Citizenship by birth

Childbirth in Canada: your baby becomes a Canadian citizen

Canada is one of the few developed countries that still grants citizenship by birth (jus soli) to every child born on its soil, whatever the parents' status. We have arranged births in Toronto and across Ontario for more than twenty years: the obstetrician, the hospital, the birth registration and the Canadian passport, in three to four weeks.

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Figures verified 27 September 2026 · Licensed CICC consultant, Toronto

At birthcitizenship, by law (Citizenship Act s.3)

3–4 weeksbirth certificate and passport

CA$20–35ktypical all-in budget, uncomplicated birth

On this page

CostOntario hospital and doctor fees Benefits and risksAdvantages and limitations ProcessApplication stages and timelines

Giving birth in Canada: key facts on citizenship, cost and documents

Birthright Citizenship Under Citizenship Act, s.3(1)(a): Every child born in Canada is a citizen, except children of foreign diplomats (s.3(2))
Parents' Status Irrelevant to the Child: Visitors, students, workers: the child is Canadian regardless
Birth Permitted on Visitor Status: IRCC: giving birth in Canada does not breach any condition of a visitor's stay
CA$16,000–19,000 Ontario Hospital Package (2026): At many hospitals, before physician fees; NICU is extra
Birth Certificate First, Then Passport: Usually within 3–4 weeks of the birth
Child's Passport Visa-Free to About 185 Destinations: Among the ten strongest in the world
Dual Citizenship Allowed: Canada has permitted it since 1977
No Status and No Coverage for the Parents: You enter and leave as visitors; the child can sponsor you at 18

Giving birth in Canada: our service process and timeline

Nine stages, most of which we manage on your behalf, so you can focus on the pregnancy.

1
Agreement and plan Week 1
We confirm your due date, medical history and budget, and sign the service agreement. You receive a written cost estimate for the hospital you choose.
2
We secure the obstetrician and hospital Weeks 1–3
We place you with a reputable obstetrician and a hospital in Toronto, the GTA or elsewhere in Ontario, and arrange the hospital's non-resident deposit and registration.
3
Visa and arrival preparation
Visitor visa or eTA, travel insurance that at least covers complications, accommodation near the hospital, and a letter from the obstetrician for the airline and border.
4
Arrival Around week 32–34
Airlines generally stop carrying passengers late in the third trimester; we plan the flight with your doctor.
5
Prenatal care
First appointment, ultrasound and follow-ups with the same obstetrician who will deliver.
6
The birth
Vaginal delivery or caesarean as medically needed, with a typical two-day stay. Everything is pre-paid; there are no unexpected charges if the birth is uncomplicated.
7
First paediatric visit
We book the newborn's first check-up and any vaccinations required before travel.
8
Birth certificate and Canadian passport 3–4 weeks
We register the birth with ServiceOntario and file the child's Canadian passport application. Both documents usually arrive within three to four weeks.
9
Departure
You return home with your child, a Canadian citizen. We remain your contact for the child's future passport renewals and, one day, sponsorship questions.

Cost of giving birth in Canada: Ontario uninsured patient fees (2026)

Uninsured patient (non-OHIP) rates. The Ontario Medical Association's 2026 uninsured rate is 2.9 times the insured fee, so figures vary by hospital and doctor; we quote a specific hospital in writing.

Item	Typical range	Notes
Hospital package, vaginal birth	CA$6,000–16,000	Two-day stay and newborn care; some hospitals bundle physician fees, most do not
Hospital package, caesarean	CA$9,000–19,000	Surgery, anaesthesia and a longer stay
Obstetrician and anaesthetist	CA$3,000–6,000	Billed separately at most hospitals
Prenatal visits, ultrasound, bloodwork	CA$1,500–3,000	Two to four visits after arrival
Paediatrician, newborn screening	CA$500–1,000
Birth certificate and passport	Under CA$300	Government fees
NICU, if needed	CA$2,000–5,000 per day	The principal cost that can escalate; insure for complications where possible
Our service fee	Quoted in writing	Hospital placement, coordination, documents

Hospitals typically require a deposit of CA$10,000–20,000 before delivery. Standard travel medical insurance excludes routine delivery; some policies cover complications of pregnancy if bought early.

Canadian citizenship by birth: benefits and limitations

What you gain

Citizenship by right, not by applicationThe child is Canadian from the moment of birth by operation of law; there is no citizenship application that can be refused.
A Canadian passport for lifeVisa-free or on-arrival access to around 185 destinations, and the right to live, study and work in Canada without a permit.
Public healthcare and education when residentOHIP and free public schooling once the child lives in Ontario; university at domestic tuition rates.
A path for the familyAt 18 the child can sponsor parents for permanent residence, subject to the rules at the time.
Transmissible to grandchildrenUnder Bill C-3 (in force 15 December 2025) a Canadian-born child can pass citizenship to children born abroad, if they meet a 1,095-day presence test in Canada.

What could go wrong

No immigration status for the parentsGiving birth in Canada gives you no status, no PR and no coverage. You enter and leave Canada as visitors.
Fully self-fundedA complicated birth or a NICU stay can multiply the bill. We require a contingency budget and, where possible, complications cover.
The visa is not automaticPregnancy is not a ground for refusal, but weak ties to your home country or unclear funds are. Some nationalities face long processing.
The law could changeBirthright citizenship is politically debated in Canada. As of September 2026 it stands unchanged; we monitor it.
Tax and reporting for US parentsA US-citizen parent's child is generally also a US citizen, with US filing obligations later in life.

