Common Questions
Frequently asked
questions
Real questions
Most intended parents have the same 20–30 core questions when starting their surrogacy journey. These FAQs come from real conversations with families who completed programs with us — including the questions they wish they had asked first.
Surrogacy raises many important legal, medical, financial, and emotional questions. Here is a full set of answers to help you understand every aspect of the journey.
40+
Questions answered honestly
🌱 General Surrogacy
What is gestational surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy is a form of third-party reproduction in which an embryo created through IVF (using the intended parents' own eggs and sperm, or donor gametes) is transferred to the uterus of a surrogate mother, who carries and delivers the baby. The surrogate has no genetic connection to the child. All Novaparent programs use gestational surrogacy only.
How is gestational surrogacy different from traditional surrogacy?
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate's own egg is used, making her the genetic mother. In gestational surrogacy, the embryo is created externally and transferred — the surrogate has no genetic link to the baby. Novaparent works exclusively with gestational surrogacy.
Why do couples choose surrogacy?
Couples choose surrogacy for many reasons: an absent or non-functional uterus, a medical condition that makes pregnancy dangerous, repeated IVF failure, recurrent pregnancy loss, or other diagnosed conditions. All three of our destinations require a documented medical reason for surrogacy.
Why Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia specifically?
All three countries have clear legal frameworks that explicitly permit gestational surrogacy for married heterosexual couples, with intended parents named on the birth certificate. They combine legal clarity with high medical standards and significantly lower costs than surrogacy in the United States.
✅ Eligibility & Requirements
Who can use surrogacy through Novaparent?
Novaparent works exclusively with married heterosexual couples. This is both a legal requirement under Ukrainian, Georgian, and Armenian law, and our agency's defined scope. Both partners must be legally married, and at least one partner must have a documented medical reason for requiring surrogacy.
Do we need a medical diagnosis to qualify?
Yes. All three destination countries require a medical indication for surrogacy. This includes conditions such as an absent uterus, severely malformed uterus, medical conditions that make pregnancy dangerous, repeated IVF failures, or other diagnosed conditions preventing a healthy pregnancy.
Is there an age limit?
There is no strict upper age limit set by law in any of the three countries. However, fertility clinics will assess your medical eligibility individually. If the intended mother cannot provide viable eggs, egg donation is available through our programs.
Do we need to be citizens of a specific country?
No. Your nationality does not affect your eligibility — however, it affects the consular process at the end of the journey, which we guide you through based on your specific home country's requirements.
⚖️ Legal & Documentation
Are we legally the parents from birth?
In Ukraine and Armenia — yes, immediately, with no court proceedings required. In Georgia, the birth certificate is issued through Civil Registry processing within 1–2 weeks — an administrative procedure, not a court hearing in standard cases. Our partner agency in Georgia manages all paperwork. In all three countries, the surrogate has no parental rights.
Does the surrogate have any legal claim?
No. Under the laws of all three countries, a gestational surrogate has no parental rights over the child she carries. The surrogacy agreement, signed before embryo transfer, clearly defines this. There have been no successful legal challenges to this framework.
What documents do we need to bring our baby home?
The birth certificate in your names, the surrogacy agreement (notarised), and IVF and medical records. With these, you apply for your baby's passport at your home country's embassy. Novaparent prepares the complete documentation package.
Will surrogacy be recognized in our home country?
Recognition varies by country. Most countries where surrogacy is permitted domestically (UK, Australia, Canada, most of Europe) accept children born through foreign surrogacy. We strongly recommend consulting a family-law attorney in your home country before beginning. Novaparent can connect you with specialist lawyers.
🏥 Medical Process
What is IVF and how does it work in surrogacy?
IVF (in vitro fertilisation) creates an embryo outside the body. Eggs are retrieved from the intended mother (or donor), fertilised with sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is cultured for 3–5 days. The healthiest embryo is then transferred to the surrogate's prepared uterus.
What is PGT-A genetic testing?
