Surrogacy By Country
A key question for many is where to access surrogacy. If it is legal in your country and you can afford it and can locate a suitable surrogate, surrogacy in your home country is the ideal option. (see Countries Allowing Surrogacy)
Before choosing a destination, find out
- What legal protections if any does the jurisdiction offer to intended parents and surrogates?
- Is transfer of legal parentage available in the jurisdiction in question?
- What are the eligibility criteria for surrogacy (Do you need to be a citzen of that country? Is it available to single men? Gay couples? Unmarried heterosexual couples?)
- How long are the exit requirements post birth?
- Is surrogate compensation allowed?
- Is Health insurance available for the surrogate and any post birth complications?
- Are contracts legally enforceable?
- What Neo-Natal Intensive Care Facilities are available?
- What do these cost?
- Can the intended parent(s) be present at the birth?
Regulatory Issues which may be relevant
- Is there a Medical Registry for updating the medical history of the surrogates or the children?
- Is there a registry for the surrogate and children to exchange information when the child reaches maturity?
The table below lists issues related to surrogacy in various countries which allow it.
| Country | Limitations | Egg Donors |
|---|---|---|
| AUSTRALIA | Altruistic surrogacy only available. No donor or surrogate matching available. Advertising for surrogates not legalAll donors must be identified
Ethics committee approval often required Foreigners cannot access surrogacy in Australia |
User groups such as www.eggdonationaustralia.com.au can provide |
| CAMBODIA | Only one IVF clinic which has been operational only 10 months
Absence of laws pertaining to surrogacy No laws protecting the rights of surrogates or intended parents Few IVF physicians. Limited capacity Surrogates can only be recruited by word-of-mouth |
Some in-country egg donors available |
| CANADA | Altruistic surrogacy only available.Foreigners can access surrogacy | |
| CYPRUS | Clinics are not legally able to provide surrogates. Instead you must work with a third party who provides surrogates.www.reproductive-solutions.com is recommended
For Gay couples and singles, legal protection of parentage is only available using a US or EU surrogate |
primarily young University students from differing ethnicities. Proven donors are available.In-country donors are anonymous, hence no donor photos are available
Fly-in donors are available |
| CYPRUS-USA | Flying US surrogate to Cyprus for Embryo transfer, gestation & birth in USA.IVF costs significantly reduced. Advantageous for EU IPs not wishing to travel to the US for IVF & American IP’s wanting to lower IVF costs | broad range of egg donors, primarily International University students. Also has proven donors available. Donor sperm available from the Danish Cryo Bank |
| GREECE | Surrogate cannot be compensated beyond out-of-pocket expenses | you may bring your own donor if preferred Eggs/embryos/sperm are able to be shipped directly from your registered clinic. |
| INDIA | Only heterosexual couples married for >2 years Your home country must permit surrogacy. IPs cannot be present for delivery Surrogate breast milk generally unavailable. Expressed milk may be available on negotiation gender selection unavailable. Scans during pregnancy will not reveal sex | In-country donors are anonymous however donor photos may be available other details provided: age, height, weight, previous donation history, children, blood group, education level/ occupation
Infectious diseases Screening embryo genetic testing available upon request Fly-in Caucasian, Latin, Black and Asian donors are available |
| MEXICO | Increasingly popular Surrogate birth only legal in Tabasco state (Villahermosa)
Embryo transfer occurs in Cancun or Mexico City often |
Caucasian and Latin Sperm and Egg Donors available. Possible to bring your own surrogate and /or known donor.no waiting list |
| NEPAL | Increasingly popular. Only non-Nepalese can be surrogates, so all surrogates relocate from India
Currently > 8 offshore agencies working with 3-4 locally-based embryologists and IVF specialists. |
Indian or other egg donors available |
| POLAND | Surrogacy IVF cycles take place in India, so both you and the surrogate travel there for the transfer | unknown |
| THAILAND | No longer available to foreigners | |
| UK | Altruistic surrogacy only available. Advertising for surrogates not legal foreigners cannot access surrogacy in UK | |
| UKRAINE/ GEORGIA | Only heterosexual married couples | Caucasian, offer photos with family history, occupation/ area of study, previous donor history and physical details. |
| USA | Foreigners can access surrogacy here see surrogacy laws by US state | Very wide range available from donor agencies or privately |
| Country | Approx Costs($US) | Donor & Surrogate screening | Years Experience | Legal Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUSTRALIA | IVF: $15,000 Surrogacy: $22,000 |
Donor screening offered only if through an egg bank | <5 years | Transfer of legal parentage available 4-6 months post birth if uncompensated surrogacy used domestically. |
| CAMBODIA | $45,000 | Donor screening offered only if through an egg bank | <6 months | No laws pertaining to surrogacy |
| CANADA | $90,000 | >15 years | ||
| UK | www.SurrogacyUK.com offers a forum for meeting potential surrogates and facilities agreements | >15 years | Transfer of legal parentage available | |
| USA | IVF costs: $18,000 Surrogacy: $68,000 Other costs: $20,000 |
Varies by agency | 30 years | Parents names on the BC as mother and father |
| CYPRUS-USA | Unknown | Surrogate screening done by US agency | ? | Parents names on the BC as mother and father |
| INDIA | IVF: $2,000 + Surrogacy: $22,500 + Indian egg donor: add $4,000 Fly-in donor: add $14,000+ |
surrogates screened for infectious diseases; must have at least one child of their own, with a problem free pregnancy |
8 years | Parents names on the BC as mother and father indian surrogates cannot be named as the mother |
| NEPAL | $35,000 – $45,000 | As for India | 15 months | Parents names on the Nepali BC as mother and father |
| UKRAINE/GEORGIA | IVF: $8,500 Surrogacy: $26,000 + Local egg donor add $5,000 + |
according to age, genetics and lifestyle, mental and physical health | ~5 years | Intended Parents named on birth certificate to meet the criteria of countries such as the UK, single surrogates are available and DNA testing is available |
| POLAND | IVF: $10,850 Surrogacy: $35,800 + Known egg donor add $8,200 + |
unknown | ? | Surrogate & biological father listed on birth certificate PROCEED WITH CAUTION |
| GREECE | IVF: $5,100 Surrogacy: $34,000 + Local egg donor: add $1,360 + Fly-in donor: add $12,200+ EU surrogate: add $28 500+ |
? | Recently opened up to foreigners Surrogate & biological father listed on birth certificate |
|
| MEXICO | $39,000 (incl US egg donor) | unknown | <1 year | |
| CYPRUS | IVF : $3050 + IVF + Egg Donor: $6,100 + Surrogacy: $32,500 Fly-In Donor: add $5,430 EU surrogate: add $21,700+ US surrogate: add $62,000 |
<4 years | Surrogate & biological father listed on birth certificate |