Argentina's Cracking Down on Russian Birth Tourism

In the last year or so, thousands of Russians have migrated to Argentina in the hopes of starting a new life.

Unfortunately, Argentine immigration discovered that pregnant Russian immigrants were arriving on Argentine soil to give birth to an Argentine baby. That way, these women could apply for permanent residency.

In theory, it's one of the easiest ways to become an Argentine resident and acquire an Argentine passport. 

I've met people from other Latin American countries like Peru and Colombia who have attempted to gain permanent residency this way and succeeded. In fact, one person told me the immigration office in Cordoba City advised her to do this.

But as I mentioned earlier, the Argentines have caught on and are now cracking down on birth tourism. In other words, they are allegedly turning some pregnant Russian women away. 

I'm not sure how permanent this change in the immigration policy is or if it applies to all Russian immigrants. The Argentines claim that they welcome everyone as long as they are here to stay. But their concerns stem over reports that some immigrants only stay in Argentina long enough to acquire an Argentine passport. Then they leave the country and use their newfound Argentine ID to do shady things abroad. 

So, for now, play it safe. If you're pregnant, but not showing, don't say that you are... even if they ask you at the airport.

This article suggests that the Argentines only detained six pregnant Russian women earlier this year because they were falsely claiming to be tourists.

My advice would be to get pregnant with your partner while you're in Argentina.

Now, I posted the following blog entries on immigration approximately ten years ago:

How to Deal With the Immigration Nightmare in Argentina

Can Immigrants Get Deported From Argentina?

Most of the information on the links above still applies. But there are one or two things I wanted to update you on.

Ten years ago, the fee for an Argentine visa was only $300 Argentine pesos, which was worth nothing in USD. 

But as of 2023, the fee for an Argentine visa is $150 USD. That's $30,108 Argentine pesos (based on the currency exchange rate from March 2023)

There are some countries that offer visa-free travel. This means you don't need to apply for a visa to get in. Russia and the United States are among these countries. 

However, if you're a member of any of the countries on this list, you may have to apply and be approved for a visa before heading to Argentina.