Overview of Surrogacy in Georgia

Georgia’s approach to surrogacy is showing the world they are the most open and well-regulated destination in Europe for international surrogacy, attracting intended parents from all over the world. It is located between Europe and Asia, and over time the country has become a hub for the reproductive services they offer. They have advanced fertility clinics, transparent legislation, and affordability which is why intended parents are choosing Georgia due to these rare combinations. These factors are often hard to find together in other countries.

In many countries, surrogacy is banned, has a grey area legally, or is limited to couples who are citizens of the country, Georgia is one of the few that allow international intended parents within their clear legal structure. The country offers a safe and medically sound programme, which gives international intended parents a peace of mind in relation to parental rights. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi and they host a number of leading fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies who operate in compliance with the Georgian law, they also have specific places that focus entirely on international cases. These institutions usually offer English-speaking staff, legal counsel with an extensive amount of experience, and full-cycle programmes, from in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to postnatal support, all of which have been created to meet the needs of intended parents from other countries.

Legislation and Legal Requirements

As we have already learned, surrogacy in Georgia is legal and recognised at a national level. The law clearly states and allows gestational surrogacy, which is when a woman, the surrogate mother, will carry an embryo created with the intended parents or donors oocytes and semen (egg and sperm), meaning the surrogate will not have a genetic link to the baby. One of the eligibility criteria in Georgian law is only married heterosexual couples can take part in surrogacy. Unfortunately, same-sex couples or single people are currently not allowed to participate in the programmes available.

Legally, Georgia does have a high degree of clarity and protection in their law. It states the intended parents will be listed on the child’s birth certificate immediately, essentially stopping the need for an adoption process. Due to this automatic legal step, it has become a key reason for why multiple couples choose Georgia over other destinations as they do not require long and unnecessary court procedures. Even more so, the fact that Georgia’s surrogacy agreements are enforceable under civil law makes the country a lot more attractive to many people. There will be a contract signed prior to an embryo transfer, and it sets out the rights and responsibilities for both parties, including compensation, medical insurance and coverage, as well as post-birth procedures. The contract makes sure there is a mutual understanding and reduces the chance of any legal disputes arising during or after the pregnancy.

Cost of Surrogacy in Georgia

Another main reason intended parents look at surrogacy in Georgia is the cost of the treatment, essentially, it is seen as affordable to many. The cost of surrogacy in Georgia, Europe, is noticeably lower than in the U.S. or many other EU countries, and they still manage to maintain the medical standards expected in surrogacy.

Breakdown of Surrogacy Costs

The surrogacy Georgia, Tbilisi cost ranges from $40,000 to $70,000, this depends on multiple factors such as the surrogacy agency you choose, the fertility clinic, and the programme details. In every programme, the usual inclusive services in a standard package are the IVF procedure and embryo transfer, surrogate compensation, medical monitoring and delivery, legal documents and court fees, agency and administrative services, and accommodation and local support for intended parents.

Factors Affecting Surrogacy Prices

The types of factors that can affect the surrogacy in Georgia, Europe cost are repeated IVF cycles or if special treatments are needed. 

Another point to mention is the surrogate mother cost in Georgia, Tbilisi can vary based on a number of factors. One of the factors is what type of programme you opt for, for example you could choose a standard package or a guaranteed live birth package. Some more factors that may affect the cost are the number of embryo transfer attempts that are included in your package, whether there will be use of a donor’s egg or sperm, any pregnancy related complications or multiple pregnancies, and the surrogate’s level of experience.

Surrogacy Programs Available

Surrogacy agencies in Georgia offer a variety of programmes. Here’s a breakdown of some that are available;

• Basic programmes with one or two embryo transfer attempts.
• Guaranteed programmes covering unlimited attempts until successful delivery.
• Premium packages that include legal services, travel arrangements, and postnatal support.

The programme you choose will depend on your medical needs, financial situation, and your personal preferences. Most of the surrogacy agencies will also help you further and provide custom options tailored to your circumstances.

Surrogate Mothers in Georgia

Each surrogate in Georgia is screened for their health, psychological stability, and previous birth experience. A woman must have at least one healthy child of her own and meet a number of medical standards prior to being approved as a Georgian surrogate.

The surrogate mother cost in Georgia, Tbilisi, in a legal context, includes her base compensation, support payments during the pregnancy, maternity clothing, and postpartum care. All surrogates will also receive medical care from certified professionals during the pregnancy.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Surrogacy in Georgia

It’s good to know what the advantages and disadvantages can be in any topic so let’s take a look at the pros and cons of surrogacy in Georgia.

Advantages of Surrogacy in Georgia

By now you will have noticed there are a number of advantages of surrogacy in Georgia. Let’s start with number one of the advantages, Georgia has a clear legal structure that protects intended parents. We then have affordable pricing compared to other countries. Other advantages are the high quality fertility clinics and IVF laboratories in Tbilisi, fast access to programmes and shorter waiting times, and finally, surrogates tend to be experienced and English-speaking professionals.

Disadvantages of Surrogacy in Georgia

Of course, with anything there are disadvantages of surrogacy in Georgia depending on how you look at it. Firstly, the surrogacy programmes are available only to married heterosexual couples. Next, the legal updates may require consistent and constant monitoring by lawyers. Other disadvantages are the cultural and language differences for international intended parents, and the limited rights for intended parents from countries that do not recognise surrogacy in a foreign country.

FAQs about Surrogacy in Georgia

It’s understandable that you may still have questions, so we have gathered some frequently asked questions for you about surrogacy in Georgia. However, if you still have questions, please do contact us to discuss further.

Are Surrogacy Expenses Tax Deductible?

The question surrounding whether surrogacy expenses are tax deductible is a question asked by many. The medical procedures and related services, may fall under the option of personal healthcare expenses in multiple locations. However, tax deduction policies will vary depending on the legislating in the nation. If you are hoping to understand whether any part of a surrogacy cost can be tax deductible in your journey, it is important to contact a qualified tax advisor who has the experience in reproductive medicine and international surrogacy arrangements to help guide and advise you.

How Long Is the Wait to Match with a Surrogate?

Usually, intended parents can expect to wait one to three months to match with a surrogate in Georgia. The time it takes will depend on the surrogacy agency’s database and specific criteria, such as their health background or whether they are happy to carry twins. Some agencies in Georgia offer programmes called “guaranteed surrogacy programmes” which can reduce the wait time as they have pre-approved surrogates for this programme.

What Are the Main Stages of the Surrogacy Process?

There are number of main stages for the surrogacy process in Georgia starting with choosing your surrogacy agency or fertility clinic, followed by a consultation. After the initial assessments have been completed, the intended parents and surrogate mother will sign a legal agreement and complete medical screenings. Next, the IVF cycle will start, followed by the embryo transfer to the surrogate. Once the pregnancy is confirmed, the surrogate will be monitored throughout the pregnancy. As soon as the baby arrives, the intended parents will be recognised as the legal guardians for the baby and there will be no court hearings or any adoption procedures required.