For instance, in the United States, a child born on a plane over U.S. territory or within its airspace is automatically granted U.S. citizenship.

Determining the citizenship of a "Skyborn" baby is a complex legal issue governed by two primary international principles: Jus Soli (right of the soil) and Jus Sanguinis (right of blood). Under Jus Soli, countries like the U.S. and Canada automatically grant citizenship if the birth occurs in their sovereign airspace. However, most countries follow Jus Sanguinis, meaning the child inherits the parents' nationality regardless of location. If a birth occurs in international airspace where no country claims sovereignty, the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness suggests the baby may take the nationality of the country where the aircraft is registered. Airlines are required to record the birth in the captain's log, noting the exact latitude, longitude, and time of birth to assist with the subsequent legal filings. While rare, these births can lead to dual citizenship or, in extremely unusual cases, legal disputes that require diplomatic intervention to ensure the child is not left stateless.