Last reviewed: 24 October 2026 · Based on the official text of the Law on Human Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights (Articles 11–15; Article 12 as amended 04.12.2025) on arlis.am.
Armenia regulates gestational surrogacy through the Law on Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights and Ministry of Health regulations. This page provides an overview of the legal issues to consider before starting a program. Your eligibility and the requirements for contracts, birth registration and travel documents depend on your circumstances. Recognition of parentage and citizenship outside Armenia must be reviewed separately.
Separate these three questions: What does Armenian law require? What does the partner clinic require? What does your home country require?
1. Who can be an intended parent
| Client category | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Married couple (man and woman) | Eligible, subject to a medical indication and the nationality rules below |
| Single woman | Eligible only if she has a medical contraindication to carrying a pregnancy |
| Single man | Eligible only as the biological father of the child (with donor eggs) |
| Same-sex couple (joint program) | Not eligible |
| Foreign intended parents who are not ethnic Armenians | Cannot use a surrogate who is an Armenian citizen — a surrogate from another country is required |
| Foreign intended parents with a surrogate from another country | Possible pathway; each case is assessed individually by lawyers before the program starts |
| Program with no genetic link to the intended parents (donor embryo) | Only with permission of an inter-agency commission, and only for Armenian citizens and ethnic Armenian foreign couples or women |
Choosing a baby’s sex is not permitted under Armenian law, except in the limited cases set out in Article 11(3): a risk of a sex-linked inherited disease, or a family that already has three children of the same sex.
2. Requirements for surrogates
| Requirement | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Age | 20–38 (Article 15) |
| Own children | At least one child of her own |
| Previous births | No more than three deliveries and no more than one cesarean section |
| Previous surrogacy | Not allowed if she has already been a surrogate twice |
| Health | Medical examination under the official procedure, with no contraindications; genetic testing if a relative’s embryo is used |
| Marriage | If married, her husband’s written consent |
| Egg donation | Cannot be the egg donor in the same program |
| Pregnancy monitoring | Registered for medical monitoring before week 12 of pregnancy |
| Contract | Written contract certified by a notary (Articles 13 and 15) |
| Psychological assessment | Required by Aurum and the partner clinic (in addition to the law) |
Only gestational surrogacy is practiced: the surrogate is never genetically related to the baby.
Egg donors: anonymous egg donors must be aged 18–35 (Article 14). A donor has no rights or obligations toward the child.
3. Contracts
- A notarized agreement between the intended parents and the surrogate
- Clinic consent forms for IVF and embryo transfer
- An agency service agreement setting out services, payment stages and escrow
4. Who does what in your program
| Stage | Who is responsible |
|---|---|
| Consultation, coordination and travel | Aurum (coordination agency) |
| Case management and translation | Aurum — your personal coordinator |
| Egg donor and surrogate selection | Aurum together with the partner clinic, under Armenian law |
| IVF, ICSI and embryo transfer | Licensed partner clinic in Yerevan |
| Pregnancy monitoring and delivery | Licensed doctors and maternity hospitals in Armenia |
| Contracts and birth documents | Armenian lawyers and notary |
Aurum is a coordination agency, not a medical facility: all medical procedures are performed by licensed medical institutions, as Armenian law requires.
5. Parentage and the birth certificate
After the birth, a DNA test confirms the genetic link. The civil registry issues an Armenian birth certificate naming the intended parent(s). The surrogate is not listed and has no parental rights.
6. Taking your baby home
- Apostille and translation of the birth certificate.
- Passport or emergency travel document from your embassy — some countries require a DNA test at an accredited lab.
- Exit from Armenia, usually 3–5 weeks after the birth.
- Recognition at home — registration of the foreign birth certificate, or a court procedure (e.g. parental order) in some countries.
7. What Aurum’s contract gives you (agency terms, not requirements of the law)
- A written contract listing what is and is not included
- Surrogate compensation held in escrow and paid in stages
- Regular medical reports during the pregnancy
- Confidentiality of your personal and medical data
Check your eligibility
We review your situation and your country’s rules before you commit.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws can change; requirements are confirmed individually.