There are not many ways to find a surrogate in most countries. Some options per some countries is as below:
- Global: If you want a global approach, you can refer to websites “Surrogate Finder” and “Find Surrogate Mother”. You can create your profiles and post it on the site. You can contact surrogates here if you are paid members to these sites.
- United States: Surrogacy in the USA began nearly 35 years ago. You can go via agencies here or choose to go independently. There are many leading agencies in all major states. Finding surrogates on an independent journey is not difficult in the USA. There are many Facebook groups for Independent US Surrogate, which you can join and post your profile. However, be careful to check if the laws for your country meet the law of the state you are considering the surrogacy in. Some states are more surrogacy friendly than others, and some states prefer heterosexual couples for surrogacy. In general, surrogacy friendly states are – California, Illinois, Arkansas, Maryland, Washington D.C., Oregon, and New Hampshire, New Jersey and Washington State. Surrogacy in the USA is commercial, and therefore, it tends to be more expensive than some other developed countries that offer altruistic surrogacy.
- Canada: Allows only altruistic surrogacy and commercial surrogacy is a criminal offence. It has now become a global destination for intended parents that are looking for relatively low-cost surrogacy with safe laws and good healthcare system. It is also popular for gay parents as the laws do not discriminate against sexual orientation.
- Columbia: Since 2015, Columbia is fast becoming a surrogacy destination. It is a post-birth order country, unlike the USA. The laws also do not discriminate against straight or gay parents. Equal rights also extend to foreign parents, as per the constitution. In Columbia, it is best advised to go via some agencies, as you can face some language issues, dealing with surrogates, clinics as well as other related issues.
- India: surrogacy in India is only permitted for citizens and residents of the country. Since 2015, it has been banned for foreign nationals.
- Czech Republic: It is not regulated, but generally tolerated as per law. The name of the parents are put on the birth certificate. In Czech Republic, surrogacy is usually carried out through clinics that have associated agencies that can help arrange the surrogacy journey.
- Netherlands: Altruistic surrogacy only is permissible. However, in Netherlands there are no open surrogates available. Only if someone within your family, and/or friends is able to help you, then there is perhaps a possibility. Further, there is no support from hospitals and fertility clinics are not equipped to handle surrogacy. Only a handful of cases are helped annually in the Netherlands. Most of these cases include gay couples, and exceptional cases such as cancer survivors without a womb, women born without a uterus, a tilted uterus etc.
- France, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Spain: all kind of surrogacy is illegal.
- Ukraine & Russia: Commercial surrogacy is legal. The name of the intended parents go on the birth certificate. Heterosexual couples are preferred, however there is no ban against gay or single parents.
- United Kingdom: Altruistic surrogacy is possible in the UK. There are no agencies available in the UK, however there are some match-making companies that do so altruistically charging small membership fees. Some of these sites are – COTS and SurrogacyUK. There are also several Facebook groups for UK surrogacy where you might be able to find local UK surrogates. Surrogacy is only allowed for UK nationals and residents. https://www.surrogacy.org.uk/ (COTS) https://surrogacyuk.org/ (SurrogacyUK)