What is International Surrogacy?

The U.S. offers some of the most comprehensive protective legal regulations of any country, both for surrogates and parents — which is why many foreign parents hope to find a surrogate here. The laws by which surrogacy is regulated in other countries varies widely — some don’t regulate it at all. Those laws also change frequently, which means that when your baby is born in another country, he or she could be at risk of not being able to come to the U.S. or may struggle to become a U.S. citizen.

Some American parents are drawn to overseas surrogacy because it seems like a cheaper option. But there are hidden costs. International surrogacy programs usually don’t include costs for traveling and legal services, which are extremely costly and complex. Additionally, if you’re saving money because your surrogate is being compensated very little, it’s likely because she’s living in poverty, which raises ethical concerns about working with international surrogates.

The U.S.’ relationships with other countries are always changing, and so your ability to complete an international surrogacy will be affected by any changes. The adoption ban in Russia is a good example of this, as is the deportation of internationally adopted adults, who have been raised by American parents their whole lives and have never even been to their birth country since. Similar political moves could easily affect children born to surrogates outside the U.S.

Every country is different, but poorer countries will typically have limited access to health care. If your surrogate lives in a country where outbreaks of disease can’t easily be contained or treated, she and your baby may be harmed. An international surrogate association may not have the same high medical screening standards as a U.S. agency, so you can’t be certain your surrogate is healthy before she even begins.