Surrogacy in Russia

Overview of Surrogacy in Russia

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a type of assisted reproduction for intended parents where a woman will carry a child for another person or people who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy on their own. These women are known by many different names such as surrogate, surrogate mother or gestational carrier. In Russia, surrogacy is allowed under a defined legal framework and the type of surrogacy commonly used is gestational, which is when the surrogate does not use her own oocyte (egg) and is not related to the child genetically.

Historical Context

Surrogacy programmes in Russia have existed for a long time, over two decades, and they were one of the first in Eastern Europe to become legally structured. Initially, surrogacy was viewed with a lot of scepticism as well as being rare, but surrogacy in Russia became accepted in the early 2000s as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technologies became more advanced. It was becoming a large interest for both domestic and international intended parents, and for many families, it was known to be reliable and affordable for them to grow.

Surrogacy Law in Russia

Russia’s surrogacy laws were considered to be one of the most clearly defined in the world. They offered a structured legal process for all the parties involved that was designed to protect everyone. Due to the recent changes introduced in December 2022, it has changed who can gain access to the service. While the process remains straightforward for Russian citizens, international intended parents can now face strict limitations. In this section, we will explore the legal aspects of surrogacy in Russia.

Legal Aspects for Intended Parents

As of 2025, the criteria changed for intended parents. Now, only married heterosexual couples where at least one partner holds a Russian citizenship are legally permitted to take part in gestational surrogacy programmes.  Unfortunately, foreign couples and single individuals are no longer eligible under this current law. This means they must use their own or donor genetic material and not the surrogate’s genetic material. The Russian legislation outlines the responsibilities expected by all the parties, namely, the intended parents, surrogate mother, and the medical institutions.

Unfortunately, since December 2022, international or foreign intended parents are now not permitted to use the commercial surrogacy services in Russia. The law is aimed at protecting national legal control and limiting foreign people from the commercial use of Russian medical infrastructure. Therefore, this change has limited the access to surrogacy programmes to Russian citizens or couples only. That said, if one parent has a different citizenship outside of Russia, and the other parent holds a Russian citizenship, the couple can still take part in the surrogacy process in Russia.

Legal Parentage and Birth Certificates

One reason that Russian surrogacy was popular for international intended parents was due to how straightforward the legal process was. Prior to the law changing, intended parents could be listed directly on the child’s birth certificate, and the surrogate mother in Russia would not hold any parental rights after signing the contract, regardless of the genetic relation. This still remains the case for Russian citizens today.

Eligibility and Requirements

Since the law changed, the eligibility and requirements have made a much narrower group. Here, we will break down who can legally take part in a surrogacy arrangement in Russia, what is required of prospective surrogate mothers, and the steps intended parents must take prior to the start of the process.

Who Can Participate

As previously mentioned, the type of intended parents that can participate are married heterosexual couples with Russian citizenship or residents within the Russian Federation. The only exception is if one partner holds a Russian citizenship, and they are legally married to a foreign spouse, in which case, the couple may still be eligible. Unfortunately, since a law change in December 2022, single people or foreign couples are no longer allowed to access surrogacy even if they are Russian citizens.

Conditions for Surrogates

In Russia, to become a surrogate there are a number of eligibility criteria that must be met. The Russian surrogate mothers’ eligibility criteria is they must be between the ages of 20 and 35, have previously given birth to at least one healthy baby, pass medical screening tests performed by an approved licensed clinic or surrogacy agency that determine your physical and psychological health is good, have no chronic diseases or contraindications to pregnancy, consent to the process, and sign a legal notarised agreement.

Each surrogate is carefully selected by agencies or clinics and they have regular medical check-ups throughout the pregnancy to make sure the outcome is a safe one.

Intended Parent Requirements

The intended parents are required to provide medical proof in the form of documentation to show that they are unable to carry a pregnancy. They must also sign a formal contract with the agency, clinic and the surrogate mother. One or both of the intended parents must be Russian citizens to be able to proceed legally.

Cost of Surrogacy in Russia

Although surrogacy can be expensive, Russia has gained a reputation for affordable rates. For eligible couples within the country, the financial aspect is one of the key advantages for them to pursue surrogacy locally. 

Let’s take a look at the costs involved in a Russian surrogacy programme.

Detailed Breakdown of Costs

Surrogacy Russia programmes continue to attract attention across the region and the cost ranges between $35,000 to $55,000. The programmes tend to include IVF procedures, surrogate mother compensation, legal documents, maternity care and childbirth expenses, and psychological support and coordination services.

Financial Considerations for Intended Parents

Surrogate mother Russia programmes are still one of the most cost effective options for Russian families, and the Russia surrogacy is attractive to people within the country due to the low costs and high quality medical services that are involved in surrogacy in Russia.

Surrogacy Process

The surrogacy process is carefully managed by certified clinics and agencies who follow the strict medical and legal guidelines from beginning to end, prioritising the health, safety, and rights of everyone involved.

This section will outline the steps to becoming a surrogate, the surrogacy programmes available, and the compensation offered to surrogates.

