The modern world consists of nearly 200 countries, and we can group all of them by the principle how they recognize your nationality or citizenship. There are just two principles, and they are called ‘jus sanguinis’ and ‘jus soli’.

In countries that observe jus soli or the right of the soil, you can become a citizen simply because you were born in that country. At the same time, such practice often leads to the abuse of ‘jus soli’ privilege: too many people immigrate to a country.

Many governments have decided to prohibit the right of the soil in an attempt to restrict illegal immigration. Such countries will recognize your nationality only if at least one of the parents is national of a country, and this is the case of jus sanguinis. Jus sanguinis stands for the principle that the country of nationality of a child is that of the country of nationality of his or her parents.

Most countries that practice the right of the soil are located in the Americas, otherwise known as the New World. Canada and the United States are the two well-known developed countries that recognize jus soli.

Here is the entire list of 33 countries that offer citizenship by birthright:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Costa Rica
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Lesotho
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Pakistan
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

This list of countries with approved right of the soil can often change, as many countries constantly update their laws. For example, before 2006, Australia and New Zealand also were on the list. But, as we have mentioned earlier, Australia and New Zealand are trying to prevent illegal immigrants from abusing the right of the soil. Other examples of countries that abolished jus soli are India and Malta.

For you not to confuse a country that applies jus soli with a country that does not, you should check into the laws for a sought country. As for the United States, this is the only country along with Canada that ensure an indisputable right of soil. To know how this can be beneficial for your child, you can read the following article. And remember that it is easier to become a US citizen with a dedicated service.