Your Inclusive Guide to Surrogacy Process in Cyprus
Dreaming of building a family but facing medical challenges? Single and longing for parenthood? Hetero or same–sex couple considering surrogacy? Cyprus is emerging as a welcoming destination for intended parents of diverse backgrounds. This island nation boasts a loyal legal framework, ensuring a secure path to parenthood, and established medical infrastructure guaranteeing access to advanced fertility treatments. This guide delves into the legalities, processes, estimated costs, and resources available for a successful surrogacy journey in the Republic of Cyprus, empowering you to navigate every step with confidence.
Cyprus has a unique legal situation regarding surrogacy. There is no specific law: surrogacy itself isn’t explicitly regulated by a single law.
The surrogacy process in Cyprus is governed by the Application of Medically Assisted Reproduction Law of 2015 (L.69(I)/2015) as amended by Laws L.194(I)/2015, L.92(I)/2016 and L.113(I)/2018, collectively referred as the Law.
Here is a breakdown of the key points:
Who Can Apply: Married couples or couples in a stable relationship can apply if medically unable to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term or to avoid passing on a serious illness to the child.
Surrogacy in Cyprus involves a three–step process that begins with an application to the Council for Medically Assisted Reproduction (the Council). To get approval, several requirements need to be met by both the applicant couple and the surrogate mother. Here is a breakdown of the key requirements:
The law used to require the surrogate mother to be a permanent resident of Cyprus. However, this was changed in 2016. Now, if a suitable Cypriot surrogate can’t be found, upon the request of the applicant couple the Council may authorize the process to proceed with a surrogate from another country. The surrogate mother would still need to travel to Cyprus and stay there from the 28th week of pregnancy until the baby is born, unless medical reasons prevent her from doing so.
The next step involves applying to a court for a special order that allows the surrogacy to proceed. The court will only grant this order if they are confident the applicant couple has already received written approval from the Council. The court may also add specific instructions or requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the order and to safeguard the well–being of all parties involved. This might include things like additional psychological evaluations, clarification of parental rights and responsibilities, or specific details regarding the surrogate’s medical care during pregnancy.
The last step involves signing a written surrogacy agreement between the intended parents (the applicant couple), the surrogate mother, and her husband (if she is married). This agreement outlines everyone’s rights and responsibilities throughout the process, and should include the following important provisions:
Cypriot law strictly forbids any commercial aspect of surrogacy. Any negotiation of a surrogacy agreement on a commercial basis which involves payment of a fee constitutes a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment for 1 year or to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or to both. Negotiation on a commercial basis involves the offer, transfer or receipt of money for engaging in the surrogacy process or for facilitation of the surrogacy agreement. Additionally, the Law prohibits the advertisement of the surrogacy services in any form.
The Council for Medically Assisted Reproduction (CMAR) is the supervising body responsible for overseeing the surrogacy process, ensuring clinics follow the law and proposing updates to the regulations. All medically assisted reproduction procedures can be performed only by clinics holding a valid license issued by the Council and as such are recognized as authorized Medical Assistance Reproduction Units (M.A.R.U.). You can find the latest information and a list of authorized clinics on The Council for Medically Assisted Reproduction website.
While not the main focus of surrogacy regulations, sex selection is an option available in Cyprus alongside in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Like most countries in the world, couples who would like to select the sex of their unborn baby prior to pregnancy due to a known genetic predisposition to a sex–linked (X–linked) conditions have an access to one of the most sophisticated forms of IVF treatment that includes a genetic screening tests on their embryos.
Unlike some countries, gender selection in terms of personal preference for family balancing (to choose the sex of the future baby) is also legal in Cyprus for couples undergoing IVF and surrogacy. Although permitted, sex selection is only offered within a regulated IVF framework. This means adhering to specific criteria set by the Cyprus authorities.
It is important to note that sex selection is not a guarantee. There is always a chance the desired sex may not be achieved. The primary purpose of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) remains identifying and avoiding genetic disorders, not solely sex selection. One more thing to consider is that fertility clinics located in the Northern Cyprus may reveal a sex of an embryo only to prevent the transmission of the serious genetic diseases, and not for family balancing reasons.
