Women hoping to gain citizenship by giving birth in the U.S. are now more likely to be turned away. An estimated 10,000 to 40,000 birth tourists arrive in the U.S. annually. Canada sees about 4,000 birth tourists per year.

Meanwhile, Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom have laws to discourage birth tourism. However, Canada automatically grants citizenship to people born in the country. 

Doctors are urging the federal government to do more to prevent the practice. An influx of birth tourism would put an even greater strain on Canada’s heath care system. Nearly 25% of babies born in Richmond have mothers who are foreign nationals. Illegitimate businesses selling opportunities to give birth in Canada are the culprit, charging tens of thousands of dollars in fees. The increase in the practice is currently being investigated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.