This article provides a comprehensive overview ofCountries where surrogacy will be legal worldwide in 2025and regions, countries that legally allow surrogacy for example:United States, Kyrgyzstan, Canada, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Argentinaand many other countries.And countries that strictly prohibit surrogacySurrogacy is absolutely forbidden in China, Germany, France, Sweden, Singapore, Japan, Italy, Norway, Queensland in Australia, Arizona and Michigan in the United States. At the same time, it analyzes the role of surrogacy inHow it works in different countries, legal protection and choice of surrogacy agencies, surrogacy costs in various countries. In addition, the current legal status of surrogacy in China is explained. For those considering surrogacy, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework and social status of surrogacy in countries where surrogacy is legal 2025 in order to ensure their rights and the smooth running of their program.

Updated April 2025: Those who are concerned about legal surrogacy abroad can pay more attention to theSurrogacy in KyrgyzstanIn addition, the legal system, the resources of surrogate mothers, and the price advantage of surrogacy, compared with the United States, Kazakhstan and Georgia, all have very obvious advantages!

I. At a Glance: A Quick List of Countries Where Surrogacy Will Be Legal Worldwide in 2025

It is not enough to know that surrogacy is "legal" in a particular country, but the central distinction is whether it is commercial or unpaid only? Is it open to non-residents? Can a single person do it? In order to save your time, Surrogate's House has developed a website based on the following information Latest legal developments in 2025, has compiled this core quick look.

Here's what we're going to share with you specifically, at the momentSome countries around the world that support legal surrogacyI hope this is helpful.

II. Surrogate legalized countries 2025 (mainstream)

Countries where surrogacy will be legal globally in 2025 are: some U.S. states (California, Illinois(etc.),KazakhstanKyrgyzstan, Armenia, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia (ban proposed for 2024), Argentina, Israel, Canada (non-commercial surrogacy permitted), India (unpaid surrogacy permitted).etc.

1. Surrogacy in the United States

Surrogacy in the U.S. is probably one of the most numerous in the world, with nearly 8,000 surrogacy cases a year, according to published U.S. figures, and one of the more interesting statistics is that the number of prospective parents using their own eggs versus those of volunteers is split about 50/50.

Areas of the United States where surrogacy is legal

California, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, VermontAssisted reproduction is protected and regulated by law!

Why is surrogacy legal in the United States?

1. The Cultural Basis for Legal Surrogacy in the United States

The United States is a country where individual freedom is highly prized and people's right to choose is respected by law and society. In the eyes of many, surrogacy is not only a means of reproduction, but also an act of kindness to help others. Especially for families who are unable to have children naturally due to physical reasons, surrogacy provides an important way for them to realize their dreams of having children. Surrogacy is viewed as an act of public service, reflecting respect for freedom and humane care. This cultural foundation has led to widespread support for surrogacy in some states in the United States.

2. The principle of autonomy within the legal framework

The legal system of the United States dictates that surrogacy is governed by the states themselves, rather than uniformly regulated by federal law. Each state has developed different surrogacy policies based on local public opinion and social needs. For example.California is a popular destination for surrogacy around the world due to its liberal legal environment and well-established surrogacy support system; while places like Michigan have explicitly banned surrogacy services. This principle of autonomy has led to significant differences in surrogacy policies across the United States, while also providing flexibility for legal surrogacy to flourish.

3. Driven by economic and industry interests

The surrogacy industry has formed a well-established chain in the United States, including medical institutions, legal services, psychological support and many other participants. The legalization of surrogacy not only protects the rights and interests of commissioning parents and surrogate mothers, but also creates considerable economic gains for the relevant industries. The medical industry, in particular, has further consolidated the United States' international position in surrogacy by providing services to infertile people through high-end assisted reproduction techniques. It is for this reason that stakeholders in the surrogacy industry have been an important force in the push for legalization.

U.S. Surrogacy Unsupported Areas

Arizona, Michigan.Indiana law expressly prohibits assisted reproduction or the prospective parents are unable to obtain parental rights to the assisted reproduction baby.

The history of surrogacy in the United States has more than 40 years by now, in the United States, especially in California, whether it is doctors, surrogate mothers, counselors or lawyers have professional ethics and contract constraints. American lawyers specializing in the surrogacy industry escort, for those who have surrogacy needs to provide assisted reproductive technology law, family organization relations law, fertility law, transnational law and other different areas of professional legal services, surrogacy throughout the protection of U.S. law.

