How much does it cost to give birth in Canada and the U.S. to non-residents
How much does it cost to have a baby in Canada? And in the USA? Where is the better medicine? Where is it cheaper? Is it legal? We tell you.
Is baby tourism legal in Canada?
Baby tourism is popular in Canada because it is one of the few developed countries that gives any child born in Canada the right to become a Canadian citizen, regardless of the citizenship status of the parents or visa status. It is completely legal, tourist visa is processed as usual. An expectant mother may be denied a visa without explanation, so it is worth taking care to prove your intention to return home and your financial solvency. It will be much easier to obtain a visa with a receipt for services and a letter from the doctor who is giving birth.
What does Canadian citizenship mean for the new baby and its parents?
Nothing for the parents, once the child becomes a citizen it has no effect on immigration, citizenship for the parents or residency. As a Canadian citizen, the child becomes eligible for free health care and free education. Once they reach adulthood, they will be able to sponsor their parents and bring them to Canada.
How much does it cost to have a baby in Canada with or without insurance?
Canada has public health care in the form of publicly-funded Medicare. If you are a citizen or permanent resident, you can access this health care system. Then the cost of having a baby will either be completely free or a couple hundred dollars for a private room.
Tourists and non-residents will have to pay the bills out of pocket unless they have international health insurance that will cover the cost. The cost of having a baby in Canada without insurance or access to Canadian Medicare is shown in the table below:
| Medical procedures in Canada | Average cost without insurance | Average cost with international insurance or Medicare |
| Prenatal care and medical supervision, cost per visit | $100 — $150 | $0 |
| Prenatal ultrasound | $300 — $500 | $0 — $300 |
| Natural childbirth in a hospital | $5000 — $8000 | $0 — $1000 |
| C-section in the hospital | $10000 — $12000 | $0 — $1000 |
| Homebirth with a midwife | $2500 | $860 — $2500 |
Prices are in Canadian dollars.
In British Columbia, for example, where baby-tourism is common, there are agents who provide maternity packages. It includes midwife services, a three-month stay (including one month after delivery) without food and prenatal care and costs around $25,000 CAD (about $18,000 US). Together with round trip airfare, food and other expenses the amount would be higher. But in other provinces (e.g. Quebec) it can be cheaper.
How many in the U.S.?
Prices vary greatly from state to state. In New York and Los Angeles the price for direct delivery will be higher than $20000 USD, in Miami — $7-10 thousand, in Salt Lake City — $5-6 thousand. If you consider the turn-key cost in Salt Lake City it will be about $18-22 thousand (including flight, food, accommodation for 2-3 months for two adults and a newborn baby).
So, the prices in Canada and the US are not much different, on average, it's $20,000 U.S. dollars.
So where's better?
Health care in Canada is one of the best in the world and rivals that in the US. Canadian citizenship is as good as American citizenship, and the standard of living in Canada in many aspects (security, access to education, etc.) is higher than in the U.S. However, most baby travelers go to the U.S. because the process is streamlined there, and many suppliers offer their services on a turnkey basis. In Canada, on the other hand, this area of business is almost undeveloped. At the same time "birth tourism" in Canada is 5 times higher than the official statistics.
If you are seriously thinking about giving birth in Canada, we recommend using the services of Canadian Service Centre. The Centre arranges deliveries at Canada's best clinics on a turnkey basis. It is the only company that organises childbirth in Canada legally and by contract. The centre's staff will provide documentation for the border crossing and meet to resolve any disputes with officers.
How long do mother and baby stay in a Canadian hospital after birth?
After a natural birth, women in labour will stay in a Canadian hospital for 2-3 days. After a caesarean section, the length of stay increases to about 4 days.
How do I register my child in Canada?
Each province or territory has its own process for registering your child's birth, so you should check with your local authorities for more information. For example, in Ontario, a child must be registered within the first 30 days of birth.
After you register your child's birth and obtain a birth certificate as proof of Canadian citizenship, you can apply for a Canadian passport for your child. To do this, you will need to:
- Complete this form
- Have a birth certificate
- Have two passport photos
- Find a guarantor (this can be the doctor who saw the baby in the first days after birth)
- Pay the appropriate fees
- Send all documents to the address of the Government of Canada at Passport Office: Gatineau QC K1A 0G3, Canada.