Intended parents facing fertility challenges may require egg or sperm donation for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Surrogacy. Reasons for needing egg donation include diminished ovarian reserve, poor egg quality, genetic concerns, or other health issues. For sperm donation, severe male factor infertility with low sperm count or quality may necessitate a donor.
For such cases, Cypriot fertility clinics have extensive and diverse donor pools, allowing the intended parents to choose donors based on physical characteristics, psychological traits, educational background, ethnic origin, and more. Additionally, prospective parents have an access to medical information of the donor, ensuring good physical and reproductive health.
All donors are healthy young men and women, aged between 20 and 35. Before providing their eggs or sperm, the donor applicants must complete an extensive complimentary physical and reproductive screening. If approved, the donors undergo inclusive reproductive assessment, blood tests, ultrasound scans and genetic testing to ensure they have sufficient ovarian reserves, healthy sperm, and are free of infectious and genetic diseases. Clinics strive to provide the most diverse and extensive donor databases to cater to various preferences.
Egg Donor Availability
Clinics typically offer a wide range of egg donor ethnicities, including Caucasian, African/Black, Asian, Arab, and others.
Sperm Donor Availability
Sperm donors are available from all major ethnicities.
Benefits of Donation
When choosing IVF with donor eggs or sperm, you will benefit from:
Egg or Sperm Donor Selection Process:
Individuals and couples seeking donation treatment can work with fertility clinics or surrogacy agencies to choose a suitable egg or sperm donor. They can express their preferences based on various factors like physical characteristics (the color and shape of the eyes, the color and type of hair), desired features, and medical background.
The total cost of surrogacy in Cyprus can vary depending on several factors. As an intended parent, expect to invest between €56,900 and €143,900 depending on your case and needs. Here is a breakdown of the key variables that affect the final price tag:
A single–attempt surrogacy program including an IVF using the intended mother’s oocytes and intended father’s sperm and birth package with a cost starting at €56,900.
Some fertility clinics offer inclusive IVF Surrogacy bundles at a cost of €60,000 and higher, depending on the case and needs. Such packages include research of a suitable surrogate mother, legal fees, Ivf treatment (using own eggs and sperm), pre–pregnancy tests and tests performed during pregnancy for the surrogate, medication for gestational carrier before and during pregnancy, 5 embryo transfer attempts if the first, second, third and fourth attempts failed.
Cost of IVF (additional cycle) varies between €3,000 and €6,900 depending on the needs.
If multiple pregnancy is occurred, the intended parents should consider additional payment between €2,500 and €3,900 for expenses associated with a twin pregnancy and from €5,000 to €7,900 for triplets.
A single–attempt program with a Cypriot Egg Donor is higher and starts at €60,000 ranging up to €66,900.
Depending on what is included in the bundle, only one transfer trial or multiple transfer trials (cryotransfers) can be covered by the basic cost. Some clinics include up to 5 embryo transfer attempts if the first, second, third and fourth attempts are negative.
A new IVF cycle with donor eggs typically costs €4,500 to €6,000 and does not cover preimplantation genetic testing, vitrification of the remaining embryos, and additional frozen embryo transfer backup.
Intended parents seeking an international egg donor should factor in additional expenses beyond the base program cost (IVF and egg donation fees).
The average cost of international egg donation varies depending on several factors, but typically falls around $25,000 USD. This covers agency fees, donor travel, egg donor compensation, screening, insurance, and legal fees. It is important to note that this excludes IVF clinic costs and any unforeseen complications.
The total cost for international egg donation can reach $36,000 USD or even $69,000 USD. This higher range reflects selecting a premium donor, premium package, and a Live Birth Guarantee.
For intended parents with embryos deposited at overseas clinics, this option offers an affordable chance for coming back with a baby after the cryotransfer. Total cost of such program starts at €50,000.
