Surrogacy in Armenia: A Guide for International Intended Parents

Armenia is one destination international intended parents may consider for gestational surrogacy. Before choosing a program, it is important to understand medical assessment, eligibility, contracts, costs and the recognition of parentage outside Armenia. This guide introduces the main questions to review with qualified professionals.

Is surrogacy legal in Armenia?

Yes. Gestational surrogacy is regulated by Armenia’s Law on Human Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights. The law allows a woman to carry a child for intended parents under a notarized agreement, and it allows the surrogate to receive compensation. After the birth, the child is handed over to the intended parents once a DNA test confirms that the surrogate is not the child’s genetic mother.

Because the main rules are written into law, the process inside Armenia is relatively predictable. Some rules depend on your citizenship, and recognition of parentage abroad depends on your home country’s law, so legal advice at home remains essential.

Who can use surrogacy in Armenia?

Armenian law sets clear eligibility rules:

• Married couples. A legally married man and woman can use a gestational surrogate when there is a medical reason the woman cannot carry a pregnancy.
• Single women. Single women may use surrogacy when there is a medical indication.
• Single men. A single man can use surrogacy if he is the biological father of the child, usually combined with egg donation.

For foreign intended parents, at least one parent must be genetically related to the child (donor eggs or donor sperm, not both). Same-sex couples are not eligible, and sex selection is prohibited except where there is a risk of a sex-linked inherited disease or the family already has three children of the same sex. You can read more in our article on surrogacy eligibility in Armenia.

How the surrogacy process works, step by step

1. Consultation. We review your medical history, family situation and citizenship, confirm that you are eligible and explain the options.
2. Agency agreement. You sign an agreement that defines the services, the payment stages and the escrow arrangements.
3. Medical tests and planning. Intended parents complete the required tests, often partly in their home country.
4. Donor selection (if needed). If your program uses donor eggs, you choose a donor from detailed anonymous profiles.
5. Surrogate matching. We introduce you to a screened surrogate. All surrogates already have at least one child of their own and pass medical and psychological screening.
6. Legal agreements. The surrogacy agreement is signed in front of a notary.
7. IVF and embryo transfer. Embryos are created at our partner clinics in Yerevan, and transferred to the surrogate.
8. Pregnancy. Your coordinator sends regular updates, scan results and medical reports throughout the pregnancy.
9. Birth and documents. After the birth, the DNA test, the birth certificate and your baby’s travel documents are prepared.
10. Going home. You return home with your baby. Depending on your country, there may be further steps to register parentage at home.

How long does surrogacy in Armenia take?

A typical planning range is 12 to 24 months from the first consultation. Consultation and eligibility take about 1 to 2 months; surrogate matching takes 3 to 6 months and runs in parallel with IVF and embryo creation; the pregnancy lasts about nine months; and after the birth families stay an estimated 3 to 5 weeks in Armenia, sometimes longer. The biggest variable is how many embryo transfers are needed before a pregnancy is confirmed. Our surrogacy timeline guide breaks this down in detail.

How much does surrogacy in Armenia cost?

The cost of a surrogacy program in Armenia depends on your medical situation and the services you choose. The main factors are:

• whether you need an egg donor or a sperm donor,
• whether you already have frozen embryos,
• how many IVF cycles and embryo transfers are included,
• whether you choose the Guaranteed Baby program, where further attempts continue on the terms of your contract (no program can guarantee a pregnancy or birth),
• how much travel and concierge support you want.

Because every program is different, Aurum prepares a personal, itemised estimate instead of a single public price. Answer a few questions to receive yours, or compare our surrogacy packages.

Who are the surrogates?

Armenian law does not allow foreign intended parents who are not ethnic Armenians to work with a surrogate who is an Armenian citizen, so surrogates in international programs come from Georgia and other neighboring countries. Every candidate must be in good health, already have at least one child of her own, and complete medical, psychological and background screening before she can be matched. Surrogates receive compensation, medical care and insurance throughout the pregnancy, and their rights are protected by the surrogacy agreement.

Why intended parents choose Armenia

• Legal clarity: surrogacy and egg donation are regulated by law.
• Experienced clinics: our partner clinics in Yerevan offer modern IVF, ICSI and embryo testing.
• Cost: each program is quoted individually, with a written breakdown of what is included.
• Location: Yerevan has direct flights from Europe and the Middle East and is easy to reach from Asia.

How to choose a surrogacy agency in Armenia

Ask every agency how long it has operated, how many families it has helped, which clinic it works with, how surrogate funds are protected, and what happens if a transfer fails. A good agency explains the legal requirements honestly, including who is not eligible, and gives you a written breakdown of all costs before you sign.

Aurum Health Global has more than 7 years of experience and has helped over 1,240 families; at the consultation we explain our process, contracts and partner-clinic arrangements. If you would like to discuss your situation, book a confidential consultation with one of our coordinators.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to live in Armenia during the pregnancy?

No. Most intended parents travel to Yerevan for IVF or to provide sperm, and again for the birth. In between, you follow the pregnancy remotely through your coordinator.

Can we use our own frozen embryos?

In many cases, yes. Embryos can be shipped to Armenia by a specialised cryo-transport company. Your coordinator checks the documents with both clinics.

Will my home country recognise the birth?

Recognition depends on your citizenship. Some countries register the child directly, others require a DNA test or a court order. We recommend speaking with a family lawyer in your home country before you start.