The United States has introduced new visa restrictions for people involved in commercial birth tourism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy on Wednesday, September 23. It took effect the same day under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The policy focuses on people who knowingly arrange or support trips to the US for the purpose of giving birth and obtaining citizenship for a child.
Who could face restrictions?
The US State Department said: 
“The policy targets individuals who knowingly engage in, have engaged in, or facilitate birth tourism to the United States, including owners, operators, and managers of commercial birth tourism facilitation networks.”
It also targets visa “fixers” who coach applicants to provide false information on visa applications. Foreign medical providers who knowingly support such trips or fraudulent use of Medicaid could also face restrictions. Certain family members may also fall under the policy.
The department accused commercial birth tourism networks of charging large sums to arrange births in the US. It also said some networks coach applicants on how to misrepresent their travel plans.
The US has targeted birth tourism before. In January 2020, the State Department changed its visitor visa rules to allow consular officers to deny B visa applications when they had reason to believe an applicant’s main purpose was to give birth in the US to obtain citizenship for the child.
The latest move goes further by focusing on people who help arrange or facilitate such travel. It follows an August 2026 executive order that directed the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to take steps against birth tourism. The order defined the practice to include entering the US on a non-immigrant visa to give birth, as well as helping another person enter for that purpose. The new policy takes a specific aim at people who facilitate or profit from the practice.
The State Department said the restrictions are intended to protect the US immigration system and prevent what it describes as the misuse of American public benefits.
Birth tourism itself was already not a permitted purpose for obtaining a US visitor visa. The latest policy adds visa restrictions aimed specifically at people who help organise or facilitate it.
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