The United States has professional medical technology, advanced assisted reproduction medical equipment and authoritative medical team, which all provide the strongest and most powerful guarantee for surrogacy in the United States.

And more and more people are choosing to go to the U.S. for surrogacy, even more so because of theThe baby was born in the U.S. and has U.S. citizenshipIn other words, all the benefits of having a baby in the United States are also available to American surrogates. For example, the birth of a child is entitled to social security, free access to public schools until high school, and easier than foreigners to enter a prestigious school, and there is also a point after the child reaches the age of 21, the parents can apply to immigrate to the United States.

2. Surrogacy in Canada

Surrogacy in Canada, unlike in the United States, must be operated on a no-pay basis thatProhibition of all acts of commercial surrogacy. The short answer is.Canadian surrogate mothers must be volunteers in the true sense of the word, for the purpose of helping others.

This means that the surrogate mother will only get a very small amount of subsidized costs related to the pregnancy, while most of the other costs will be covered by the government. Of course going to Canada for surrogacy also requires meeting limited conditions, such as:

• 1. Inability to have children due to hysterectomy or cancer;
• 2. Having reproductive diseases, infertility;
• 3. Have AIDS or other genetic diseases;
• 4. Singles as well as homosexual couples.

It is important to note thatBoth commercial and altruistic surrogacy are prohibited in Quebec, Canada.The

3. Surrogacy in Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan.Surrogacy is legal.The relatively liberal policy has attracted many international families.

Commercial surrogacy is permitted in Kyrgyzstan, and surrogate mothers may legally be paid. The law explicitly permits heterosexual couples to obtain children through surrogacy and does not restrict the use of surrogacy, which can also be legally carried out by single women and foreigners.

The surrogacy contract is legally binding locally and specifies the rights and obligations of the surrogate mother and the commissioning parents. Upon the birth of the child, the commissioning parents are automatically granted parental rights and their names can be included directly on the birth certificate without the need for additional legal procedures.

parental authority: Surrogate mothers do not have parental rights after the birth of a child and therefore have no legal obligation to support or keep the child. The commissioning parents can quickly and legally obtain parenthood.

population (esp. of a group of people): Surrogacy applies mainly to heterosexual couples, while single women and foreign couples can also legally obtain children, which is restricted in some other countries.

Kyrgyzstan's surrogacy policy, which is open to foreigners, makes it a popular choice for international families and is more affordable than in European or Western countries.

Recommended Reading:Kyrgyz surrogacy prices, processes

4. Surrogacy in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is not as well known as surrogacy in the United States, but it is quite old, with a technologically advanced fertility center, IRM Fertility Center, which has been around since '95, and is by far the most well-known one in Kazakhstan. In terms of value for money.Cost of surrogacy in KazakhstanIt is more reasonable and acceptable to the average family.

Moreover, Kazakhstan and China are friendly neighbors, the tolerance of international friends is very high, it is very convenient to go over from Xinjiang, one and a half hours by plane, from November 2023 to open visa-free to China, pick up a passport and you can say go.

5. Surrogacy in Georgia

Georgia is a tourist country with a small population, and their reproductive healthcare industry is relatively well developed, with third-party assisted reproduction and egg donation services open since '97.Until 2024, Georgia's healthcare laws stipulate that couples performing in vitro fertilization (IVF) are considered to be the parents of the birth of a child, and have the rights and obligations associated with it, and that donors, as well as volunteer mothers, do not have the right to be the parents of the birth of a child.

Surrogacy policy change in Georgia in 2024: ban on foreign participation

2024.The Georgian Parliament will pass a bill prohibiting foreigners from traveling to Georgia for "surrogacy".. This means that foreign couples seeking surrogacy services will not be able to complete surrogacy programs in Georgia in the coming years.

6. Ukrainian surrogacy

Ukraine, due to its surrogacy-related laws that are overall favorable to surrogacy and its clear and unambiguous laws related to surrogacy that support legal surrogacy, is probably one of the most popular countries in the world for those seeking surrogacy when choosing a surrogate. Many foreign couples and individuals in search of surrogate mothers choose to come to Ukraine due to the relatively low cost of surrogacy in the country and the laxity of the legal requirements for surrogacy in the country.

