LGBT Surrogacy: Top LGBT–Friendly Countries for Surrogacy
Which countries allow LGBT Surrogacy?
Many LGBT singles and couples from almost all countries in the world are looking for surrogacy–friendly destinations to make their families complete and come back with babies. Unfortunately, in most countries Surrogacy is banned, making it impossible to start Surrogacy. Nowadays, Surrogacy is banned in many European and Asian countries. There are few countries in the world open to all intended parents. Even fewer countries opened to LGBT singles wishing to have the child through Surrogacy. And even fewer countries opened for LGBTQIA+ couples for completing Surrogacy. Let’s explore the top 6 destinations the international LGBT singles and couples choose.
In a surprise twist, one European country and one island country — the Members of the EU — are open for LGBTQIA+ singles and couples desiring to have babies through Surrogacy. These amazing countries are Albania and Cyprus. They don’t have the governing laws on the Surrogacy process, thus it can be done there. The next countries are Canada and the United States — the global leaders in LGBT rights and inclusive same–sex parenting legislation. And two more destinations that are closer to the United States — Mexico and Colombia — welcome all intended parents regardless of their marital status, gender, or sexual orientation.
LGBT Surrogacy - pros and cons
The most common Surrogacy Programs for LGBTQIA+ singles and couples are:
- Surrogacy using own gametes;
- Surrogacy with Egg Donation;
- Surrogacy with Sperm Donation;
- Surrogacy with Frozen Embryo Transfer;
- One surrogate mother program or two surrogate mothers programs.
All these programs are available in each of the top LGBT–friendly countries for Surrogacy.
LGBT Surrogacy in Albania
Remaining the European best–kept secret, the small and beautiful Albania is an ideal destination for LGBT couples looking for Surrogacy Services. In Albanian legislation, the concept of Surrogacy, Surrogacy Process, and surrogate motherhood has not been a subject of specific regulation. It seems that Surrogacy here is neither permitted nor prohibited. And this makes Albania a unique Surrogacy Destination opened to all intended parents regardless of nationality, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Another added bonus is less expensive surrogacy fees compared to the United States or Mexico. Nowadays Surrogacy Cost in Albania is between $50,000 and $70,000, depending on the number of IVF cycles performed, the type of pregnancy (singleton or multiple), pregnancy–related expenses, and surrogate mother’s compensation for Surrogacy Services.
LGBT Surrogacy in Canada
The first country in the world to embrace diversity and implement a policy of multiculturalism, Canada, is welcoming LGBTQIA+ singles and couples wishing to have babies through Surrogacy. This compelling country is a global leader in LGBT rights and inclusive same–sex parenting legislation, accessible information on ways to same–sex parenthood (including surrogacy parenting virtual seminars & expos), recognition of same–sex fatherhood/motherhood in formal documentation, and online and offline postnatal classes & Feeding courses such as newborn care, formula feeding, and first aid for LGBTQIA+ parents.
Surrogacy in Canada is legal and is regulated under the federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act. The law permits only altruistic surrogacy, which means the surrogate mothers cannot be paid for Surrogacy Services. But although paying for Surrogacy is prohibited by law, the law permits reimbursing a surrogate mother for her reasonable surrogacy–related expenses (IVF fees, expenses covering pregnancy and delivery, and lost wages fees).
The exact cost of Surrogacy in Canada is hard to pin down as each surrogacy experience is different and intended parents should expect to reimburse a surrogate mother’s surrogacy–related expenses according to the specific circumstances such as IVF fees, pregnancy–related fees (including medications, prenatal care expenses), delivery fees (natural or Caesarian delivery), postpartum recovery expenses of the surrogate mother (staying at the hospital longer than expected, premium care, medications, investing in such essentials as Chongerfei 3 in 1 Postpartum Support Wrap, etc.) and so on. Nowadays, the Surrogacy Cost in Canada varies from $55,000 to $90,000.
LGBT Surrogacy in Colombia
Colombia is one of the most preferable countries for LGBT couples for starting their surrogacy journey. Most LGBT couples will inevitably begin their surrogacy journey in Colombia’s largest cities — Bogotá, the crown jewel of Colombia’s Caribbean coast — Cartagena, or the smaller and more manageable city of Medellin. The Colombian constitution does not allow discrimination, so all singles, heterosexual couples, and LGBT couples are eligible for Surrogacy as long as they have a genetic link to the baby.
The only type of surrogacy permitted in Colombia is Altruistic Surrogacy. Altruistic Surrogacy eliminates paying any fees to the surrogate mother for the Surrogacy Services except the expenses for doing I (the surrogate mother’s oocytes cannot be used in Embryo Generation, instead, only the intended mother’s oocytes or the donor’s eggs can be used), pregnancy–related expenses including medication, expenses covering delivery and post–birth recovery of the surrogate mother.
Surrogacy Cost in Colombia is dynamic and depends on such circumstances as the number of IVF cycles, the number of mock and actual Embryo Transfers, medication, any complications that happened during IVF, pregnancy or birth, singleton or multiple pregnancy, natural or Caesarian birth, full–term or preterm delivery, and so on. At present, fees for surrogacy–related expenses in Colombia vary from $60,000 to $119,000.
LGBT Surrogacy in Cyprus
Being the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, easily accessible by international flights, and having many IVF clinics and Surrogacy Agencies, Cyprus is one of the top destinations chosen by many LGBT couples for making their dream of having a baby through surrogacy come true. Surrogacy in Cyprus is a beautiful experience, as here it is possible to hire one or two surrogate moms for carrying two babies nearly at the same time.
