Surrogacy requirements in 2026

1. Age requirements for surrogacy: age from 18 to 45 years old
2. Medical requirements for surrogacy
3. Legal requirements for surrogacy
4. Basic medical criteria
5. Comparison of Legal Models of Ukraine, Great Britain, USA and Greece
6. Surrogacy insurance requirements
7. Other Mandatory Surrogacy Requirements

All of them are aimed at ensuring the safety and health of the surrogate mother and child.

• own healthy child;
• age from 21 to 42 years;
• absence of medical contraindications and bad habits;
• stable mental and financial situation;
• absence of episodes of criminal liability.

At the same time, the legal requirements for surrogacy have significant differences depending on the country, which is especially noticeable when comparing Ukraine and Western European countries, for example, the UK.

For a woman considering becoming a surrogate mother in 2026, understanding the full list of conditions is the first and most important step. Let's talk about them in more detail.

Age requirements for surrogacy: age from 18 to 45 years old

Age requirements for surrogacy are one of the most universal and strictly observed criteria around the world, since they are directly related to the physiological ability of a woman to carry and give birth to a healthy child. These requirements for surrogacy are set by medical protocols, taking into account the optimal reproductive age.

Most clinics, including Feskov Human Reproduction Group, set age requirements for surrogacy in the range of 21 to 39 years (sometimes up to 42 years by individual agreement), as this period is considered optimal for minimizing obstetric and genetic risks.

The minimum threshold (21 years) implies psychological maturity and the presence of one's own maternal experience, and the upper threshold (39-42 years) is associated with an increased risk of complications after 40-42 years.

Age requirements for surrogacy on the example of Ukraine and Great Britain:

Compliance with the age requirements for surrogacy is critically important, as it allows you to minimize the risks to the health of the surrogate mother and the unborn child.

Medical requirements for surrogacy

Medical requirements for surrogacy are based on an assessment of the surrogate mother's general health, the state of her reproductive system. Satisfactory indicators suggest that a woman is able to safely go through all stages of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Surrogacy requirements cover a history of previous pregnancies, the absence of chronic diseases and a normal body mass index (BMI).

Basic medical criteria

Medical screening is the most thorough stage of selection, excluding any factors that can interfere with the implantation of the embryo or pose a threat to gestation.

1. Having your own child: As a rule, it is required that the surrogate mother gives birth to at least one healthy child of her own.
2. Body mass index (BMI): A BMI between 18.5-32 (sometimes up to 35) is required, as abnormalities increase the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and other complications.
3. Obstetric history: no more than three vaginal births, no more than one cesarean section (CS), no serious complications in previous pregnancies (e.g., preterm birth, uterine rupture).
4. Chronic diseases: the requirements for surrogacy include the absence of chronic diseases (diabetes, HIV, hepatitis, cardiovascular diseases or autoimmune pathologies).
5. Mental health: a mandatory psychiatric opinion on the absence of mental disorders or addictions, as well as the admission of a psychologist to the gestational surrogacy program.

Careful compliance with all medical requirements for surrogacy allows you to provide the best conditions for bearing a healthy child.

Legal requirements for surrogacy

The legal requirements for surrogacy and their interpretation change dramatically depending on the jurisdiction. This is a key factor for choosing surrogacy in Europe, the UK, the USA or other countries.

Comparison of Legal Models of Ukraine, Great Britain, USA and Greece

In Ukraine, in 2026, commercial programs are completely legal, while in many countries of Western Europe and a number of US states, the law prohibits payment for the services of a surrogate mother. What it looks like in Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Greece:

Legal requirements for surrogacy in different countries form completely different legal risks and require professional support. This makes Ukraine attractive for those who are not ready for the legal complexities that surrogacy legislation and requirements impose in the UK and Greece.

Feskov Human Reproduction Group is the best reproductive clinic that guarantees an unlimited number of IVF and the birth of a healthy child of the desired sex under a fixed-price contract.

Surrogacy insurance requirements

Surrogacy insurance requirements provide financial protection for all program participants, insurance against unexpected medical expenses. The insurance ensures that any complications during pregnancy or childbirth will be covered.

In addition to the basic compensation for services, the requirements for surrogacy insurance imply the presence of a policy that covers:

• Risks associated with pregnancy complications: premature birth, hospitalization, emergency medical interventions.
• Life and health of the surrogate mother: treatment coverage in case of complications that threaten the life or health of the surrogate mother (emergency cesarean section (ECS), hysterectomy).
• Specialized newborn care: Covering the cost of intensive care or neonatal care if the baby needs it immediately after birth.

Within the Feskov Human Reproduction Group, surrogacy insurance requirements are covered in comprehensive packages, providing complete peace of mind for all parties.

Other Mandatory Surrogacy Requirements

In addition to the key categories, there are additional surrogacy requirements that ensure psychological stability and controllability of assisted reproductive programs (ART). These surrogacy requirements are discussed in individual consultations with the coordinator.

What are the other mandatory surrogacy requirements? They include the social and behavioral aspects necessary to guarantee the safe birth of a healthy child.

1. Quitting bad habits: Complete and documented cessation of smoking, alcohol and drug use before and during the entire program. Our clinic monitors the absence of bad habits in a surrogate mother with the help of dynamic tests.
2. No criminal record: applicants must provide a certificate of no criminal record or problems with the law. We also conduct our own legal history checks.
3. Spouse consent: If the surrogate mother is married, her spouse must provide anotarized written consent for her to participate in the program.
4. Stable housing: having a stable and safe place to live, especially during the period when it is necessary to be near the clinic for procedures and monitoring. If necessary, our clinic provides surrogate mothers with comfortable apartments for the period of the program.
5. Psychological readiness: passing an interview with a psychologist to confirm the understanding of one's role, as well as emotional readiness to transfer the child to genetic parents after childbirth.

Compliance with these additional surrogacy requirements ensures that the surrogate mother approaches the process consciously and responsibly. Successful implementation of the surrogacy program in 2026 depends on meeting all these criteria. Get a free individual legal roadmap for the birth of your child – contact the manager on the website!