When intended parents think about surrogacy, their minds often go to clinics, egg donors, or matching with a surrogate. Yet one of the most underestimated parts of the journey is travel and logistics. For those pursuing surrogacy abroad, the process involves careful planning around timing, documents, coordination, and the unexpected challenges of welcoming a child in another country.
Planning the Journey
Most international surrogacy journeys involve at least two trips: one for medical steps (such as embryo creation) and another for the birth. Depending on the intended parents, they may visit their surrogate during the pregnancy.
Practical tip: build in buffer time for flights, accommodation, and work leave. It may feel excessive, but it can save enormous stress later.
“Flexibility is key! Babies don’t always arrive on their due date, and paperwork can take longer than expected, so build in buffer time for flights, accommodation, and work leave. It may feel excessive, but it can save enormous stress later. Parents who allow for extra time in their schedule tend to have a much smoother experience. We usually recommend parents from abroad arrive 1 month prior to the due date.”
– Amanda Poston
Senior Director of Surrogacy Case Management
Managing Accommodation and Daily Life
While hotels are an option, many parents find serviced apartments more comfortable for longer stays, especially after the birth when they’ll need space for baby care. Location also matters. Being close to the hospital or clinic makes life easier during a busy and emotional period.
Related reading: 4 Considerations for International Intended Parents
Practical tip: Ask your agency or Growing Families manager for local recommendations or connect with other intended parents who’ve gone through the process recently.
“Families often underestimate how important it is to think about their day-to-day life overseas. Simple things like where to buy baby supplies or how close you are to the clinic can make a huge difference. Ask your agency or clinic for local recommendations, or connect with other intended parents who’ve gone through the process recently.”
– Anita Fiorenza,
Concierge Support Manager
Growing Families
Getting the Paperwork Right
Documents are often the biggest source of delays. You may need certified or apostilled copies of your own birth and marriage certificates, plus embassy appointments for newborn passports and citizenship.
Practical tip: Make digital and hard copies of every document and keep them organised in a folder you can carry with you.
“Families often underestimate how important it is to think about their day-to-day life overseas. Simple things like where to buy baby supplies or how close you are to the clinic can make a huge difference. Ask your agency or clinic for local recommendations, or connect with other intended parents who’ve gone through the process recently.”
– Sam Everingham
Global Director
Growing Families
Preparing for the Birth and Exit Process
After the birth, parents need to wait for birth certificate issue, translation, notarisation and apostilling. They may need to complete citizenship and passport applications on behalf of their child and attend embassy appointments. This can take many weeks, so knowing the expected steps in advance helps enormously.
Practical tip: Confirm requirements during pregnancy rather than waiting until after delivery. Also ask your agency if they work with passport services that can assist you with these processes and in many cases expedite them.
Staying Grounded Through the Unexpected
Travel restrictions, early births or medical complications can all affect timelines. While you can’t plan for every scenario, having trusted professionals to guide you means you won’t have to navigate surprises alone.
Practical tip: Keep emergency contacts handy (agency, clinic, concierge support) and ensure at least one support person at home knows your schedule and documents.
Getting Started the Right Way
Travel and logistics are only part of the surrogacy journey. Once you’ve started preparing for flights, accommodation, and paperwork, there are broader steps that will help you feel ready for the months ahead:
1. Evaluate your support team
The professionals you choose to work with, from your agency to your clinic and legal advisors, will shape your experience. A well-coordinated team keeps communication clear and helps prevent delays, while a poor fit can lead to unnecessary stress. Take the time to ask questions, understand their approach, and make sure you feel confident in their ability to guide you.
“Having a team composed of people who have experienced surrogacy themselves is invaluable. They know first-hand what challenges and surprises can arise, and they can guide you in ways that go beyond just logistics.”
– Greg Wiles
President of Hatch
and dad via surrogacy
2. Understand the bigger picture
Logistics are closely tied to medical and legal timelines. Knowing how embryo creation, pregnancy milestones, and legal steps interact with your travel plans helps you prepare realistically. For example, if you’re working across time zones, build that into how you manage communication with your clinic or agency. Seeing the full roadmap at the start reduces surprises along the way.
3. Prepare financially
Beyond medical fees, families should expect to budget for flights, extended accommodation, daily living costs, document fees, and newborn needs. It’s often the unplanned extras, like an extended stay due to paperwork delays or an earlier-than-expected birth, that catch parents off guard. Creating a buffer in your budget helps you manage these uncertainties with less anxiety.
4. Know what will be asked of you
Each country has its own rules for establishing parentage, securing passports, and returning home with your child. Some may require DNA testing, others involve notary or court steps. Understanding what’s needed for your situation early on means you won’t be scrambling for documents or struggling to get appointments after your baby is born.
5. Seek out community
Surrogacy can feel isolating, especially when navigating another country. Many intended parents find reassurance by connecting with others who have gone through the process. Growing Families Concierge program can put you in touch. Hearing how others managed travel, dealt with embassy appointments, or simply coped with the waiting period can provide both practical tips and much-needed emotional support.
Travel and logistics are not the most glamorous part of a surrogacy journey, but they’re among the most important. Preparing for these practicalities can help you feel less overwhelmed and more focused on the joy of welcoming your child. Contact us for preparation advice.