PGT-A screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. It identifies embryos most likely to result in a healthy pregnancy and reduces miscarriage risk. Particularly recommended for women over 35. PGT-A is included in Comfort and Prestige programs. Our guide to PGD vs PGT-A genetic testing explains the difference in depth.
What if we need an egg donor?
If the intended mother cannot provide viable eggs, an anonymous egg donor can be used. Our partner clinics maintain extensive databases of pre-screened donors with detailed profiles. You select the donor. Egg donation is included in Comfort and Prestige programs.
What is the IVF success rate?
Our partner clinics report clinical pregnancy rates of 55–70% per embryo transfer for patients under 35 using their own eggs, and 60–75% using donor eggs. With PGT-A-tested embryos, rates are higher. In Comfort and Prestige programs, unlimited transfers are included.
💜 Surrogates & Matching
Who becomes a surrogate?
Surrogates in our program are women aged 21–37 who have already given birth to at least one healthy child of their own, are in good physical and psychological health, and freely choose to participate. All are thoroughly screened before being offered to intended parents.
How is the surrogate screened?
Every surrogate undergoes: thorough gynaecological examination, full infectious disease panel, general health blood work, psychological evaluation, interview about her motivations, social background assessment, home visit, and criminal background check.
Do we choose our surrogate?
Yes. Novaparent presents you with a selection of surrogate profiles matching your preferences. Each profile includes medical info, personal background, photo, and a summary from her psychological assessment. No transfer takes place without your explicit approval.
Can we meet the surrogate?
A video meeting between intended parents and the surrogate (mediated by your coordinator) can be arranged if both parties agree. Many couples find it helpful for building trust. In-person meetings can be arranged during clinic visits.
Does the surrogate's nationality matter?
It depends on the country: Ukraine — surrogates are typically Ukrainian citizens. Georgia — surrogates can be Georgian or from neighboring countries; the partner agency in Tbilisi handles selection. Armenia — since the July 2024 amendment to Armenian law, Armenian citizens cannot serve as surrogates for foreign intended parents. All Armenia-program surrogates must be non-Armenian — typically from Georgia, Kazakhstan, or other neighboring countries. The partner agency in Yerevan houses surrogates locally and provides full medical and legal support throughout the pregnancy.
💰 Cost & Payments
What does surrogacy cost?
Pricing is unified across all three countries — same package, same price. Standard from $47,000, Comfort $60,000, Prestige $75,000, all in US dollars. See our Cost page for the full breakdown.
What does "all-inclusive" mean?
Our programs cover: agency coordination, surrogate compensation and allowances, all medical costs, all legal fees, surrogate health insurance, interpreter services, and your personal coordinator. Costs not included: your own travel and accommodation, home country legal advice.
How do we make payments?
Payments are structured in three milestones tied to real progress in your journey: the first at contract signing, the second at week 25 of pregnancy, and the third after birth. You never pay everything upfront, and exact amounts depend on your package. This protects both parties.
What if the IVF fails?
In Standard programs, one embryo transfer is included. In Comfort and Prestige programs, unlimited embryo transfers are included at no additional cost — this is one of the main advantages and provides full financial protection.
🌍 Countries Compared
Which country is best for surrogacy?
It depends on your priorities. Ukraine offers the fastest legal process. Georgia has the longest legal history (since 1997) and is particularly trusted by EU and US authorities. Armenia offers competitive pricing while maintaining high standards.
Is surrogacy in Ukraine safe given the conflict?
Novaparent continuously monitors the security situation. We work with partner clinics in Kyiv and Lviv that have continued to operate successfully. For couples preferring to avoid travel uncertainty, we recommend our Georgia or Armenia programs, offering equivalent legal security and medical quality.
How long do we need to stay in the country?
You typically need two or three visits. The first (2–5 days) is for medical assessment and contract signing. The final visit is most important: arrive 2–4 weeks before due date and stay 4–8 weeks after birth while passport is processed. Add 1–2 weeks for Georgia Civil Registry processing.
✈️ Travel & Logistics
Do we need a visa?