Cyprus is a country divided by the Green Line in its capital — Nicosia, offering the Turkish experience in the north part and the Greek experience in the south part. There are no surrogacy laws in North Cyprus, therefore clinics accept transferring embryos to surrogate mothers without breaking any law. Even though IVF regulations allow using Surrogacy under certain conditions, birth laws recognize the surrogate mother as the legal parent, therefore, while Surrogacy Arrangements can be made, the legal system cannot back up any contracts to be made.
In South Cyprus, there are no statutes and/or regulations that regulate the Surrogacy Process too. The Surrogacy Contract between the surrogate mother and the intended parents is unenforceable before a Court as it lacks validity. Although there is no legal framework for the Surrogacy Process, the Cypriot lawyers using the guidelines stated in Cypriot Medically Assisted Reproduction Law 2015 (69(Ι)/2015), 194(I)/2015, 92(I)/2016 and 113(I)/2018 (that mostly shapes IVF process) when preparing Surrogacy Contracts as IVF is a part of Surrogacy.
Currently, the surrogacy cost in Cyprus is between $60,000 and $125,000. The total cost for surrogacy depends on the program (‘Standard’, ‘Guaranteed’, ‘Premium’ or ‘Two Surrogate Mothers’), the number of IVF cycles and Embryo Transfers, add–ons (Preimplantation Genetic Testing, prolonged cultivation, and etc.), pregnancy and delivery expenses (normal or high–risk pregnancy, singleton or multiple pregnancy, normal or C–Section delivery, maternity hospital fees, surrogate mother and newborn care fees while staying at the hospital), fees for preparing and issuing the legal documents for the Embassy, and so on.
LGBT Surrogacy in Mexico
With powder–soft white and golden sand beaches backed by deep blue and turquoise waves of the Caribbean Sea, Mexico is an amazing destination for a surrogacy journey. Always bustling, no matter what time of the year you decide to go (during the summer months between July and August) or in the winter holidays (through the New Year), the spring or early fall, Mexican fertility clinics and Surrogacy Agencies are open to all singles, couples, and LGBT couples coming to this surf and sand country with a hope of coming back with a newborn. Only certain states such as Tabasco imposed a ban on Surrogacy Services. In other states like Cancun, Mexico City, Quintana Roo and others, Surrogacy Programs continue to be offered to all intended parents.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual single intended parents or same–sex couples have the same set of Assisted Reproductive programs as any other couple. When talking about Surrogacy, it should be noted that according to Mexican legislation, only Gestational Surrogacy is legal (commercial Gestational Surrogacy is legal too). This imposes the prohibition of using the surrogate mother’s oocytes in IVF as the surrogate mother cannot be an Egg Donor. Instead, the intended mother’s oocytes or the donor’s eggs are used in IVF for embryo creation.
Today, Surrogacy Cost in Mexico fluctuates between $60,000 and $75,000. Fees are dynamic and depend on many factors such as Surrogacy using vitrified embryo shipped from abroad or stored in the local IVF clinic, using Mexican or international Egg Donor, performing Preimplantation Genetic Screening or/and gender selection, number of IVF cycles, number of Mock and Actual Embryo Transfers, pregnancy care, type of birth, newborn care, and so on. The basic fee of the Standard Surrogacy Program usually doesn’t cover the multiple pregnancy fees, high–risk pregnancy fees, preemie NICU fees, or reimbursement for lost wages. And vice versa: Premium programs may cover unlimited IVF cycles with the local/International Egg Donor, unlimited Embryo Transfer trials, and most of the expenses or all expenses associated with surrogacy, delivery, and newborn care.
LGBT Surrogacy in the United States
United States has always been a Surrogacy hub for LGBT intended parents. Easily accessible by international flights, implementing clear legislation on Surrogacy, and having an excessive experience in the surrogacy process — from the first call to the day you are holding your tiny miracle — it is a top destination for one beautiful and secured surrogacy experience.
Surrogacy in the US is regulated by state law, not federal law. This means that surrogacy laws differ from state to state, and each individual state has created its own surrogacy process, varying from no laws at all to more restrictive laws. Such states as California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington are considered surrogacy–friendly. LGBT singles and couples are welcomed here for completing the Surrogacy Programs with having new additions to their families.
Working with a US Surrogacy Agency makes the whole surrogacy process both seamless and secured — unlike in any country in the world, — as there are many legal protections that intended parents may not receive in another country. Your Personal Manager will match you with a surrogate mother from a surrogacy–friendly state before moving forward and starting the program. And this is vital as doing surrogacy in a surrogacy–friendly state allows to issue of an enforceable Surrogacy Contract of rights and responsibilities, establishing the parental rights before the baby is born, fixing the Surrogacy fees and expenses, and more.
Nowadays, surrogacy cost in the United States is dynamic and varies from $100,000 to $175,000 with an average cost of $120,000, and can be paid in multiple installments. Fees are flexible as each case is unique, so the cost of surrogacy depends on several factors including Surrogacy Agency fees, travel expenses (if necessary), the use of egg or Sperm Donation, number of IVF cycles performed to achieve pregnancy, the use of additional techniques like PGT, constant monitoring of a multiple pregnancy or investing in premium maternity health insurance.
Final thoughts
Surrogacy is a wonderful option for same–sex couples who are eager to have small bundles of joy. It allows LGBT couples to fulfill the dream of motherhood or fatherhood while maintaining a genetic link to their children. Although today among the top LGBT–friendly countries for surrogacy there are only six countries, some countries are taking the first positive steps to make surrogacy legal. Our website provides only the best clinics for Surrogacy, so don't forget to check clinics in your country or maybe some country abroad.