Nervous about meeting your surrogate for the first time?

Meeting your surrogate can be worrying, nerve-wracking and also exciting… But it’s just like going on a date. Awkward at first, but remember, your potential surrogate is also in the same boat.

Every first conversation is different, but the first meeting is just about getting acquainted.

We are sharing some tips below that can help you have a great first meeting and get you one step closer to achieving your dream!

  • Take a deep breath and relax!

This meeting is about getting to know each other. So just relax and be yourself!

  • Research and be prepared

Read your surogate’s profile well, so you are fully aware of her background. Most agencies prepare a full detailed profile of the surrogates, which they will share with you. In case you are video calling, check your internet, and speed. Create notes on the questions that you would like to discuss with her, to get to know her and her wishes better.

  • Be curious!

Try and get to know your surrogate and her family better. Share about yourself, talk about your wishes and hopes. Also, ask about what she does, together with her family, her lifestyle and in their free time. Ask questions, but don’t interrogate!

  • Finances

This is not the place to talk money. Financial topics are arranged during the legal discussions and contract creation. Having an agency helps to organize financial arrangements. Focus on knowing each other.

  • Remember the reason of the call!

Sometimes, it’s easy to hit it off straight away with your potential surrogate! In such a case, it is possible to forget asking important questions. To avoid forgetting important questions, we have created a list of questions.

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Is Surrogacy legal in Canada?

Surrogacy in Canada is legal. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA), Canada, came into full force in 2007. As per the AHRA, paying or offering to pay for sperm, egg, or embryos and for the services of surrogate mothers are prohibited. The Act allows for the reimbursement of legitimate expenses for the donors and surrogate mothers.

A person caught paying for or coercing a Surrogate could be fined up to CAD $500,000

A contract is normally created between the surrogates and the intended parents. This contract is a legal agreement between both parties. But, if the surrogate mother decides to keep the baby, law cannot enforce the contract. If the matter goes to court, then the court would look at the agreement and also refer to the genetic parentage. In more than 40 years of surrogacy in Canada, there hasn’t been a single case, where surrogate has refused to give the baby to the intended parents.

The government has itemized the expenses that are eligible for reimbursements. This new law came into effect in 2020.  Details of these eligible reimbursements for gametes (eggs and sperm) and surrogacy will be posted soon.

Almost all the women who agree to become a surrogate, have completed their families, and no longer want any more children of their own. They enjoy being pregnant, and want to truly help other childless couples. Many surrogates also have helped couples on a sibling journey, because they have formed deep bonds with their intended parents and families.

Benefits of Surrogacy in Canada

There are many benefits of having a baby through a surrogate in Canada –

  • It is altruistic, like many European countries, which means that surrogates are not allowed to ask for money to carry a child. Only the expenses are reimbursed. Unlike USA, it is significantly cheaper.
  • Canadian healthcare covers the surrogate mother and also the baby, up to the delivery. This provides additional cost benefits. Canadian social security does not apply to children of foreign citizens, therefore, it is mandatory for Intended parents to have a health insurance for the baby.
  • The favourable exchange rate of Canadian $ with the Euro and Pound Sterling, is beneficial to European and British Intended parents.
  • It is easier to find a surrogate, as it is organized in Canada through several agencies. It is also possible to find surrogates independently as well.
  • A baby born through a surrogate mother in Canada is automatically a Canadian citizen, and is able to obtain a Canadian passport.
  • Other countries such as Nepal, Thailand, India and Mexico have closed their doors for foreign intended parents.
  • East European countries still support foreign intended parents, however the laws of these countries are often not compatible with European and British Surrogacy laws.

Reimbursement of Expenditures under Canadian law

Surrogacy

The following expenditures incurred by a surrogate mother in relation to her surrogacy may be reimbursed under subsection 12(1) of the Act:

  • Travel expenditures, including expenditures for transportation, parking, meals and accommodation;
  • Expenditures for the care of dependents or pets;
  • Expenditures for counselling services;
  • Expenditures for legal services and disbursements;
  • Expenditures for obtaining any drug or device as defined in section 2 of the Food and Drugs Act;
  • expenditures for obtaining products or services that are provided or recommended in writing by a person authorized under the laws of a province to assess, monitor and provide health care to a woman during her pregnancy, delivery or the postpartum period;
  • Expenditures for obtaining a written recommendation referred to in paragraph (f);
  • Expenditures for the services of a midwife or doula;
  • Expenditures for groceries, excluding non-food items;
  • Expenditures for maternity clothes;
  • Expenditures for telecommunications;
  • Expenditures for prenatal exercise classes;
  • Expenditures related to the delivery;
  • Expenditures for health, disability, travel or life insurance coverage; and
  • Expenditures for obtaining or confirming medical or other records.