Steps to Becoming a Surrogate

If you want to become a surrogate mother in Russia, you must apply through a certified agency or clinic. After your application, you will take part in a number of necessary tests including medical and psychological assessments. The next step is to sign a legal agreement that takes place prior to the embryo transfer. Once this step is completed, you will move on to the IVF and embryo transfer using the intended parents’ or donor embryos. Once the pregnancy is confirmed, you would receive regular medical care and psychological support throughout the pregnancy.

Surrogacy Programmes Available

Fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies offer different types of programmes, these can be either standard or guaranteed birth programmes, where multiple embryo transfers are included to make sure there will be a pregnancy. Counselling and legal support tend to be included in most packages.

Compensation for Surrogates

The compensation surrogate mothers in Russia usually receive can be anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000. What the surrogate will receive in Russia will depend on her experience, the amount of previous pregnancies, and if she has experienced any medical complications in the past. There are also additional payments like maternity clothing, travel, and recovery after the birth of the baby.

Challenges and Controversies

Even though surrogacy in Russia is legal and structured for Russian citizen couples, it has not been without challenges. In the last few years, there have been political and social changes that have impacted how surrogacy is viewed and accessed within Russia and by the international community.

This section of the article will explore the challenges and controversies surrounding the recent law changes, the motivation behind them, and the wider impact of current geopolitical tensions. We will look at the restrictions on foreign intended parents to the questions around the ethics and reproductive rights. Let’s take a closer look at these complex issues.

Political and Social Issues

In December 2022, a law banning foreign intended parents from accessing surrogacy in Russia was implemented. The reason this law was put in place is due to the increasing worries over commercial exploitation and the demographic protection. As can be seen the political developments have reframed the surrogacy world in Russia. Some critics have argued and are still arguing that the restrictions limit people from having reproductive freedom and a lack of global cooperation in assisted reproduction.

Impact of Current Events

The geopolitical tension and sanctions have increased the difficulty for international intended parents and agencies to work inside of Russia. Although Russian citizens can continue to access surrogacy, it has become more of a localised process, and future changes in Russian surrogacy law still remain possible.

Comparative Analysis with Other Countries

Surrogacy laws vary from country to country or state to state, they reflect the different cultural values, ethical considerations, and legal priorities in each place. Russia used to stand out for its accessible and clear legal framework, but as we know, the law changed that for the international stage.

In this section, we will compare Russia’s current approach with other surrogacy policies in different countries. We will look at the more open countries like Ukraine and Georgia as well as countries in Western Europe where commercial surrogacy is banned. We will also explore the surrogacy debates worldwide and how evolving laws reflect changing attitudes toward reproductive rights and international cooperation.

Surrogacy Laws in Other Countries

Surrogacy laws vary depending on the destination, there are countries like Ukraine and Georgia who still allow international surrogacy, making these a popular choice for international intended parents who are unable to participate in surrogacy in their country. However, many EU countries, such as Germany, France, and Italy have either banned commercial surrogacy in its entirety or heavily restricted it, especially when it comes to the financial compensation. The surrogate mother Russia model used to stand out for how simple it was legally to participate in surrogacy, but the new restrictions have brought it closer to a more regulated or closed framework. This move has aligned Russia more closely with other countries that have limited surrogacy to domestic citizens and reduced its appeal as an international destination. Still, for Russian citizens, it remains one of the more structured and accessible in the region.

International Perspectives on Surrogacy

If we look at surrogacy on an international level, you will see that it still remains a controversial topic for many. The debates in surrogacy aren’t just in legal terms, but also in ethical, cultural or social contexts. In countries where surrogacy is supported, it is seen as a great way to build a family, empower individuals and couples, and a valid reproductive right. However, there are people who disagree with surrogacy and will raise ethical concerns relating to commodification, inequality, and the commercialisation of reproduction.

Russia changing the surrogacy law to a citizen-only programme follows several other countries that are moving to restrict international programmes. While some see these changes as necessary safeguards, others argue that it may restrict family-building options for those in need. The global conversation around surrogacy is far from settled, and each country continues to grapple with where to draw the line between protection and access.

Opportunities for foreign parents

Currently, participation in surrogacy programs is limited to foreign nationals. If you would like to participate in a surrogacy program, we recommend programs in Kyrgyzstan.

Surrogacy in Kyrgyzstan is available for citizens of any country. It is also possible to use donor biomaterial.

Leave your contacts and our manager will conduct a free consultation to find the best program for you with the highest quality standards for the procedure

Consultation and Support

The surrogacy journey can feel a little overwhelming when you start, but if you are in Russia, intended parents will have access to different types of professional support services which have been created to make the process manageable. 

In this section, we will look at how you would get started with surrogacy in Russia, including where you can find advice.

How to Get Started

At the beginning, you will want to research different agencies or clinics and choose one that is certified as well as offering surrogacy programmes. Once you have made your choice, you can arrange a consultation to determine the eligibility, required documents, and the next steps.

Free Online Consultations

There are many clinics in Russia that offer free online evaluations which allow you, as a couple, to look at your options before proceeding. Specialists will provide any guidance on the medical protocols, legal risks and emotional preparation for the journey.

Future of Surrogacy in Russia

The future of surrogacy in Russia is more than likely going to stay centred on Russian citizens only. They will continue to make medical advancements and updates to the law which will shape the process. As the technology in reproduction evolves and the debates continue, the country may choose to look at new ethical and legal balances in the accessibility and regulation of surrogacy.