As many of our readers already know, we started our NEST project after many years of working with beautiful Ukraine and thanks to our amazing team there. Despite this awful war, we are continuing to support all our families and surrogates with personalised support, adapting to the changing circumstances so they can finish their programmes but we are no longer able to start new journeys for the time being.
This has led us to strengthen our ties with our international partners in Mexico and also seek new partners in other countries where surrogacy can take place.
If you are still looking for surrogacy options or looking to redirect your programme to another country, we have made a brief summary of destinations in which we can support you:
Mexico (& US)
⦁ About:
We have been working with our current partner for 4 years and they have been successfully running
programmes for European clients for over 10 years. He is a dad through surrogacy himself and has a very close-knit team who share the same values as NEST.
⦁ Legal:
- Like the US, Surrogacy in Mexico depends on a federal system, meaning that different states have differentlegislation. Some states such as Tabasco have an outright ban on surrogacy for foreigners but others have no surrogacy laws meaning its unregulated but possible by notarising contracts with authorities.
- Following delivery, the surrogate’s name and the genetically linked father go on the Mexican Birth Certificate.
- Once the surrogate has signed a document giving her permission, the intended parents can take their child out of Mexico. For some receiving countries, the Intended Father may have to have a genetic link to the child in order to process citizenship of that country.
- Babies born in Mexico or US will be awarded passport of this county and this takes approx. 1 month.
⦁ Who can participate?:
- Option available to all families – single parents, LGTBQ+ couples, heterosexual couples. You do not need to be married or have a medical indication for surrogacy.
⦁ Donors:
- Egg donation is anonymous but photos are available.
- Wide range of different phenotypes from all neighbouring countries.
⦁ Surrogates:
- Short matching time with surrogates, all of them live in Mexico City and surrounding areas and live with their families during the pregnancy.
- Surrogates are well vetted and recruited by an experienced psychologist.
⦁ Pros:
- Choosing Mexico as you destination also means that you have several hybrid options to carry out part or all or your programme in either Mexico or USA.
- Options for embryo donation or double donation (depending on the legal specifics of your country).
- Your baby will obtain either a Mexican/US passport (depending on country of birth) meaning you will be able to go home after approximately 1 month.
⦁ Cons
- If you choose to ship embryos, this can take some time as a special COFEPRIS permit will need to be issued for the clinic to receive your material.
- Both Intended Parents names won’t be on the birth certificate – only the biological father and the surrogate (This can later be removed in another process).
- Depending on your country of residence, you may need to check if your baby can enter visa free with a Mexican/US passport.
⦁ Cost:
Options from 54.900€
Argentina
⦁ About:
- Surrogacy programmes in Argentina started to gain popularity in 2017-2018 and were working very successfully
- until the country closed its borders amidst the covid pandemic. We recently struck a partnership with an agency
- which has been working very successfully at a national and continental level during this time and is now ready
- to assist international Intended Parents with their journeys in Buenos Aires with the help of one of the most prestigious clinics in Argentina.
⦁ Legal:
- Surrogacy is taking place is almost all regions in Argentina, but with different legal processes, depending on the province. However, Buenos Aires, where our partner is based, offers the most favourable legal pathway for Surrogacy programmes as no Court procedures are required.
- Babies born in Argentina will be awarded Argentine nationality and passport making the process to return home shorter.
⦁ Who can participate?:
- Open to all family models, regardless of civil status, medical history, parents can be single, couples, heterosexual, LGBTQ+.
⦁ Donors:
- Anonymous egg donors, can be selected via photos at the clinic.
⦁ Surrogates:
- As a newer market, there are currently more women interested in becoming surrogates than couples
- participating in surrogacy programmes.
- The screening process is very rigorous with a huge focus on the psychological profile of candidates before they even undergo the medical analysis. The selection process is carried out internally by the agency and the person choosing candidates is a psychologist.
- Surrogates also live with their families during the pregnancy and are almost always from areas surrounding the capital.
⦁ Pros:
- Both parents’ names will appear on the original birth certificate.
- No wait times for IPs and surrogates to be matched.
- Access to Argentine passport making home time quicker.
⦁ Cons:
- Depending on your country of residence, you may need to check if your baby can enter visa free with an Argentine passport.