Ukrainian legislation provides for a number of points in the process of surrogacy:

Surrogacy is only available to heterosexual couples who are married with medical reasons and at least one of the spouses is genetically related to the child. According to the law on surrogacy in Ukraine, the person seeking surrogacy is a legal parent from the beginning and the surrogate mother does not have custody of the child from the beginning to the end.

Many surrogacy agencies in the country usually provide a one-stop service for their clients, including screening of surrogate mothers, pregnancy monitoring, and birth certificate applications.

But in recent years, because of the Russo-Ukrainian war.The situation in Ukraine is quite chaotic, with frequent armed conflicts of all kinds.that has led to a much lower demand for surrogacy, at least for the time being, is still not a good place to go.

7. Russian surrogacy

In 2022, the Russian State Duma passed a bill on "surrogacy", which prohibits Russian women from being surrogates for foreigners. The reason why it was stopped, I think, may be due to the following reasons:

1. High incidence of deaths and trafficking of surrogate children

Since the beginning of the epidemic, the Russian surrogacy business has also received a very strong impact, many biological parents can not go to Russia to bring their children home, which can not avoid the death of children or trafficking. With the revelation of the incident, the banning of surrogacy was put on the agenda.

2. Population needs

Russia also has a low birth rate at the moment and is in great need of population. Russia's fertility rate is already low, and to allow Russian women to give birth to European children at this time and become European birthing machines would undoubtedly be giving away the most precious demographic resources.

In fact, the development of an industry like surrogacy is essentially a form of gender exploitation under economic inequality. Over time, people will question the status of Russian women. And this, for a large country, can bruise the nation's self-esteem and is not conducive to an international image.

8. Surrogacy in the UK

The United Kingdom was the first country in the history of mankind to produce IVF babies, and it is also the country with the earlier and more comprehensive legal regulation of artificial reproductive technology and surrogacy.

It is understood that surrogacy was legalized in the UK as early as 1985, butCommercial surrogacy is not allowedThe existence of surrogacy. According to the relevant cases, it can be seen that the purpose of the legislation on surrogacy in the United Kingdom is to suppress and penalize commercial surrogacy, and the United Kingdom adopts a lenient approach to non-commercial surrogacy.

9. Surrogacy in Thailand

According to the existing laws in Thailand, surrogacy services are only allowed to be provided by Thai women after legal application by national couples, while foreign couples are not able to access this service. However, with the changing social environment, in 2024, Thailand's Ministry of Health is in the process of drafting a bill on the Surrogacy Act and has completed the revision process, which means that theFull access to foreign couples seeking legal surrogacy services in Thailand to be opened upThe

This initiative will make full use of Thailand's fertility resources to mitigate negative population growth, while at the same time promoting a wide range of incentives to encourage Thai couples to have more children.

10. Surrogacy in Argentina

As the largest country in South America, Argentina is not only rich in natural resources and developed medical system, but also attracts global attention with its relaxed surrogacy policy and cost-effective services. From legal protection to medical technology to reasonable cost, Argentina has gradually become a popular choice of surrogacy for European and American people. The following is a detailed analysis of the advantages and characteristics of surrogacy in Argentina from various angles.

Law legalizing surrogacy passed in 2015

Argentina officially legislated the legality of surrogacy in 2015, providing surrogate families with solid legal safeguards. Both single people and gay families can legally participate in surrogacy programs. Additionally, surrogacy in Argentina is a simplified process, as the paternity of the baby to the biological parents is established through a legal contract certified by an attorney, eliminating the need for additional adoption procedures.

Advantages of automatic nationality for babies

As a country of immigration, Argentina grants babies at birth the automatic right to Argentine nationality. This nationality policy allows surrogate families to not only successfully complete the legal process, but also provides more options for the future identity of the baby.

World Leadership in Medical Technology and Surrogacy Services

Argentina's healthcare system is a global leader, with five medical Nobel Prizes and a Guinness World Record for successful live births after 14 years of thawing frozen eggs in 2013. The government's long-term investment in healthcare has made Argentina one of the world's leading countries in terms of medical technology.

