Surrogacy or surrogate motherhood is legal in Greece for both opposite-sex couples (married or unmarried) and single females who cannot carry a child to term naturally. Only altruistic surrogacy arrangements are allowed.
Even though surrogacy has been permitted to Greek citizens since 2002, the law was amended in 2014, which gave non-EU citizens the right to have a child via surrogacy in Greece. Continue reading to learn more about the regulations, prices, and more.
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Surrogacy law
Altruistic surrogacy has been permitted for Greek citizens since 2002. However, the law was extended twelve years later—particularly in July 2014—, thereby giving foreign citizens the right to become parents through surrogacy in Greece as well.
The law, as amended, means that Greece can now be included in the list of countries that allow surrogacy to non-residents as well, thereby becoming a recommended destination for those interested in pursuing surrogacy abroad.
It should be taken into account, however, that the Greek law establishes a series of legal requirements that should be met in order to have the right to participate in a surrogacy arrangement:
- Same-sex couples and single men cannot take part in surrogacy programs. Only opposite-sex couples and single females have currently this right. It is believed that surrogacy laws will be opened up to gay couples as soon as same-sex marriage is recognized in Greece.
- In the case of heterosexual couples, they can be either married or unmarried.
- The age of the intended mother cannot be above 50 years, and she has to obtain medical evidence of her inability to have children through a letter from a doctor in their home country.
- The law states that only altruistic surrogacy arrangements are allowed. Nonetheless, under certain circumstances, a certain compensation can be given to the surrogate, as long as it doesn't exceed the sum of $12,000.
- Using donor eggs and/or sperm is permitted as well.
Failure to comply with the law, whether you are a resident or non-resident, may be sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and a fine of at least $1,800.
Surrogacy & egg donation
Using donor eggs for IVF surrogacy is permitted in Greece. The law states, however, that egg donations must be done only with altruistic purposes, thereby preventing women from "selling" their egg cells.
Even though paying egg donors for their services is prohibited, they can receive a symbolic compensation of about $700, not exceeding the sum of $900, to reimburse the costs incurred during the process, including lost of wages, travel expenses, etc.
To be an egg donor, potential candidates must be aged between 18 and 35 years and be mentally and physically healthy. To confirm this, they are medically and psychologically pre-screened.
Only gestational surrogacy arrangements are permitted. This means that the egg donor cannot be the same woman as the gestational surrogate. Learn more: What Is IVF Surrogacy? – Process, Success Rates & Cost.
Court approval & citizenship
It is required for intended parents to obtain court approval of the surrogacy arrangement prior to the embryo transfer to the uterus of the gestational carrier. At this point, the IP(s) must submit to the court evidence of their medical inability to have children.
When looking for surrogacy clinics in Greece, IPs must make sure that they will be assigned a Greek lawyer, who will be responsible for preparing the surrogacy agreement and the documents that must be submitted to the court.
Intended parents will have to travel to Greece to execute the surrogacy contract, undergo testing, and submit the court application for approval.
On average, it takes for the Greek court about 8 weeks to make their final decision, which will be notified to the intended parents as soon as it is available.
At this point, the surrogate can get started with the medical preparation for the transfer, but the transfer itself cannot take place before the Court has delivered its official judgement.
Babies born in Greece do not acquire Greek citizenship at birth. Passport and citizenship are acquired based on the IPs' citizenship. For this reason, consulting the requirements in your home country for registering a child born abroad is a crucial step as well.
Average cost
The cost of surrogacy in Greece ranges between $85,000 and $100,000 on average. However, this is just a general price range and for this reason we recommend that intended parents add an extra 10-15% to their budget to cover potential mishaps and unforeseen events.
The cost can be broken down into various fees, including the agency, attorney, and fertility clinic fees. The compensation to the surrogate should be taken into account as well, which adds about $10,000 to the overall cost.
Typically, Greek clinics allow intended parents to pay in installments: one after signing the contract, the second after approval by the court, the third when fetal heartbeat is confirmed, the fourth at 23 weeks approximately, fifth at 32 weeks, and finally at birth. Ask your clinic to learn more about this.
Surrogacy, like any medical treatment, requires you to trust the professionalism of the clinic and the agency.
FAQs from users
Is Crete a good destination for surrogacy in Greece?
Yes, Crete is the largest island in Greece and many fertility clinics can be found there. Recommended for you: Best Fertility Clinics in Greece.
Is commercial surrogacy allowed in Greece?
No, only altruistic surrogacy in permitted under current Greek law. Nevertheless, surrogates can receive a financial compensation for lost wages and all other expenses incurred during the surrogacy process.
You may also enjoy some further information reading this: What Are the Different Types of Surrogacy? – Names & Definition.
Can we use a known egg donor for gestational surrogacy in Greece?
No. Both egg and sperm donors are required to be anonymous by law. IPs can, however, specify some particular traits, including race, hair color, eye color, etc. Learn more: Egg Donation in Greece.
Do IPs become the legal parents of the child from the time of conception under Greek law?
Yes. Article 1464 of the Greek Civil Code states that the woman who applies for and is granted a judicial authorization to enter into a surrogacy arrangement (i.e. intended mother) in Greece is the legal mother of the child born via surrogacy. Moreover, her husband or de facto partner will be considered the legal father of the child.
Suggested for you
As explained earlier, Greece is a good option for those considering surrogacy abroad. However, there are other countries that allow surrogacy for non-residents and perhaps may be a good option for you as well. Click here to find them out: International Surrogacy – Laws & Options for Surrogacy Abroad.
Irrespective of the country chosen, the steps to be followed in every surrogacy arrangement are more or less similar. Get more info by clicking the following link: Parents through Surrogacy Guide – The Process Step by Step.
In case you are interested in getting an overall idea of the current surrogacy laws worldwide, you may also enjoy some further information reading this: Surrogacy Laws by Country – Where Is It Legal?
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Hello, I would like to get reliable information to go to Greece to do a gestational surrogacy, above all information about prices and legal guarantees. Thank you very much.
Good morning Simon,
If you need personalized information about this destination, I recommend you access the Surrogacy Report, a completely free tool with which you will receive a detailed document in real-time with a cost breakdown, budget analysis, tests that you should take, and other very interesting advice. We will also inform you if Greece is the right destination for your family model and, if necessary, we will suggest other safer alternatives.
I hope it will be of interest to you.
Best regards.