Chilean authorities revise citizenship rules for children of foreigners
The government of Chile has decided to tighten the rules for granting citizenship to children born to foreign nationals in the country. Previously, Chile was a popular destination for so-called "birth tourism," as the birth of a child automatically granted them the right to a Chilean passport.
Under the new rules, citizenship by birth will no longer be granted automatically if the child's parents are not permanent residents of the country. Authorities emphasize that citizenship status now requires a genuine connection to the state, rather than just the fact of the child being born in a local maternity hospital.
This decision directly affects many Russian citizens who had planned to obtain Chilean citizenship for their children. Families who leave the country immediately after giving birth now risk losing the right to obtain Chilean documents for their children.
Chilean migration services have begun conducting thorough checks on citizenship applications. In cases where parents cannot prove their intention to remain in the country, passports will be denied. Experts recommend that Russians planning trips abroad for childbirth carefully study the current legislation of their chosen countries.
At the moment, the situation remains difficult for those who have already begun the documentation process. Lawyers advise monitoring official updates to Chile's migration policy, as the rules may continue to change in the near future.