Argentina has an excellent welfare system: free in vitro fertilization for local women, free medical care for babies from birth to 18 years of age, and a monthly supplement for breastfeeding. Cancer patients' medical expenses are also covered by the government. These policies not only demonstrate the strength of Argentina's healthcare system, but also provide the basis for a high level of low-cost surrogacy services.

Cost-effective surrogacy services

Compared to Europe and the United States, the cost of living in Argentina is low and the cost of labor is relatively cheap. Thanks to government subsidies for healthcare, the cost of surrogacy in Argentina is quite reasonable. It is certainly an ideal choice for families looking for cost-effective surrogacy services.

Resources for Surrogate Mothers Without Waiting

Surrogate mothers in Argentina are well resourced and long wait times are virtually non-existent. This advantage not only saves surrogate families valuable time, but also increases the efficiency and convenience of the service.

III. Brief overview of surrogacy laws in other countries

In addition to the mainstream countries such as the United States, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Ukraine detailed in the previous section, you may also hear frequently when doing your homework or consulting with international agents thatMexico, Colombia, Albania, and even the names of countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Denmark.

From the perspective of a surrogate home, most of these countries fall into the category for Chinese families "Existing but not preferredThe category of "surrogacy". In order to help you build the most complete cognitive map of legal surrogacy countries around the world, we have compiled the following information to help you clarify the legal boundaries and potential thresholds involved.

Other surrogacy countries in the Americas: Mexico, Colombia

On the American continent, in addition to the United States, which has the most sophisticated laws, and Argentina, which is the newest favorite, Mexico and Colombia have been frequently mentioned in recent years as "cost-effective" alternatives. But lower prices often come with a more complex legal environment.

1. Mexico

• Legal Status:The law is extremely fragmented. Mexico does not have a uniform law on surrogacy at the federal level and relies mainly on state laws.
• Access to the population:Formerly concentrated in the state of Tabasco, it now operates in places such as Sinaloa. Some states allow heterosexual couples, some are open to same-sex couples or singles, and policies change frequently.
• Openness to foreigners:Historically, there has been a "shutdown" of surrogacy for foreigners, and there is still a legal gray area, although some avenues are available to foreigners through constitutional interpretation.

2. Colombia

• Legal Status:There is no specific statutory law on surrogacy and the legality relies mainly on the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court (Decriminalization).
• Access to the population:The practice is very friendly to the LGBT community and singles, and is one of the famous same-sex surrogacy destinations in South America.
• Openness to foreigners:Openness has attracted a large number of clients from Europe and the United States seeking low-cost surrogacy.

Summary:For most domestic families seeking legal security in the Americas, the U.S. remains the ceiling; for those seeking value for money and needing the support of a clear legal text, Argentina's certainty is currently superior to that of the two countries mentioned above.

Countries in Europe that support only unpaid surrogacy: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, etc.

Many of you will be excited to read that "European countries allow surrogacy", but it is important to note the core difference: most of these countries allow only unpaid surrogacy (Altruistic Surrogacy), and strictly prohibit commercial surrogacy.

1. Belgium, Denmark, Finland:

In these Nordic and Western European countries, unpaid surrogacy is technically feasible, but any form of commercial payment is prohibited by law.

• Restrictions:It is usually required that the principal be a resident of the country and have a strict medical certificate of infertility.
• Hands-on difficulty:Surrogate mothers must usually be relatives or close friends of the principal and cannot be recruited openly. Therefore, for Chinese families, there is little room for maneuver in these countries.

2. Portugal:

• Gestational surrogacy is permitted by law, but under extremely stringent conditions (e.g., the prospective mother must have been born without a uterus or have had it removed due to illness, etc.).
• There is very little openness to foreigners, although it is also largely based on an altruistic nature.

Conclusion:These European countries are good for "legal knowledge", not for mainstream destinations for Chinese families to have children overseas.

3. "Special rule countries" such as Albania, Greece, etc.

In Eastern and Southern Europe, there are other countries that occasionally come into view because of their unique geographic location or caliber of law.

Albania:

• Status:There are no laws that explicitly prohibit surrogacy, and some international clinics have taken advantage of this legal vacuum to operate, especially for groups of single men who are restricted in other countries.
• Risks:There is low disclosure of legal information and extreme reliance on the ability of individual organizations to operate. For Chinese families, this is not a sound first choice, facing the dual challenges of opaque information and relatively limited medical resources.

