Educating yourself about international surrogacy — and finding an agency to help — can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, you are not alone. You’ve come to the right place because we’re here to provide you with all the information about international surrogacy that you need.

This guide includes details about agencies, laws, costs and much more. Though we’ve made this article as comprehensive as possible, we understand if you have some more questions. In that case, you can contact us online to get free surrogacy information now.

But, before you fully commit to this path, be sure to speak with a reputable surrogacy professional to see if international surrogacy is right for you.

To get you started, though, here’s what you need to know:

7 Pros and Cons of International Surrogacy           

As you may have expected, there are both pros and cons of international surrogacy. There are components such as travel, laws, expenses and more that you will need to take into account.

Below, we’ll go over international surrogacy pros and cons so that you can make the decision that is best for your circumstances.

Benefits of Overseas Surrogacy                                                                                                   

• You might have a wider pool of potential surrogates to select from. By choosing an international surrogacy, you might have more options to select from. You’re expanding your search beyond the borders of the United States to search the globe for your surrogate. However, be mindful of the possibility that COVID-19 may affect this depending on which countries you’re looking in.
• The initial cost can be lower than domestic surrogacy. If you are wondering, “How much does surrogacy abroad cost,” then you should know that the initial cost in some countries is lower than its U.S. counterpart. But, many hidden costs arise later on, so be mindful of these expenses, as well. There are also some ethical considerations to be aware of when it comes to lower surrogate compensation in foreign countries.
• There might be more surrogacy agencies to choose from. Just as you might have a wider pool of surrogates to select from in international surrogacy, you could also have more surrogacy agencies to choose from. You can either decide to work with an agency in the U.S. or an agency abroad. But, keep in mind that COVID-19 will likely play a factor in how many agencies you can work with. This all depends on the countries that you are interested in.

Problems with International Surrogacy

• Surrogates tend to live in impoverished locations. This means that one of the issues with overseas surrogacy is that it can become exploitative. U.S. surrogacy professionals require surrogates to be financially stable so as not to take advantage of anyone.
• You don’t know that the surrogate is receiving adequate medical care. As a result, you also don’t know if the baby is getting the health care that they deserve. You’ll want to make sure that the surrogate and your child are being looked after properly.
• You can’t have much of a relationship with the surrogate. Not only is there geographical distance to take into account, but this can especially ring true if there is a language barrier. This can make it difficult to develop a relationship in international surrogacy.
• There are many logistical problems with international surrogacy. For instance, you will need to think about embryo transfers, international travel with a newborn, visas, proof of parentage and much more. It’s one of the reasons that international surrogacy can be more strenuous than a domestic one.
• It may be harder to vet international surrogacy agencies in other countries. The same language barrier issues apply, and some international surrogacy agencies may have a reputation for exploiting prospective surrogates. In some cases, they may also take advantage of hopeful intended parents.

In most situations, the risks and challenges of international surrogacy outweigh the benefits for hopeful intended parents and prospective surrogates in the U.S. You are almost always better off working with a domestic surrogacy agency and matching with intended parents or a surrogate within the U.S.

How Much Does Surrogacy Abroad Cost?

Because you would be traveling outside of the country, you will need to factor in the overseas surrogacy cost for travel. On top of this, you’ll have to think about embryo transfer amid other logistics. In terms of the international surrogacy cost, it will ultimately depend on what agency you work with.

If you’ve spent some time researching surrogacy, then you may have heard the myth that international surrogacy costs are lower than domestic ones. Although this may seem true at first, the cost of international surrogacy can accumulate throughout the process. For instance, medical costs and successful embryo transfer rates differ in each country.

This means that, if multiple attempts at an embryo transfer are necessary, you would have to pay for each of those attempts. This is also true of domestic surrogacy, but multiple embryo transfers may be more likely in a country that does not have the same medical technology and healthcare that the United States does.

Another overseas surrogacy cost you’ll need to consider is bringing your child home and your parental rights’ legal protection. So, keep in mind that the costs laid out at first will likely increase by quite a bit.

International Surrogacy Laws: Which Countries Permit Surrogacy [And Which Countries Don’t]

Surrogacy can be a controversial subject for many countries outside of the U.S.  As you consider this path, spend some time researching international surrogacy laws to ensure you’re pursuing surrogacy in a country where it’s safe and legal. This is so that you can protect yourself, the surrogate and the baby. In case there is a language barrier, you will also need to hire a certified translator.

Laws surrounding international surrogacy vary from country to country. For example, Canada, Australia, the U.K. and others allow only non-compensated, altruistic surrogacy.

To help you figure out the legalities of surrogacy in certain countries, working with a lawyer in the respective country can ensure that your surrogacy is handled in a fair, ethical and legal fashion. Though international surrogacy laws have become more restrictive, U.S. surrogacies allow for anyone to complete the process.

If you are an intended parent in a country with non-friendly surrogacy laws, then the U.S. is an excellent choice for international surrogacy. We have some of the most well-regulated surrogacy practices of any country that allows surrogacy and protections in place that ensure surrogates receive the health care, services and compensation they deserve.

Find an International Surrogacy Agency

If you live in a country where surrogacy is not legal or well-regulated and are interested in international surrogacy, then working with an agency in the U.S. may be your best option.

Most U.S. intended parents and surrogates also choose a domestic surrogacy after researching the risks and challenges of international surrogacy. Surrogacy in the United States is well-regulated, which makes it the ideal option for intended parents and surrogates alike.

The best domestic agencies tend to have a background in adoption with a team of trained social workers. They also screen surrogate candidates before the matching process begins.

To help you get started, here are some U.S. agencies that complete surrogacies for those who live in the U.S. or outside the country:

• American Surrogacy
• ConceiveAbilities
• International Surrogacy Center

International surrogacy can be a lot to wrap your head around. With that being said, we understand if you need some clarification or have some more questions. You can contact us online at any time to get free surrogacy information now.