Jane Katkova, licensed CICC citizenship and residency by investment consultant

Licensed CICC consultancy, Toronto

Plan a birth in Canada with a licensed consultant

Jane Katkova has advised on citizenship and residence by investment since 1998. We confirm eligibility, the complete fee schedule and the realistic processing time before you pay anything, and we advise against a programme when it does not fit your circumstances.

Book a consultation or call +1 (416) 661-4487

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Legal basis for jus soli citizenship: Citizenship Act s.3(1)(a)

Section 3(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act makes every person born in Canada a citizen. The only exception, in section 3(2), is a child whose parent is a foreign diplomat, consular officer or representative with status under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act. There is no Canadian law against travelling to Canada to give birth, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's own guidance states that giving birth does not breach a temporary resident's conditions.

Two things follow. First, the child's citizenship is not something a hospital, an officer or a change of government can withhold at the time of birth. Second, everything else — your entry, your care, your costs — is governed by ordinary visitor rules, which is why preparation matters more than the birth itself.

A street in Toronto, where most of our childbirth clients stay – Childbirth in Canada — Most families stay four to six weeks in Toronto or the GTA, close to the hospital we arrange.

Toronto skyline across Lake Ontario at sunset – Childbirth in Canada

Aerial view of the Toronto waterfront and CN Tower – Childbirth in Canada

Toronto skyline seen from a lakeside park – Childbirth in Canada

Harbourfront parks and marina in Toronto – Childbirth in Canada

Who childbirth in Canada suits: families in the US and abroad

For families living in the United States

Your child would also be born a citizen in the US, so the relevant question is what Canada adds. Three reasons our US-based clients give: the birth typically costs about 45% less than an uninsured US delivery; a Canadian-citizen child later has the right to study and work in Canada, and to public healthcare and education when resident; and a second strong passport is a lifetime asset. If you are a US citizen, your child is usually also a US citizen through you, subject to the US transmission rules, so the child ends up with both.

A four-to-six-week stay in Toronto around the due date
You enter Canada as a visitor; no Canadian coverage, so everything is pre-paid
We book the obstetrician and hospital before you travel

For families living outside Canada and the US

This is most of our childbirth clients: families from the Gulf, Nigeria, India, Vietnam, China and Eastern Europe who want their child to hold a Canadian passport from day one. You need a Canadian visitor visa or eTA in your own right, and pregnancy is not a reason for refusal under IRCC guidance, but you must show you can pay for the birth and will leave afterwards. We prepare that evidence with you.

Apply for the visa early; some nationalities take months
Hospitals ask for a deposit of CA$10,000–20,000 before delivery
Your child's Canadian passport does not give you status; the child can sponsor you at 18

Request a written childbirth plan and hospital cost estimate

A confidential call with our team in Toronto, a written estimate for a named hospital, and a timeline that works with your doctor and your visa.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Canada citizenship: your questions answered

Can a visitor give birth in Canada?

Yes. Canada's immigration rules place no restriction on a foreign national giving birth in Canada, and IRCC's guidance says it does not breach a visitor's conditions. You must hold a valid visitor visa or eTA and be able to pay for your care.

Will I be refused a visa because I am pregnant?

Not for the pregnancy itself. Officers assess the ordinary factors: funds, ties to your home country, travel history and the purpose of the visit. Declaring the birth and showing proof you have arranged and can pay for care is both accurate and, in our experience, the stronger application.

Is my baby automatically a Canadian citizen?

Yes, under section 3(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act, from the moment of birth, with the sole exception of children of foreign diplomats. No application for citizenship is needed; we register the birth and apply for the passport.

How much does it cost to give birth in Canada as a non-resident?

For an uncomplicated birth in Ontario in 2026, budget CA$20,000–35,000 all in: hospital package, physicians, prenatal care, documents and our fee. A caesarean adds several thousand dollars and a NICU stay can add far more, which is why we plan a contingency. We give you a written estimate for a specific hospital before you travel.

Can the father and family visit the hospital?

Yes. Fathers, partners and relatives can attend the birth and visit, subject to the hospital's normal policies.

Does the child's citizenship help the parents immigrate?

Not immediately. A Canadian-citizen child gives the parents no status. Once the child turns 18 and meets the income and other requirements in force at the time, they can sponsor their parents for permanent residence.

Can my Canadian-born child pass citizenship to their own children born abroad?

Yes. Bill C-3, in force since 15 December 2025, removed the old first-generation limit. For children born abroad after that date, the Canadian parent must show 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the birth.

Other citizenship programmes we advise on

Compare them side by side: investment citizenship programmes and Caribbean citizenship by investment compared. Prefer residence to a second passport? See United States investor visas or Malta permanent residence.

Official sources and references

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Programme rules change; we confirm every figure before you commit.

Jane Katkova, founder of Fast Passport Boutique and licensed CICC consultant for citizenship and residency by investment

Talk to Jane Katkova's team

Discuss Canada with a licensed consultant

A confidential consultation with a licensed CICC consultant. We assess eligibility and total cost before you commit to any programme.

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Toronto office, clients across the US and Canada
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Citizenship by Investment

Residence by Investment

Childbirth in Canada: your baby becomes a Canadian citizen

Giving birth in Canada: key facts on citizenship, cost and documents

Giving birth in Canada: our service process and timeline

Agreement and plan Week 1

We secure the obstetrician and hospital Weeks 1–3

Visa and arrival preparation

Arrival Around week 32–34

Prenatal care

The birth

First paediatric visit

Birth certificate and Canadian passport 3–4 weeks

Departure

Cost of giving birth in Canada: Ontario uninsured patient fees (2026)