Some packages may include only one transfer attempt for this price while the others may initiate up to three cryotransfers (additional fees, such as surrogate’s fertility medication, can be charged).
Guaranteed packages that provide an unlimited number of clinical procedures (IVF cycles, donations, embryo transfers, etc.) at a fixed cost are the most preferred solutions any intended parent is looking for. The cost of a “Guaranteed surrogacy with a Georgian Egg Donor” this year ranges between €78,000 for a singleton and €91,000 for twins carried by one gestational surrogate.
If you are expecting multiples (twins) within one gestational carrier, expect to pay an additional fee ranging from €2,500 to €13,000 for the second infant, depending on the clinic/agency you are working with, the type of surrogate’s insurance (premium plans are more expensive), medical services provided (additional consultations, anesthesia, C–section delivery, post–C–section medical care, and so on).
The Sibling Guarantee ensures the birth of two babies with 2 different surrogates, ideally delivered within the same month. However, unlike twin pregnancies, gestational timelines may differ slightly even with medical intervention. This program is ideal for heterosexual couples seeking twins, but also benefits individuals who want two biological siblings without the possibility of multiples.
Important Considerations:
A qualified surrogacy agency can discuss the program’s details and determine if it aligns with your family–building goals.
Male couples and single fathers may select the optimal program that best suits their needs. The most affordable option with lower cost is surrogacy with a local egg donor.
Surrogacy with local egg donation “Singleton” without guarantee of live birth cost starts at €54,900. In case of multiple pregnancy via one surrogate, an additional fee of €2,500 minimum will be applied (for twins), and €5,000 for triplets.
The Sibling Guarantee ensures the birth of two babies with 2 different surrogates. This type of program is often used by the male couples who want biologically related siblings through a shared egg donor. The program enables both prospective fathers to participate actively in IVF — starting from selecting the woman who will donate her egg and completing with providing their sperm samples for making embryos. Moreover, it fosters a shared gestational experience and potentially strengthens the sibling bond between the children.
The total cost of Sibling Guarantee program typically ranges between €139,900 and €142,900.
Important Considerations:
Costs are approximate and subject to change. Consult directly with Cypriot fertility clinics for the most up–to–date pricing information.
A qualified surrogacy agency can discuss program details and determine if it aligns with your goals and budget.
Cyprus offers a network of IVF clinics and agencies providing the surrogacy services. Regardless of selecting North Cyprus IVF center or agency located in the South Cyprus, the prospective parents will get an access to various treatment options starting with IVF procedure to proceeding with an agreement or surrogacy contract and ending with a child delivery. It is worth mentioning, that clinics and agencies offer gestational surrogacy and prefer to work with gestational surrogates.
With numerous surrogacy program options, finding the one that perfectly fits your needs and preferences is vital. Before making any commitments, conduct thorough research. Prioritize clinics and agencies with a proven track record, accreditation by relevant organizations, and positive client testimonials. Don’t hesitate to inquire about anticipated time commitment for every step of the process, success rates, experience with cases similar to yours, backup options, guarantees, and the qualifications of their medical staff, egg donors, and surrogate pool.
Once you have narrowed down your choices based on your research and priorities, here are some of the leading providers in Cyprus to consider:
Disclaimer: Please note that this list is not exhaustive and is not meant as an endorsement of any specific clinic or agency. Always consult with an experienced lawyer before signing any contracts.
Conclusion
Cyprus offers a unique, affordable, and potentially seamless experience for intended parents from diverse backgrounds to build their families through surrogacy. This welcoming environment, coupled with established medical facilities, attracts singles and couples from Western Europe, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Asia to embark on their parenthood journeys here.
However, it is important to remember that surrogacy laws and regulations can evolve. We recommend consulting the resources provided in this guide, such as the Council for Medically Assisted Reproduction, for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, seeking guidance from experienced legal counsel and fertility clinics is essential to navigate the legal intricacies and ensure a smooth and successful journey towards parenthood.
By carefully considering the legal requirements, available resources, and your individual needs, Cyprus can be a brilliant option for building your family through surrogacy.
