Childbirth in Argentina attracts more and more expectant parents from all over the world. Argentine citizenship, which a child receives by birth, opens doors to dozens of countries without visas and gives parents a chance to obtain a second passport. What does this process look like in practice and what to consider when preparing? We talked with Anna and Alina, two moms who have come this way and are ready to share their experiences.
Anna’s story: she lived in Argentina before giving birth
There is a law in Argentina called “Respectful childbirth”.
— My name is Anna. Before giving birth, I lived in Argentina for more than 5 years. I had no doubts about where to give birth, because in Argentina there is a high level of medicine, amazing, empathic doctors and, most importantly, there is a law “Respectful childbirth”: it says that the expectant mother has the right to choose herself which way to give birth, in what position and under what conditions.
When I became pregnant, I immediately decided that I would give birth in a private hospital in order to be able to have epidural anesthesia. Unfortunately, this option is not available in municipal clinics.
— At 41.3 days, I was stimulated to give birth, which lasted 12 hours. The conditions of my birth did not give me the opportunity to give birth naturally, and I was urgently operated on. Nothing hurt after the cesarean section!
At the hospital, I was taught how to breastfeed a baby. Breastfeeding consultants are available in every maternity hospital and this is not considered a luxury. Two days later, I was discharged and I walked five blocks to the house with a stroller without any pain.
Citizenship documents are made for the baby in two weeks; parents can also immediately proceed with their registration. Now the terms of receipt have been significantly reduced, and the procedures have been simplified. Specifically, we made the documents earlier.
— Initially, I really liked the people in Argentina! They are pleasant, sociable and responsive. There is no discrimination here and everyone is curious about visitors. Argentina is a country of migrants, and all the locals themselves are descendants of foreigners.
At the same time, English is not enough to live here. Not so long ago, English was banned in Argentina and people did not learn it at school. Therefore, today it is spoken by a very small percentage of Argentines.
Buenos Aires is safe when it comes to good neighborhoods. A big city attracts many different people, just like any other capital. I live in the Belgrano area — it’s a nice residential area. It is not safe in the Buenos Aires and Rosario region; it is not safe outside the capital either. It is safer in other regions.
I went from a second-hand seller to an entrepreneur. It was very hard for me! To get out of the poor migration, I quickly learned the language, worked hard, and went to study. My main desire was to live a good life in a country that was then foreign to me. This desire has helped me to live a good life in my native state today.
The budget for living will depend on the standard of living and the number of people. According to my feelings, a couple with a child needs about $2000—$2500 per month.
We travel a lot and often in Argentina — the country is very conducive to this. I love Patagonia, Catamarca and the small village on Karilo beach.
Alina’s story: she arrived in Argentina 6.5 months before giving birth
The birth cost me $1,700.
— My name is Alina, I am 36 years old. For over 18 years I have been teaching foreign languages: English, German and Russian as a foreign language. The latter is my special love, because teaching Russian as a foreign language gives me the opportunity to meet different people from all over the world.
I always knew that I would live far from home. I think that my studies at the linguistic faculty strongly influenced this decision. After all, why study foreign languages if you don’t apply them in a natural environment?
Today I have managed to live for 3 years in Germany, where I studied at the university and received a second master’s degree in linguistics; then I spent a year with my family in Turkey, and now it is the 10th month of our life in Argentina. In addition, I have had numerous internships in England, language courses in Australia and a lot of travel.
— In February 2023, we decided to try to get a visa to the United States with the prospect of giving birth there. From Turkey, where we had been living for six months, we went to Warsaw, but our trip was not a success (that’s what we thought at the time) — we were refused a visa. But we didn’t get upset for long (about 30 minutes), went to the nearest cafe and sat down to plan our vacation, which we were already actually on.
When we returned to Turkey, we decided that we would plan a pregnancy and give birth there. Good climate, sea, mountains, fresh fruits, vegetables and many other advantages. But the plan did not come to fruition again, as in Turkey they practically stopped issuing residence permits.
And we started thinking about where we could move to. The Schengen visas had already expired at that time, so there were significantly fewer options. And we also have one small nuance: we move around the world with a dog. And this makes the whole process very complicated, starting from choosing a country where you can move with a dog less problematic, to choosing an apartment (not everyone wants to rent their apartments to tenants with a dog, and we understand them).
So, literally in an hour of reflection (that is, absolutely spontaneously), we came up with the idea to go to Argentina, Buenos Aires. Many people go to this country to give birth, because children born there immediately receive citizenship. Parents can also apply for it by providing the necessary set of documents and having lived in this country for some time. The whole process takes about two years. Someone is more lucky, and parents get an Argentine passport faster. An absolute Argentine random, which makes no sense to try to understand.
And so, a month later, me, my husband Dmitry, our dog Lucky, four suitcases and our son Leon in my stomach (who actually arrived as a “hare”) leave the airport terminal. We arrived in September, and in Argentina it is the end of winter. It immediately becomes clear that the opposite is true here. But that’s even more interesting.
— Preparing for the birth of a child in Argentina is actually quite an exciting process. The first thing to do is to choose a hospital and a doctor. It is important to explore all available options in advance, read reviews and, if possible, chat with other expats who have already gone through this. Of the documents, only a passport is needed.
We arrived in Argentina 6.5 months before the birth, and it was the perfect solution for us. We not only managed to prepare for childbirth, but also settled in, got used to a new place and culture. We chose the country not only for childbirth, but also for life for the next few years, so such an early move allowed us to comfortably settle in and feel at home here.
