Explore popular destinations and pros and cons
International Surrogacy
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High medical standards
Very slow (lack of surrogates)
Strong legal clarity
Purely altruistic (non-commercial).
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Outstanding medical standards
Fast process (12-18 months)
Good legal clarity - established legalised
Quick return to the UK (3-6 weeks)
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Good medical standards
Fast process (18-24 months)
Low legal clarity, possible-surrogate cross border complications
Difficult UK return (must apply and be granted UK passport)
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Good medical standards (can vary)
Fast overall process (18-24 months)
Slow return to the UK - must obtain British Passport before returning
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Excellent medical standards
Process can take 18, 24, upwards to 36 months
Well established legal practices, full clarity
The most expensive commercial surrogacy with risk for high overhead medical costs. Average cost $120k -$180k but can run into far more
Return to the UK is straightforward
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Variable medical standards
Process overall fast but surrogate matching can be complicated
Poor legal clarity
Unpredictable UK return
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High medical standards
Slow - 24-36-48 months not unusual
Strong legal clarity, highly regulated
Smooth UK return (for eligible couples - non-LGBT only)
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Good medical standards
Varied process time
Collapsing legal clarity
Increasingly difficult UK return
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Good medical standards
Fast process - 12-18 moths
Clear but restrictive legal clarity
Moderate UK return
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Avoid - 2024 policy changes rendered Argentina completely unviable for International Surrogacy leading to complete collapse of the industry and closure of multiple clinics, with many IPs relocating their processes to Colombia or elsewhere.
Surrogacy in Cyprus / North Cyprus: Attractive Packaging but Legally Fragile
Headline: Clinic-driven, multi-jurisdictional, high complexity, weak LGBT protections.
Legal / practical
Surrogacy offered mainly in North Cyprus (Turkish-controlled), via contracts and clinic practice rather than statute.
Surrogates are frequently flown in from abroad, creating multi-country legal chains.
Cost (USD)
Roughly $80,000–$140,000+ depending on guarantee programs.
LGBT IPs
No same-sex marriage recognition, no explicit LGBT protections, cultural/legal environment conservative.
UK-specific considerations
Several UK cases of exit difficulties (passport delays).
Cases where IPs subsequently had challenges with obtaining UK Parental Orders due to having challenges satisfying all legal criteria
Overall legal uncertainty around parentage and commercial arrangements
Surrogacy in Argentina LGBT-Friendly Culture but Recent Legal Volatility
Headline: Progressive environment but inconsistent legal practice; recent administrative freezes.
Legal / practical
No unified surrogacy law; highly dependent on regional judges.
2024 freeze on issuing birth certificates in Buenos Aires highlighted the unpredictability. Many parents with new-borns stuck for many months sometimes upwards a year.
Cost (USD)
Approx. $60,000–$80,000.
LGBT IPs
Argentina is strongly LGBT-supportive socially and legally, but surrogacy outcomes depend on local courts.
UK-specific considerations
Potentially attractive but currently extreme high-risk due to documentation and exit unpredictability. We strongly advise you do not pursue surrogacy in Argentina at present (updated November 2025).
Surrogacy in Greece - Europe’s Most Formal Framework but Very Limited Eligibility
Headline: Court-supervised altruistic surrogacy, but excludes male couples.
Legal / practical
Pre-birth court order required; strict eligibility (medical necessity, altruistic).
Foreigners can participate only under narrow criteria.
Cost (USD)
Estimated $50,000–$85,000.
LGBT IPs
Not available to male same-sex couples or single men.
UK-specific considerations
Reliable framework for eligible straight couples, but effectively closed to gay male couples.
Surrogacy in Albania — Cost-Effective but Legally Unregulated
Headline: Attractive pricing but no surrogacy statute; programmes rely on clinic practice.
Legal / practical
A grey-zone jurisdiction: IVF permitted but surrogacy unmanaged by law.
Parentage and exit rely on how authorities interpret existing rules.
Cost (USD)
Medical-only: $30,000–$50,000
Full programs: $75,000–$110,000+
LGBT IPs
Some agencies market to LGBT IPs, but there is zero legal protection guaranteeing acceptance.
