Surrogacy in the UK
Since 1988, the UK’s legal system has supported altruistic surrogacy arrangements that prioritise trust, personal connection, and ethical collaboration between intended parents and surrogates.
Under the UK’s altruistic model, surrogates cannot receive payment for carrying a child beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses, such as maternity clothing, travel, or lost earnings. As a result, surrogacy is not treated as a commercial transaction. Instead, most surrogates are driven by a genuine desire to help others build a family.
This shared sense of purpose between intended parents and surrogates fosters meaningful, trust-based relationships and brings emotional richness to the experience. While the journey can be both emotionally and logistically demanding, many intended parents describe it as deeply fulfilling.
Surrogacy in the UK is not just about bringing a child into the world. It is a shared journey rooted in compassion, mutual respect, and hope.
How Does Surrogacy Work in the UK?
Due to the UK’s altruistic surrogacy model, intended parents and surrogates must navigate the process without the involvement of profit-driven agencies. Instead, a number of nonprofit organisations offer valuable guidance and support, helping both parties connect and prepare for the journey ahead.
There are two main types of surrogacy arrangements in the UK:
Straight (traditional or full) surrogacy: The surrogate uses her own egg, making her genetically related to the child.
Host (gestational) surrogacy: The embryo is created using the gametes of the intended parents or donors, ensuring no genetic link to the surrogate.
Most surrogacies in the UK today are gestational, typically involving IVF treatment at licensed fertility clinics. Although this method often takes longer to arrange and complete, it’s often preferred by intended parents, as the lack of a genetic link between the surrogate and the child helps reduce potential legal and emotional complexities.
A critical legal consideration is that surrogacy agreements in the UK are not legally binding. At birth, the surrogate is considered the child’s legal mother. If she is married or in a civil partnership, her spouse or partner is usually recognised as the second legal parent. To gain full legal parenthood, intended parents must apply for a parental order after the child is born.
Who Can Build a Family in the UK?
UK Citizens & Residents
Heterosexual Couples
Homosexual Couples
Singles
Legal Framework for Surrogacy in the UK
Surrogacy in the UK is governed by national legislation, primarily the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. The legal framework is designed to uphold child welfare, protect all parties involved, and guarantee informed consent at every step.
While the laws apply across the UK, some legal processes — particularly around parentage — differ slightly in Scotland compared to England and Wales. As such, intended parents are strongly advised to consult legal experts to navigate the process smoothly and avoid potential complications.
Key Legal Principles:
Only altruistic surrogacy is legal.
Legal parenthood does not transfer automatically at birth.
Parental responsibility is distinct from legal parenthood.
Intended parents must apply for a parental order after the child is born.
A parental order can only be granted six weeks after birth to ensure the surrogate’s consent is informed and valid.
The court’s primary concern is the lifelong welfare of the child.
Surrogacy Costs in the UK
Although surrogacy in the UK is altruistic, the journey still involves several significant expenses:
Fertility treatments and IVF
Legal consultations and parental order applications
Intermediary organisation arrangement fees (so long as they do not profit)
Surrogate’s pregnancy-related costs
Counselling and emotional support
COSTS RANGE FROM
£20,000
TO
£80,000
Surrogate & Donor Match Times
Finding a surrogate or egg donor in the UK is often a challenging and emotionally taxing journey. Due to restrictions on paid matching services, most connections are made through personal networks or nonprofit support organisations, leading to extended wait times and added complexity.
Surrogate Matching
The process of finding the right surrogate can take anywhere from six months to over two years. Most intended parents connect through trusted nonprofit communities such as Surrogacy UK or Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy, which focus on building strong, trust-based relationships before any formal agreement. While this approach may lengthen the process, it often leads to more successful and emotionally fulfilling outcomes.
Egg Donation
Since egg donors may only be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, the available pool is limited. Matches are typically facilitated through fertility clinics, donor banks, or community networks, with timelines ranging between weeks to months, depending on the physical and emotional readiness of both donor and recipient. Once matched and medically cleared, egg collection usually occurs within six to eight weeks.
