Requests for Brazilian Birth Certificates for Children Born in USA Surge

Requests for Brazilian birth certificates for children born in the United States to at least one Brazilian parent have reached record levels. According to data from Itamaraty, there were more than 21,000 requests last year, compared to 5,660 requests four years prior. Across all 11 Brazilian consulates in the U.S. the number of requests grew by 271 percent between 2021 and 2025. The highest increases were seen in Boston, New York, and Miami, where requests rose by 551 percent, 339 percent, and 119 percent respectively.

Reports indicate two primary drivers for this increase. First, the immigration policies of the Donald Trump administration have prompted parents to secure Brazilian nationality for their children to avoid family separation in the event of detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This fear stems from practices during Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021, when thousands of families were separated. While there are reports of similar cases in his second term, they are on a smaller scale and the government has not officially acknowledged it as policy. Additionally, the requirement for U.S. citizens to obtain visas to travel to Brazil, which began in the first half of 2025, has led parents to seek Brazilian certificates and passports so their children can travel without a visa.

To obtain a certificate for a child under 12, families must provide the child's birth certificate, the Brazilian certificate of the Brazilian parent, and the certificate of the foreign parent if applicable. For children over 12, two witnesses must provide declarations. The Brazilian government notes that requesting these documents through a local consulate is a free process.