Greece:

• Status:Greece is one of the few countries in the EU that has a clear surrogacy law, but it must be pre-approved by a court.
• Threshold:It is mainly for heterosexual couples or single women (single men are more difficult) who have a medical cause of infertility. The legal provisions are mainly altruistic, but also allow for certain "reasonable expenses" and compensation.

Australia, South Africa and other countries not recommended in practice

Finally, to complete the informational universe of the Global Surrogacy Map, we briefly mention Australia and South Africa, which are often misinterpreted.

1. Australia:

• Although laws vary from state to state in Australia, they generally support only unpaid surrogacy.Commercial surrogacy is a criminal offenseThe
• Even more stringently, Queensland, New South Wales and Seoul Territory even prohibit their residents from traveling overseas (e.g., to countries where surrogacy is legal) for commercial surrogacy.

Conclusion:This is entirely an internal topic for "Australian residents" and foreigners are not allowed to go to Australia for surrogacy.

2. South Africa:

• South Africa has a Children's Act that regulates surrogacy, but stipulates that surrogacy contracts must be confirmed by the High Court.
• Core thresholds:The law specifically requires that the commissioning parent must pass a "domicile test", i.e. must be domiciled in South Africa.

Conclusion:Aside from language, distance and policing considerations, this legal threshold directly shuts out the vast majority of international demand and offers little value for money for domestic families.

IV. Recommendations for legalized surrogacy countries suitable for different groups of people (by group)

There's a phrase we often emphasize with our clients during consultations:There's no such thing as "the best country", only "the country that best suits your situation".The

The same legal provisions that are an umbrella for couples may be a closed door for singles. Combining 2,025 years of hands-on experience on the front lines, Surrogacy House crumbles up the complexities of the law and gives you the most practical advice for different situations.

1. Singles (unmarried/divorced/non-marriage)

To be honest, if you are single and want to be a surrogate, the road is much narrower than for couples. In cost-effective places like Ukraine and Georgia, the law states that only "married heterosexual couples" are accepted, and singles are directly rejected.

If you're not on an uncapped budget (and can go straight to the US), then here's the best way out right now:

Top Recommendation:Surrogacy in Kyrgyzstan

• Why push it:It's one of the very few legal countries out there that clearly takes single cases (whether you're a single male or female) and still has affordable fees.
• Hands-on advantage:Surrogacy in the United States to do a set of down to more than 1 million, in Kyrgyzstan about 500,000 - 600,000 can land. The most critical thing is that this side does not need you to provide a notarized marriage certificate, and do not have to worry about the child was born to bring back to the country, due to the stability of the policy, we already have a lot of successful cases of single fathers successfully take the baby home.

Other Roads:

• USA (individual states)/Canada:Of course it's the best, as long as the money is there and the law is completely unobstructed.
• Argentina:South America is also very accommodating to singles, but it's just too far to fly there and the language doesn't make sense for those who aren't afraid to toss and turn.

2. Families with advanced age (40+), premature ovarian failure and complex medical history

If you are on the older side, or have had previous failed IVF experiences, your core pain points are"Medical Success Rate"The

Don't stick to one country's "all-inclusive package" at this time. We strongly recommend a"Transnational combinations"The playbook - do the embryos where the medical care is strongest and have the baby where the laws are lax and cheap.

Golden Program: Japanese/Russian IVF + Kyrgyz Surrogacy

• Japanese egg retrieval + Kyrgyz surrogacy::This technique is especially good for those who are older and have fewer eggs. The microstimulation technique in Japan (famous hospitals like Kato and Sugiyama) is the best in the world, it is very gentle and can help you save as many good embryos as possible. Japan is also close to us, so it's not a tiring flight. Once the embryos are ready, they can be transferred to Kyrgyzstan via cold chain with high success rate and low cost.
• Russian screening + Kyrgyz surrogacy::Russia's three-generation test tube (PGT) technology is very sophisticated and screens blastocysts very accurately. The embryos are raised and screened in Russia, and then sent next door to Kyrgyzstan to find a surrogate mother. Both enjoy the top medical care, but also avoid the geographic risks there, the surrogate mother also do not have to wait in long lines.