However, many people arrive 1 month before the birth (the main thing is to be allowed on the plane), because you need to have about two months left to process documents for the child. The tourist visa is valid for 90 days. But, if you stay in the country longer, you will simply need to pay a fine for overstay.
— There are several things that you should pay attention to before giving birth in Argentina.
First, housing. It is better to rent an apartment near the hospital in advance so that in an emergency you do not have to drive for a long time.
Secondly, the language. If you do not speak Spanish, I advise you to find an interpreter or choose a doctor who speaks English well. But this is not a call to action, because many people feel safer giving birth with a translator. And if you want to give birth for free in a public hospital (there is also such an option and it can also be easily used), then you definitely need an interpreter there.
The cost of childbirth in Argentina can vary greatly. As I said, you can give birth absolutely free of charge in a public hospital. And if you choose a private clinic, it will cost about 1700-5000 US dollars. This amount usually includes all necessary procedures and hospital stay. Of course, if there are any additional requests or force majeure, the price may rise.
Be sure to clarify all the details in advance so that there are no surprises later. For example, we did a little research, went to hospitals, talked to local people, and this helped us choose the best option in terms of price-quality ratio.
— I gave birth at IMO (Medical Institute of Obstetrics). It is one of the most famous medical institutions in Argentina specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Highly qualified specialists work there, the staff is very attentive and caring. But this institute doesn’t look like a five-star hotel. Inside, everything is quite simple, and the furniture in the wards is outdated. But for us, this is not as important as, for example, the professionalism of doctors.
My delivery cost me $1,700. We paid $1,200 at the maternity hospital when we signed the contract, and $500 to the doctor who managed my pregnancy and delivered the baby. It was possible not to pay, but then the delivery would be taken by the on-duty team. By the way, having signed a contract with IMO, I no longer had to pay for doctor’s appointments before giving birth, as well as passing all tests (tests, CTG, ultrasound), and this is a good saving.
Based on our experience, I can say that the level of medicine in Argentina is quite high, especially in private clinics. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of medical care and the professionalism of the doctors. The clinic staff is very attentive and caring, always ready to help and answer all questions.
As for the equipment, it is modern and allows you to carry out all the necessary procedures in the best possible way. We also liked that many doctors speak English, which makes it easier to communicate if Spanish is not up to par yet.
After giving birth, the mother and baby are under the supervision of doctors and nurses. In the early days, they regularly check the child’s health status, help with breastfeeding and give useful advice on care.
In private clinics, as a rule, it is possible to get consultations from pediatricians who monitor the development of the child and answer all questions from parents. For example, they helped us a lot in the early days, when we were just getting used to the new role of parents.
After discharge, we found a pediatrician, whom we regularly visit to this day. She speaks excellent English, attentively conducts receptions, gives good recommendations and places great emphasis on the safety of the child. She conducted a theoretical and practical workshop on accident prevention and first aid for children for us and other parents.
— It is very easy and fast to obtain citizenship for a child born in Argentina.As soon as the baby is born, it needs to be registered at the local registry office (Registro Civil). This is usually done directly at the hospital or at the nearest registry office. After registration, you will be given a birth certificate (Partida de Nacimiento), which confirms the citizenship of the child.
Next, you need to get a national identity card (DNI) for the child. To do this, go to the office of the National Register of People (RENAPER) with a copy of your birth certificate and your passports. You will need this ID for everything else.
If you need a passport, you can apply for it there, at RENAPER. You will need to take the child’s birth certificate and DNI. A passport is usually made fairly quickly and costs about $40.
Our son Leon already has all the documents. We haven’t been so lucky yet. But since we now have an Argentine in our family, we will also be able to get a DNI and apply for Argentine citizenship.
We have already submitted all the necessary documents for the National Identity Card (DNI), which will be ready within a few months. We already have the right to apply for the passport itself, having collected the necessary documents. All documents here, by the way, are delivered to the house by mail.
— Argentine citizenship is a whole set of nice bonuses! Firstly, with an Argentine passport, you can travel without a visa or obtain visas on preferential terms to more than 170 countries. So if you like to travel, this is a great plus.
Secondly, Argentine citizens are free to work and do business. There are also government programs to support entrepreneurs, so if you have a startup dream, welcome!
Free education and medicine are also on top. You can study and be treated without worrying about your wallet. And there are also a lot of social benefits — from pensions to benefits. This is very supportive, especially if you are planning a long-term life here.
And, of course, the right to vote in all elections. You can finally feel like a real participant in the life of the country, and not just a guest. Plus, Argentina allows dual citizenship, so you don’t have to choose between your homeland and your new home.
In general, Argentine citizenship is not just a passport, but a whole ticket to a new life with many possibilities. And if you’re here, why not take advantage of all these bonuses?
— Of course, life in Argentina has its pros and cons. The economy is very unstable here, but we have learned to adapt and find solutions. Mosquitoes do not sleep here either, especially in the warmer months, so stock up on repellents. Well, unfortunately, there are cases of street thefts, so it’s better to always be on the lookout and not leave things unattended.
As for the advantages, we like the climate here the most. Summers are hot, winters are very mild, and most importantly, the sun shines here all year round.
Argentines are so friendly that sometimes it seems like they are your old friends. We are always warmly welcomed, and this makes life here very comfortable. And what about the food? Ah, Argentinean meat! It’s just fantastic.
Living in Buenos Aires with a child is quite comfortable. The city offers many opportunities for families with children. There are many green parks and playgrounds where you can spend time outdoors.
In short, we have sincerely fallen in love with this country, so we plan to continue living here.
Author
Yulia Yanukovych Editor-in-Chief
I am responsible for the work of the editorial office. I write expert interviews and guides.
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