Reimbursement of Expenditures under Canadian law

Donating ova or sperm

The following expenditures incurred by a donor in the course of donating sperm or ova may be reimbursed under subsection 12(1) of the Act:

  • Travel expenditures, including expenditures for transportation, parking, meals and accommodation;
  • Expenditures for the care of dependents or pets;
  • Expenditures for counselling services;
  • Expenditures for legal services and disbursements;
  • Expenditures for obtaining any drug or device as defined in section 2 of the Food and Drugs Act;
  • Expenditures for obtaining products or services that are provided or recommended in writing by a person authorized under the laws of a province to practice medicine in that province;
  • Expenditures for obtaining a written recommendation referred to in paragraph (f);
  • Expenditures for health, disability, travel or life insurance coverage; and
  • Expenditures for obtaining or confirming medical or other records.

Tips for making an Intended Parents profile

It is very important to make a good profile. It is your first impression to a potential surrogate – her only way of knowing about you at first.

  • Your profile is a brochure of who you are and who you will be as parents
  • An introduction of you / both of you a partners, and your family
  • About the country and community you live in (especially as foreign intended parents)
  • Why you want to be parents
  • About your struggles
  • Pictures that show you and your favourite activities
  • Edit. Edit. Edit
  • Have Fun!
  • Ask for help if you need it

We offer profile making services, including your story, and a video with music using your pictures, which will make it standout to the surrogate mother. Please contact us here.

Surrogacy Options in Cyprus for European and UK Parents

There are essentially three options for parents from Europe to explore possibility of surrogacy in Cyprus. Two important factors need to match (depending on your individual case), before you can consider Cyprus. In all options, donors are possible for eggs and sperms.

  1. Surrogacy Laws in your country – In many European countries, law requires that the names of intended father and surrogate mother be listed on the birth certificate (in the case of heterosexual parents). Cyprus law puts the name of the intended parents on the birth certificate, in the case of heterosexual parents. Please contact a lawyer in your home country to see if there is legal compatibility.
  2. Embryos – If you already have embryos made in your home country, you may be able to ship your embryos to Cyprus. However, clinics have different embryos thawing protocols, which might restrict shipping of embryos to such a clinic.

Option 1

Applicable only for heterosexual parents.

At least one parent should be a biological parent of the baby. It can be via egg or sperm.

The birth certificate will carry the name of the intended parents.

A medical proof is needed the female partner cannot fully carry a baby to term – reasons can be multiple miscarriages, unsuccessful multiple IVF transfers, other conditions such as tilted uterus etc.

The embryo transfer takes place in Cyprus, and the surrogate gives birth in her own country.

The baby will receive the passport of the parent’s home country. Please ensure that your home country allows for citizenship via decent.

Option 2

Also applicable for homosexual parents.

At least one parent should be a biological parent of the baby. It can be via egg or sperm.

The embryo transfer takes place in Cyprus, and the surrogate gives birth in a country in European Union.

The names of the intended father and surrogate are listed on the birth certificate of the baby.

The baby will receive the passport of the biological parent’s home country. Please ensure that your home country allows for citizenship via decent.

Option 3

This is applicable for intended parents that have matched privately with their own surrogate mother.

The IPs want to create embryos and transfer to their own surrogate.

Unlike other countries, Cyprus allows for the age of the surrogate to be up to 55 years of age. This is mainly to allow a family member to help the intended parents. However, BMI has similar requirements as other countries.

The surrogate undergoes all screenings in their home country, to ensure they are fit to carry a full-term pregnancy.

A medical schedule is created and prescription is issued. The surrogate can start her medications at home.

In the meantime, the intended parents can start their embryo creation cycle. The intended mother can begin her medical schedule and prescription in Cyprus. Embryos are either created and transferred directly to your surrogate, or frozen until the surrogate is ready with her cycle for her transfer.

Surrogacy Options in Cyprus for Dutch Parents

This is applicable for Dutch intended parents that have matched privately with their own surrogate mother.

The IPs want to create embryos and transfer to their own surrogate.

Unlike other countries, Cyprus allows for the age of the surrogate to be up to 55 years of age. This is helpful in the case, a family member wants to help intended parents. However, BMI has similar requirements as other countries.

The surrogate undergoes all screenings in their home country, to ensure they are fit to carry a full-term pregnancy.

A medical schedule is created and prescription is issued. The surrogate can start her medications at home.

In the meantime, the intended parents can start their embryo creation cycle. The intended mother can begin her medical schedule and prescription in Cyprus. Embryos are either created and transferred directly to your surrogate, or frozen until the surrogate is ready with her cycle for her transfer.

Donors are possible for eggs and sperms.