Regular Programs:

• United States:If you're on a budget, you'll find it directly on theAmerica's Top ClinicsDoing self or donor eggs is still the optimal solution for "all-in-one", which saves effort but costs money.
• Argentina:Buenos Aires, Argentina is actually very high level of medical care and is the medical center of South America, which is not bad as an alternative, but it may not be as experienced as Japan and Russia in dealing with the advanced age of Asian bodies.

Recommended Reading:The Ultimate Guide to Surrogacy for Senior Citizens Over 40

3. Families seeking to reconcile "identity" and "law"

If you are not short of money, not only do you want your child to be born healthy, but you also want to pave the way for your child's future (e.g. by obtaining a prestigious citizenship) or you want to feel safe and secure in the sense of being "legally secure".

Choice: USA (California and other friendly states), Canada

• Why push it:The United States has a "student on arrival" policy.The baby is a U.S. citizen by birth.In the future, it is easy for the whole family to immigrate with dependents. And the U.S.judgment orderThe system is so good that the court awards you the child before it is born, and you don't have to worry at all about surrogate mothers backing out or custody disputes.
• Cost:Expensive. This is the globalSurrogacy costsThe ceiling.

4. Families with limited budgets who only want to hold their babies securely

The vast majority of families actually want to spend $400,000 to $600,000 to have a child legally and legally, without having to have a complicated identity, and they don't want to be tired of flying halfway around the world.

First choice for value for money: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan

• Why push it:This is the real "price depression". The cost of the whole process is almost 1/3 of the cost in the United States.
• Convenience:This is too friendly for Chinese families. It's right next door to us, and it's almost as easy to get there from Xinjiang as it is to get out of the province, with visa-free/visa-on-arrival, so you can leave as soon as you feel like it. If you want to bring the elderly there to accompany the labor and delivery, there is no pain of jet lag, and the food habits are also close (eating noodles and meat), unlike going to Europe and the United States so tortuous.

Click to view2025 Kyrgyzstan vs. Kazakhstan: Detailed Comparison of Surrogacy Policies.

V. Countries that will continue to strictly prohibit surrogacy in 2025:

China, Germany, France, Sweden, Singapore, Japan, Italy, Norway, Queensland (Australia), Arizona, Michigan (USA).tantamount toAbsolute prohibition of surrogacyThe.

VI. What does surrogacy mean?

Surrogacy is the act of implanting one's own embryo into a fertile surrogate mother with the help of assisted reproduction techniques, thus accomplishing pregnancy and delivery. It can be generally categorized into full surrogacy, partial surrogacy, commercial surrogacy (paid) and altruistic surrogacy (unpaid).

Complete Surrogacy

That is, the surrogate child is not genetically related to the surrogate mother, who uses her own uterus only as a vehicle to implant the embryo for pregnancy and delivery.

Implanted embryos can be divided into three categories:

• An embryo formed by the union of the germ cells of the commissioning couple;
• An embryo formed by the union of germ cells provided by one of the commissioning couple with donated germ cells;
• Donated embryos (i.e. not genetically related to the commissioning couple).

Partial surrogacy

• Also known as genetic surrogacy, this means that the surrogate child is genetically linked to the surrogate mother. The surrogate mother provides the egg cells and the sperm can come from the commissioning husband or a donor.
• Partial surrogacy is more prone to ethical and legal controversy than full surrogacy.
• By whether the surrogate is paid or not

Unpaid surrogacy (altruistic surrogacy)

A surrogate mother who accepts a surrogacy commission without the purpose of obtaining remuneration is a gratuitous surrogate, also known as an altruistic surrogate. Sometimes the commissioning couple will also make reasonable compensation, but only include the necessary expenses, such as the necessary living expenses during pregnancy, nutritional expenses, lost wages, medical expenses and so on. For example, Canada, India and the United Kingdom only support unpaid surrogacy.

Paid surrogacy (commercial surrogacy)

Surrogate mothers who accept surrogacy commissions for financial gain, called paid surrogacy, are charged much more than the amount of reasonable compensation, and as far as I know, underground surrogacy agencies in the country are treating surrogate mothers in the range of 25w.

VII. How to select a surrogate?

Picking a quality surrogacy company is not a simple decision. For many families, surrogacy involves not only financial outlay, but also emotions and future. Therefore, every aspect of the process is crucial, from medical technology and agency qualifications to price transparency.