Citizens of most EU and Western countries can visit Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia visa-free for 30–90 days. We will advise on specific entry requirements for your nationality and provide visa invitation letters where required.
What accommodation is available?
Kyiv, Tbilisi, and Yerevan all offer hotels and serviced apartments at various price points. Comfort and Prestige programs include accommodation coordination. We work with partner hotels near our clinics.
Can we attend the birth?
Yes — in all three countries, intended parents are welcome at the birth. This is something many of our families treasure deeply. Your coordinator arranges access to the maternity ward and ensures you are prepared.
💛 Emotional & Practical Support
How do we tell our child about their birth story?
Many experts recommend open, age-appropriate conversations from an early age — children who know their stories from the start tend to integrate them positively. Novaparent connects families with psychologists specializing in surrogacy-born children and provides recommended reading.
What emotional support does Novaparent provide?
Surrogacy is an emotional journey. We provide access to licensed psychologists experienced in surrogacy throughout the process. Your coordinator is also available to talk through concerns at any stage. We hold regular online information sessions and connect couples with each other.
How do we know we can trust Novaparent?
Trust is built over time. We encourage you to read our family testimonials, request references from past clients, verify our legal registration, and ask every question — with no pressure. Established in 2020, we focus on quality of care and personal attention rather than volume.
What happens after we bring our baby home?
Our relationship does not end at the airport. Novaparent provides post-journey support including guidance on remaining legal steps in your home country, connection to parent communities, and access to psychological resources. Many families stay in touch for years.
🇺🇸 For US Intended Parents
How are embryos shipped from the United States to Ukraine?
Two options. Most US intended parents do a fresh IVF cycle in Kyiv — faster, simpler, and lower risk than international shipping. For couples with existing viable US embryos, our partner courier service handles cryogenic transport, customs, and clinic arrival for approximately $3,000–$4,000.
We have no remaining embryos in the US — what are our options?
A fresh IVF cycle in Kyiv is included in our Comfort program ($60,000 all-inclusive, with one full IVF cycle and up to three embryo transfer attempts) and our Prestige program ($75,000 all-inclusive, with IVF using an egg donor and unlimited transfer attempts). Both are designed precisely for couples in your situation.
What is the typical timeline for US intended parents from contract to coming home?
Typically 12–18 months total. This includes surrogate matching (4–8 weeks), IVF and embryo transfer (2–3 months), pregnancy (9 months), and post-birth documentation including the US CRBA process (2–4 weeks).
How difficult is travel to Ukraine for US families during the war?
International flights to Ukraine remain suspended, but the route is well-established. US families fly into Warsaw, Kraków, or Rzeszów, then travel overland to Kyiv — either by overnight train (~10 hours) or chauffeured car (~8 hours from the Polish border). Once you are in Kyiv, daily life operates normally and our partner clinics function at full capacity.
How many trips to Ukraine should we plan for?
It depends on whether you have embryos. With existing embryos, you make a single trip — for the birth and exit documentation (3–4 weeks). Without embryos, you make two trips: the first for the IVF cycle and embryo creation (~1 week), then a second for the birth and exit. Embryo transfer to the surrogate is done without you present.
What are the estimated travel expenses for US intended parents?
For a couple, expect roughly $4,000–$8,000 total travel costs if you have existing embryos (one trip), or $5,000–$10,000 if a fresh IVF cycle is required (two trips). This covers: international flights ($700–$1,200 per person per trip), Warsaw-Kyiv transfers ($80–$200 by train or $300–$500 by private car each way), and Kyiv serviced apartments ($30–$60 per night).
How long do we stay in Ukraine after birth, and how does the US CRBA process work?
Typically 2–4 weeks from birth to departure. The Ukrainian birth certificate naming you as parents is issued within 1–2 weeks. The US Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, $100) and your child's first US passport (~$135) are processed in person at the US Embassy in Kyiv. Once both documents are in hand, families typically travel by private car to Rzeszów Airport in Poland and fly home from there.
Still have questions?
Our specialists are happy to answer anything — in your language, at no cost and no obligation.