her decision, she had long considered the option of having a child abroad. Her family remained in Brazil for three years, during which she learned Portuguese and established a life as a digital nomad. Although they now live elsewhere, they maintain a connection to Brazil for their son.
Legal professionals report that while Brazil neither explicitly prohibits nor permits entry solely for the purpose of giving birth, authorities are increasing scrutiny. Police in cities with significant Russian populations are conducting more thorough checks to verify residential addresses, a shift from previous years when false addresses were sometimes used to expedite permits.
Despite rumors circulated on Russian social media channels such as Baza, which claimed that pregnant women were being deported from Russia, Brazilian police denied these reports to DW. Officials stated that entry decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and that pregnancy is not a factor. DW identified only one documented case of a pregnant Russian woman being initially denied entry, which was resolved after legal intervention regarding proof of financial means.
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