Standard
$47,000USD
vs ~$150,000 in the US
Own embryos
1 embryo transfer
The situation in the US
US reality
US domestic surrogacy is the gold standard for legal certainty — but typical total costs run $150,000–$200,000+, sometimes $250,000+ in California. The same journey abroad costs $47,000–$75,000 all-inclusive, with 2-4 weeks post-birth for the US CRBA process at the US Embassy in Kyiv.
Surrogacy in the United States is fully legal and well-established — particularly in states like California, Nevada, Connecticut, Illinois, and Delaware, where pre-birth orders place intended parents on the birth certificate directly. The legal infrastructure is excellent. The medical care is excellent. The matching networks are mature.
The barrier, for most couples, is cost. Agency fees, surrogate compensation ($50,000–$80,000 alone), IVF, legal, insurance, escrow, and miscellaneous expenses typically total $150,000–$200,000 — and that is before any complications. For many married couples who need surrogacy for medical reasons, that figure is out of reach.
Doing surrogacy abroad as a US citizen is fully legal. The baby acquires US citizenship by descent, documented through the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued at the US Embassy in Kyiv — the same legal process used by US diplomats, missionaries, and expatriates worldwide.
What this means for you
If you're a married US couple considering surrogacy, you have two real paths:
- Stay in the US: highest legal certainty, mature ecosystem, but total cost $150,000–$200,000+ and longer wait times in surrogate-friendly states due to demand.
- Go abroad: begin within weeks, all-inclusive cost roughly one-third of US programs, with a US CRBA documenting your baby's citizenship before you fly home.
Neither path is right for everyone. If budget is not a concern, US domestic surrogacy remains the most legally predictable option in the world. But for couples for whom the US cost is prohibitive — or who want to begin quickly — programs in Ukraine, Georgia, or Armenia offer a legitimate, legally-grounded alternative.
Your three destinations
Three countries, three legal paths. Same all-inclusive pricing.
🇺🇦
Ukraine
Fastest legal path
Birth certificate in your names from day one. No court proceedings.
Explore Ukraine →🇬🇪
Georgia
No active war
Legal since 1997. One of the longest-established frameworks worldwide.
Explore Georgia →🇦🇲
Armenia
Emerging destination
Clear law, strong medical infrastructure, immediate birth certificate.
Explore Armenia →All-inclusive · 3 packages
Same price across all three countries
Comfort
$60,000USD
vs ~$180,000 in the US
IVF + PGD FISH 9 testing
up to 3 transfers
Prestige
$75,000USD
vs ~$200,000+ in the US
Up to 3 IVF cycles + PGT-A
unlimited transfers
Three milestone-based payments — at contract signing, week 25, and after birth. See full breakdown & payment schedule →
Returning home with your baby
This is the question every US couple asks first. The honest answer: returning to the US with a baby born abroad is a well-established consular process, but it requires careful planning. We coordinate it step-by-step alongside a partner attorney experienced in US-Ukraine cases.
1
Ukrainian birth certificate
Within 1–2 weeks of birth, the Ukrainian civil registry issues a birth certificate naming the intended parents as the legal parents. This is the foundational document for everything that follows. We handle the local preparation, translation, and apostille.
2
US Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) + first US passport
The CRBA documents that your child is a US citizen by descent. Applications are made in person at the US Embassy in Kyiv (4 Ihor Sikorsky St., Kyiv) — fees are $100 for the CRBA and approximately $135 for the child's first US passport. We coordinate the appointment and document preparation with our partner attorney.
You'll need: Ukrainian birth certificate (apostilled), evidence of the US citizen parent's prior physical presence in the US, the parents' marriage certificate, parents' passports, and a passport photo of the child.
3
Exit to the US
Once both the CRBA and US passport are in hand, families typically travel by private car to Rzeszów Airport in Poland (about 10 hours from Kyiv), then fly home from there. Total post-birth stay in Ukraine is typically 2–4 weeks.
Important US-Specific Note: State Law Varies
Federal recognition of your child's US citizenship is straightforward — the CRBA and US passport are uniform federal documents. However, state-level recognition of intended parentage varies significantly. California, Nevada, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, and Washington are among the most surrogacy-friendly. Iowa, Michigan, Louisiana, and Nebraska have meaningful restrictions or unclear case law. We strongly recommend consulting a US family attorney in your home state before starting any programme abroad — we can refer you to attorneys with experience in international surrogacy returns.
Other countries US couples sometimes consider
Honesty matters. Here are alternatives we don't operate in but you may have heard of:
- Mexico — emerging destination, geographically convenient for US couples, total cost typically $60,000–$90,000. State-by-state legal landscape is uneven; some Mexican states permit surrogacy, others restrict it. Higher legal uncertainty than our three destinations.
- Greece — legal for married heterosexual couples with court pre-approval; total cost typically $80,000–$120,000. Slower legal process than Ukraine, but EU jurisdiction is appealing to some couples.
- Colombia — emerging destination, lower cost, but legal framework is less established. Higher uncertainty.
- Argentina — emerging destination. Surrogacy is not regulated by federal law; outcomes depend on local courts.
If you're set on a country we don't operate in, we'll tell you so honestly and point you elsewhere. We'd rather lose your enquiry than steer you wrong.
Frequently asked questions for US couples
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 programme ($60,000 USD all-inclusive, with one full IVF cycle and up to three embryo transfer attempts) and our Prestige programme ($75,000 USD 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 (4 Ihor Sikorsky St.). Once both documents are in hand, families typically travel by private car to Rzeszów Airport in Poland and fly home from there.
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance based on US federal procedures and Ukrainian law as of May 2026. State-level recognition of intended parentage varies significantly across the United States, and laws change. Individual circumstances vary. Before beginning any surrogacy programme, you must consult a US family attorney experienced in international surrogacy returns — particularly to understand how your specific state will recognise the foreign birth certificate and your child's CRBA. Novaparent Surrogacy is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice — we coordinate surrogacy programmes and refer you to qualified professionals.