UK-specific considerations
Risk of UK parental-order scrutiny due to lack of regulation.
Surrogacy in United States — Legally Strong but Extremely Expensive
Headline: World’s most structured commercial surrogacy; state-by-state inclusivity.
Legal / practical
Best-developed legal framework, escrow systems and parentage orders, but only in “green-light states”.
Strong protections where done correctly.
Cost (USD)
Typically $100,000–$200,000+.
LGBT IPs
Many states are excellent for LGBT parents, with clear parentage orders.
UK-specific considerations
Highly familiar to UK courts; cost is the major barrier.
Surrogacy in Georgia — Previously Booming, Now Closing to Foreigners
Headline: Former hub now shifting toward bans; strong Russian influence; unsafe for new IPs.
Legal / practical
Historically clear rules for heterosexual couples, but active moves since 2023 to ban foreign surrogacy.
Russian sphere of influence / volatility
Increasing anti-LGBT legislation and Russia-aligned “traditional values”.
High likelihood of sudden regulatory changes.
Cost (USD)
Historically $40,000–$70,000.
LGBT IPs
Not permitted; extremely hostile political climate toward LGBT rights.
UK-specific considerations
Once popular, now highly risky and not recommended for new cases.
Armenia — Clear Statute but Conservative and Regionally Unstable
Headline: Legally defined surrogacy but focused on heterosexual couples; Russia-influenced region.
Legal / practical
Surrogacy legal since 2002 with strong IP parentage rights.
Historically heterosexual married couples only; claims of allowing singles need caution.
Russian sphere of influence / volatility
Region heavily tied to Russian policy trends, including restrictive family laws.
Cost (USD)
Roughly $40,000–$50,000.
LGBT IPs
Not LGBT-inclusive; programs structured for heterosexual couples.
UK-specific considerations
Attractive legally but socially conservative and politically fluid.
United Kingdom — Safe but Strictly Altruistic with Severe Surrogate Shortages
Headline: Legally safe and LGBT-inclusive, but almost impossible to match with a surrogate.
Legal / practical
Non-commercial, no enforceable contracts, surrogate is legal mother at birth.
Parental Order transfers parentage later.
Serious lack of surrogates
Well-documented nationwide shortage.
Wait times often years.
Cost (USD)
Surrogate expenses $12,000–$45,000; total journey potentially $40,000–$70,000.
LGBT IPs
Fully inclusive for all couple types and single parents.
UK-specific considerations
Best for those who already know a surrogate personally; otherwise many IPs go abroad.
Mexico — Good medical standards • Moderate speed • Poor legal clarity • Complex UK return
Legal / practical
Surrogacy in Mexico is not regulated uniformly; most states have no clear surrogacy law.
A few states previously regulated surrogacy but later restricted or reversed access, leading to state-by-state inconsistency.
Foreign intended parents rely heavily on local courts and administrative practice, which can vary significantly.
Medical clinics offering surrogacy services do exist, but the legal parentage pathway is not straightforward, especially for foreigners.
Cost (USD)
International programs are typically $80,000–$100,000, depending on the clinic, donor use, and number of embryo transfers.
LGBT IPs
Mexico recognises same-sex marriage nationwide, and many clinics are willing to work with LGBT parents.
However, because surrogacy law is unclear in most states, actual access for LGBT IPs depends on the specific region and legal team, rather than national protection.
UK-specific considerations
UK IPs face significant uncertainty: parentage recognition, birth certificate format, and passport issuance can all be complicated.
Returning home can become slow if documentation is inconsistent or if the local district does not have established procedures for foreign surrogacy.
While costs are lower than the United States, the trade-off is reduced legal clarity and increased exit risk.
Disclamer
Surrogacy laws, clinical standards, and operational practices can change rapidly — in some countries on a monthly or even weekly basis. While we make every effort to keep our surrogacy country comparison accurate and up-to-date, information may become outdated or contain unintentional inaccuracies.
Nothing on this page should be taken as legal, medical, or professional advice, and we cannot accept responsibility for any decisions made based on this content. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or unclear, please let us know so we can review and update it promptly.