Surrogate healthcare organizations: the importance of experience and skill

Surrogacy is a process that is highly dependent on medical technology, and the success rate is multiply affected by the quality of the embryo, the physical condition of the surrogate mother, and the experience of the medical team. Therefore, instead of simply focusing on the cost, it is better to prioritize the selection of a technologically advanced and experienced agency.

Legitimacy and Institutional Qualifications: Ensuring Security and Compliance

Because of the high cost of surrogacy, some people may choose a less expensive country or region. However, such choices often come with significant legal and medical risks, and it may even turn out that the so-called "hospital" is nothing more than a small clinic in poor condition.

It is recommended to prioritize surrogacy in countries that are legal and regulated, such as the United States and Kyrgyzstan. Surrogacy services here are not only protected by the law, but also the qualification of medical institutions is more strict, thus significantly reducing the potential risks. Regular organizations usually provide detailed contracts to protect the rights and interests of their clients and ensure that the entire process is safe and orderly.

Transparent pricing: a key factor in surrogacy services

When choosing a surrogacy agency, it is vital that the prices are open and transparent. Surrogacy agencies in some countries may attract clients with low prices, only to gradually add extra costs later on, eventually going well over budget. Only formal surrogacy companies can be transparent about their prices, with clear quotations for each service and all cost details written into the contract and subject to legal oversight.

Related reading:Top U.S. Surrogacy Agencies How to choose the best surrogacy agency

VIII. Comparison of surrogacy prices by country

Summary analysis

cost comparison: Surrogacy in the United States is the most expensive, usually exceeding TP4T150,000; Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan are less expensive, ranging from TP4T55,000 to TP4T90,000; and Argentina and Kazakhstan are cost-effective with prices ranging from TP4T60,000 to TP4T80,000.

Legal protection: The United States and Kyrgyzstan and Argentina have more developed legal frameworks with a clear parent-child relationship; Ukraine and Russia are subject to complex adoption procedures and surrogate mothers have the right to back out.

Supply of surrogate mothers: There is an abundance of surrogate mothers in Kyrgyzstan and Argentina, while in the United States and Georgia there is a shortage of surrogate mothers and longer waiting periods.

Special Advantages: The U.S. has a clear advantage in medical technology, and Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have attracted a large number of clients with low costs, although the technology is not as good as that of the U.S., which can be achieved throughembryo transferoperations to make up for this shortfall; Ukraine, on the other hand, has suffered from political instability and scandals that have affected its reputation.

IX. Is surrogacy legal in China? Why is surrogacy not legal in China?

Surrogacy is strictly prohibited in China.

According to the Measures for the Administration of Human Assisted Reproductive Technology and the Technical Specifications for Human Assisted Reproduction, medical institutions and medical personnel may not perform any form of surrogacy. In addition, the Civil Code clearly stipulates that civil subjects may not engage in civil activities that violate the law or go against public order and morals, and that surrogacy is considered to be an act that violates public order and morals, so that surrogacy contracts concluded are invalid and not protected by the law.

Why is surrogacy not legal in China?

1. Surrogacy goes against the laws of nature and ethics.

Surrogacy involves trading human reproduction as a commodity, which violates the provisions of the Civil Code on public order and morals, and the process of surrogacy, in which the right to personality and the life of the foetus are treated as commodities, is detrimental to the woman's human dignity and to the public interest of society.

If surrogacy is abused, where is the dignity of life when the mastery of a technology allows a human being to be produced like an object.

In addition to this, the issue of identity creates many difficult legal issues.

2. Surrogacy may create problems of abandonment.

Although the current three-generation IVF technology can fully detect the gender, there is no guarantee that every couple's embryos will have the son or daughter they want, so will this produce some abandoned embryos or abandoned after birth.

It is also not excluded that babies will be born with some disabilities, a situation that will inevitably add to the burden of society.

3. It causes a lot of physical damage to the surrogate mother.

The embryos that are transferred do not always survive, and often many transfers are needed, and the process of transfer is not that easy. Also during the course of the pregnancy, there is no guarantee that it will go well, and miscarriages may also occur.

Related reading:Is it legal for a Chinese person to find a surrogate in the US?