⦁ Cost:
Shipped embryos: 40.400USD
Own eggs programme: 48.400USD
Donor eggs programme: 57.900USD
Greece
⦁ About:
We are currently liaising with different clinics in Greece to provide parents with new options within Europe.
⦁ Legal:
- Altruistic surrogacy has been legal in Greece since 2002 and is regulated by Article 1458 of the Greek Civil Code and Law 3305/2005 – Enforcement of Medically Assisted Reproduction but it has only been an option for non-EU citizens since 2014.
- Although the law states that surrogacy should be altruistic (not paid for) it expressly exempts certain reasonable expenses. These may include payment of necessary expenses for IVF, pregnancy and delivery and loss wages for any unpaid leave of absence during the pregnancy for the surrogate.
- There is no requirement for the embryos created to have any biological link with either IP under Greek law but Intended Parents should consider the legal implications for passport application of their own country because any children born in Greece will take on citizenship of the parents, they will not be awarded a Greek passport.
- Unlike in Ukraine, a court approval of surrogacy arrangements must be obtained. This needs to happen before the embryo transfer and this can take 2-3 months to complete.
⦁ Who can participate?:
- Same-sex couples and single men cannot take part in surrogacy programmes in Greece, so it’s only an option for heterosexual couples (married or unmarried) and single females.
- Once same sex marriage is recognised in Greece, it’s thought that surrogacy laws will be opened up to gay couples too.
- The age of the intended mother cannot be above 50 years, and she has to obtain medical evidence of her inability to have children through a letter from a doctor in their home country.
⦁ Donors:
- As an EU country, Greece has the same anonymity laws as other European countries, meaning its not possible to choose an egg donor via a photograph, although Greek clinics match parents by phenotype to ensure the best match.
- Anonymity laws also mean that any child born as a result of egg donation will not currently have the right to contact the egg donor even after they turn 18.
⦁ Surrogates:
- In Greece, all surrogates are thoroughly screened and must undergo comprehensive medical testing – including psychological checks – to make sure they are a good fit for the programme.
- Surrogates are selected by medical professionals on behalf of IPs.
⦁ Pros:
- One of the only options for European surrogacy so short travel times and possibility to make multiple trips during the process if you live in Europe.
⦁ Cons:
- Not available for all families (heterosexual couples and single women only)
- Court order before transfer means an additional 2-3 months
- Passport application via citizenship of parents which for some countries can take several weeks/months
- Matching time for surrogates longer than some other countries.
- More expensive than other destinations (with the exception of the US)
⦁ Cost:
Approx. 85.000 – 96.000USD
⦁ Cons:
- Not available for all families (heterosexual couples and single women only)
- Court order before transfer means an additional 2-3 months
- Passport application via citizenship of parents which for some countries can take several weeks/months
- Matching time for surrogates longer than some other countries.
- More expensive than other destinations (with the exception of the US)
⦁ Cost:
Approx. 85.000 – 96.000USD
Georgia
⦁ About:
- We are currently talking to different providers in Georgia to find the best options for IPs.
⦁ Legal:
- Compensated gestational surrogacy in Georgia has been legal since 1997 and the way surrogacy programmes work is very similar to Ukraine.
- Legal framework governed by the Ministry of Health Labour and Social Affairs (Article 143)
- Legal situation similar to Ukraine as children born via surrogacy to foreigners in Georgia are born stateless and have no citizenship until their intended parents apply for Citizenship of their home country. Both Intended Parents names appear on the birth certificate.
⦁ Who can participate?:
- Heterosexual couples (don’t have to be married) with a valid medical reason for surrogacy. Gay marriage is not supported or recognised in Georgia.
⦁ Donors:
- Non anonymous egg donors meaning its possible for children to know the identity of the donor once they reach 18 years of age.
- As Georgia is fast taking the place of Ukraine this is already beginning to make wait times to be matched with a surrogate longer.
- Surrogates live at home during the pregnancy.
⦁ Pros:
Clear legal framework
Both IPs appear on birth certificate
⦁ Cons:
- Not an option for all families
- Slightly over- saturated market which has taken on couples who had planned to go to Ukraine
- No embassy or consulate for citizens of Australia, Belgium or Ireland meaning additional steps for the exit process Shipping embryos to Georgia is becoming more complex
⦁ Cost:
From 50.000USD, depending on the package
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