Engaging early with organisations such as Growing Families can notably improve your chances of finding a match and navigating the process with confidence.
Support Available for Domestic Surrogacy
The UK is home to several trusted organisations that provide guidance and community support:
Surrogacy UK
Founded in 2002, Surrogacy UK operates on a friendship-first model. It uses peer support, social events, a member app, and a thriving community of surrogates, donors, and intended parents to help families grow.
Nappy Endings
This agency offers surrogate and intended parent matching services, full support throughout the journey, and thorough screening checks for all parties.
Brilliant Beginnings
A nonprofit agency founded by surrogacy law experts, Brilliant Beginnings provides a professionally managed service to support surrogates and intended parents from start to finish.
Childlessness Overcome
Through Surrogacy (COTS)
One of the oldest support organisations in the UK, COTS offers guidance based on years of lived experience. It runs private membership services and a public Facebook group for connecting potential surrogates and intended parents.
My Surrogacy Journey
Focused on concierge-style support, this service offers access to donor support, legal and medical referrals, and optional services that help integrate a surrogate into an existing arrangement.
Limitations of Domestic Surrogacy in the UK
While ethical and legal, UK-based surrogacy presents several challenges:
- No Commercial Matching: Finding a surrogate and building a relationship with them is time-consuming.
- No Enforceable Contracts: Agreements are nonbinding and rely on goodwill.
- Legal Parenthood Originating with The Surrogate: A court order is needed to transfer parenthood.
- Emotional Investment: Close relationships between all parties are essential for success.
International Surrogacy Options for UK Citizens
Because of the UK’s limitations, some intended parents choose to explore surrogacy in countries where commercial surrogacy is permitted and regulated.
UK law allows for overseas surrogacy arrangements, but additional legal steps are needed to bring your child home, including:
Applying for a UK passport or visa for the child
Securing a parental order from the UK family courts
Managing travel documentation
Growing Families supports UK citizens in evaluating international programmes in the US, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, and more. Visit this page for more information. We help you weigh costs, timelines, and legal frameworks to choose the safest, most suitable path forward.
FAQS
Commercial surrogacy is prohibited in the UK to protect surrogates from potential exploitation and to uphold ethical, relationship-focused practices.
Typically, surrogates are over 21 years old, have previously given birth, and are in good physical and emotional health. While there is no nationwide screening process, support organisations may have their own vetting procedures and standards.
Yes. Same-sex couples have been eligible since 2010, and single intended parents have been able to apply for parental orders since 2019.
The process can take several months to a few years. This timeframe includes building a strong relationship between intended parents and the surrogate, completing legal procedures, and undergoing fertility treatments.
While surrogates can only be reimbursed for reasonable expenses such as maternity clothing, travel, and medical needs, intended parents should also budget for fertility treatments, legal fees, counselling, and other related services.
Yes. Though commercial matching is not allowed, there are a number of nonprofit and private organisations, including Surrogacy UK and Brilliant Beginnings, that offer legal, emotional, and logistical guidance.
A parental order transfers legal parenthood from the surrogate (and her partner, if applicable) to the intended parents. It also grants full parental responsibility, enabling the intended parents to make decisions about the child’s upbringing and medical care.
A parental order can be applied for after the child is born, but the court cannot grant it until at least six weeks later. This waiting period ensures the surrogate’s consent is fully informed, legally valid, and not influenced by postpartum factors. For convenience, parents are advised to have the proper documentation prepared well ahead of time.
Yes, but it involves navigating foreign and UK laws, immigration processes, and legal parenthood. Expert guidance from Growing Families or a surrogacy solicitor is strongly advised. For more information, click here.
Ready to get started?
Growing Families has helped over 3,000 families through the complexities of surrogacy, navigating international borders and legal systems with care. Our expertise and global network provide you with safe, supportive pathways to build your family, whether you choose to explore options in the UK or abroad.