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

We have found in our counseling sessions that many prospective parents are misled by outdated or one-sided information after searching the internet. These 5 questions are the bottom line about legality, and they're the big truths that Surrogacy House wants to tell you.

Q1: If a country says "surrogacy is legal" on the internet, is it necessarily open to Chinese people?

A: Don't ever think that, it's the biggest misconception.

Many countries (e.g., India, Thailand, most states in Mexico), while formerly surrogacy havens or now legal for their citizens, are strictly forbidden to foreigners.

• "Legal" is not the same as "legal for you":India, for example, banned commercial surrogacy cross-border services back in 2015; Thailand also closed its doors in 2015.
• How to judge:There are two core indicators that you should always check when reading a guide - first, is it clearly written in the text of the law that the"Foreign nationals (non-residents) are allowed."What is the reason for this? Secondly, after the birth of the child, can you get a passport and a departure permit? If the agent told you that "we can take special channels", please directly black, because once involved in smuggling or illegal operation, the child may not be brought back in this life.

Q2: I've heard that some countries (e.g. Canada, UK) only support "unpaid surrogacy", does that mean it's cheap?

A: Unpaid surrogacy often means higher "hidden costs" and an uncontrollable amount of time.

Some states like Canada, the UK, and Australia do allow surrogacy by law, but it is strictly required to be"Altruistic in nature"Commercial payments to surrogate mothers are strictly prohibited.

• Finding a substitute mom is hard as hell:Since you can't pay a salary or even openly advertise for a replacement mom, very few people are willing to be a replacement mom. Often, they have to go to relatives or friends, or wait on a long waiting list (a 2-3 year wait is the norm).
• The cost is not low:Although no wages are paid, you must bear the cost of medical bills, attorney fees, insurance, lost wages, nutrition, etc. The miscellany adds up to a cost that is not much cheaper than in some commercial surrogacy countries.

Conclusion:For our cross-country families, unless you have a local friend or relative who is willing to help, don't try to "save money" by trying a surrogacy without payment, as you can't afford the time cost.

Q3: Are Russia and Georgia still considered "legal surrogacy countries"?

A: It depends on the situation. For our Chinese families, the road is already much narrower.

• Russia:It used to be legal, but since the law was changed for political reasons at the end of 2022, Russia has basically banned the use of surrogacy services by foreigners altogether. Agents that still advertise Russian surrogacy are either lagging behind in information or are promoting extremely high-risk underground operations.
• Georgia:It is still legal, but the bar is very tight - only "married heterosexual couples" are accepted. For singles, same-sex couples, or those who can't get a notarized marriage certificate, Georgia is not the way to go.

Q4: Is there any legal risk for a Chinese person who is legally surrogate outside of China after returning to China?

A: (Solemn reminder: this article does not constitute legal advice, please consult a professional lawyer)

This is a very sensitive issue but one that must be faced.

• Domestic status:Chinese law clearly prohibits medical institutions and personnel from carrying out surrogacy techniques in the country, but the legal definition of surrogacy carried out by Chinese nationals overseas and permitted by local law is currently in a gray area.
• Core Difficulties:The greatest risk is usually not in the act of "surrogacy" itself, but in the fact that"Returning to settle in the country" and "Paternity determination"The

Q5: What if I have chosen a country and the laws suddenly change halfway through the program?

A: That's why we have to choose a country that is "politically stable" and look at the "exit mechanism" of the contract.

It does happen historically (as in Thailand back in the day) that policies are suddenly tightened, causing many prospective parents to have their children stranded.

How to avoid the pit:

• Preferred stable country:Countries like the United States, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan where the law has been relatively stable for a long time.
• Look at the terms of the contract:Formal agency contracts must have a clause"Force majeure and change of law"Clause. Does the agency have an alternative (e.g., transferring the embryos to a third country to continue the process) if the country's laws suddenly prohibit it? What is the refund percentage?
• Don't be cheap:Emerging countries on the fringes of the law tend to be the cheapest, but also have the greatest policy risks.

Above, we have shared with you the countries around the world that currently support legal surrogacy, and also listed some of the regions that do not allow surrogacy. Before you decide to go down the road of surrogacy, make sure to figure out the latest legal policies of the surrogacy countries to ensure that your legal rights and interests in the process of surrogacy can be safeguarded!