Thailand is one of the best countries in terms of healthcare in Asia. But not anymore for surrogacy.
A few years back, Surrogacy in Thailand was on-demand, but in mid of 2014, all changed overnight when current army laws banned any sort of commercial surrogacy in Thailand.
As of now, surrogacy is banned in Thailand for foreigners, but still, a few back channels of surrogacy processes are there and running.
Gestational surrogacy in Thailand was the most sought operation owing to excellent healthcare facilities and low costs surrogacy processes as compared to countries like the UK and the USA. On top of that, beautiful egg donors and plenty of healthy surrogates were available. The modern and welcoming infrastructure and easy visa policies make Thailand a popular medical tourism destination, especially for infertility (not surrogacy) seekers.
But too many international surrogacy cases (which the local IVF Clinics and surrogacy agencies were not anticipating) and a lack of regulation brought the end of Thailand surrogacy for foreign parents. The new legislation is much strict and almost bans all sorts of commercial surrogacy in Thailand.
Overview of Surrogacy in Asia
Although there’s not much hope of having legalized surrogacy in Asian countries still few unregulated or private agreement does work.
As of now surrogacy in India, Nepal, Cambodia, and Thailand is banned for all foreign nationals. Here, we will discuss briefly the possible options and risks associated with them.
Surrogacy in Thailand
Surrogacy in ThailandSurrogacy in Thailand is illegal today for foreign wishful parents. A federal law passed in 2014, in Thailand made commercial surrogacy illegal in Thailand for the intended parents and banned surrogacy for all types of foreign parents. Commercial surrogacy has been forcibly shut down by the military since 2014. Thailand’s surrogacy cost was much more affordable with high-quality medical services, making Thailand’s surrogacy popular at that time.
The people who can still use the process of surrogacy to give birth to their child in Thailand is the only married heterosexual Thai couples. At least one of the spouses must be of Thai nationality, and they should have been married for at least three years. A single person or homosexual person is banned from the process of surrogacy in Thailand. It doesn’t matter whether they are Thai citizens or not.
Additionally, the surrogate must be a sibling/close relative of one of the members of the intended parents. She has to be married with at least a child of her own. She can participate in the process of surrogacy only with the permission of her husband.
As expected, such hard terms mean the end of commercial surrogacy in Thailand.
The cost of surrogacy in Thailand with IVF, NGS, premium egg donor, and the surrogate mother is around $60,000. But it is good if you ask your case manager about the actual cost individually as surrogacy in Thailand varies case-wise, as sometimes a surrogate might need to travel to other countries for birth.
Surrogacy in Thailand has been banned for commercial cases owing to two significant cases which came to light in 2014. It is then the Thailand military started closing down the surrogacy centers. Those two cases are – Baby Gammy Case and the Mitsutoki Shigeta case.
More resources:
Top 4 cheapest surrogacy countries
Surrogate mother’s costs explained
Countries where surrogacy is legal ( International Surrogacy)
International surrogacy countries
Gay surrogacy in Colombia and gay surrogacy in Mexico is possible with less than 50% cost of a typical US surrogacy program.
Surrogacy in Cambodia
In November 2016, the Cambodian ministry issued a Prakas which stated that surrogacy by embryo transfer is now prohibited in the country. According to legal experts, the current ban falls short of the actual law against surrogacy. Surrogacy in Cambodia has been stopped completely. The statement passed on by the Ministry of Cambodia prevents other ART infertility treatments that will relate to surrogacy as well.
For example, IVF procedures can be continued to take place, oocytes can be imported or exported from the country, and embryos can be conceived and moved to the clinics. Only the embryo transfer procedure has been banned if the recipient is the surrogate.
Some service providers who worked in Cambodia have developed packages to take benefit from the policy by creating cross-border programs with nearby countries. In some cases, the surrogacy agencies offer to conceive embryos in Cambodia and then sent them to other places for the process of embryo transfer to surrogate mothers.
The cost of surrogacy in Cambodia is around $60,000 for full IVF cycle surrogacy. But as surrogacy is not legally allowed and there is a much better option available in Latin America, it is advised NOT to do unregulated surrogacy in Cambodia with this cost.
Affordable secure surrogacy in Columbia is a better option.
While the above mentions procedure is not lawful and is risky as well, it is essential to plan your surrogacy in the countries where surrogacy is legal. The high Surrogacy in Cambodia cost is not justified with backchannel surrogacy with no protection for any party.
Couples with limited finance available may either switch to surrogacy in Colombia and Mexico, which are much safer options and have affordable surrogacy costs for single or gay surrogacy couples.
After the foreign surrogacy laws were changed in Thailand, other nearby countries are opening up with possible alternatives. But it goes without saying that these are not safe and not regulated. Some countries like Vientiane have opened two new clinics for surrogacy which can become destinations for the intended parents who want to opt for surrogacy.
Surrogacy in Laos
Laos currently is in the same position as Cambodia in early 2016. There is no law for surrogacy in Laos, and hence surrogacy is practiced in Laos because the government has still not stepped in.
As commercial surrogacy is banned in Thailand, and surrogacy is banned in Cambodia, Laos is becoming the next destination for the intended parents to plan their surrogacy in Asia. The typical surrogacy agents are from Thailand only and are looking for new locations to continue their operations.
Laos is interestingly ready to have a severe response to surrogacy programs in the nation. The nation is one of the most straightforwardly socialist systems in the world, and the nearby government is seen universally as a dictator. Therefore, the neighboring government is probably not going to be respectful of Western laws, and they likely will have little regard for guests who they feel might misuse their distraught residents.
The cost of surrogacy in Laos is equivalent to Thailand’s surrogacy cost, which is around $60,000.
Moreover, Laos is currently fighting ongoing practices like sex trade and human laws trafficking. Hence, authorities are worried about the exploitation of women. They are on alert for any instances related to sex trafficking or human exploitation.
All this situation leads to the high danger of surrogacy in Laos. While the administration may not break down for a while, the development by the legislature is probably going to be quick and extensive.
The mother giving birth will be viewed as the legitimate parent, and the intended father may likewise be conceded half parental rights. The birth certificate will be issued with the name of the intended father and surrogate.
To return home with the infant, the intended father must get the full legal parentage of the baby and get the surrogate’s legitimate authorization to enroll the birth with his name.
Put together the intended father needs permission and authorization of the surrogate mother to take the baby home.
Laos surrogacy cost is much higher for an Asian country but having not many options for parents makes them susceptible to opting for Laos surrogacy.
Conclusion
Hence due to no explicit surrogacy laws in Asia, opting for surrogacy is not safe. In Thailand, backchannel surrogacy is done, which comes with its own risks. For India, as of now, only Indian citizens are allowed to participate in commercial surrogacy.
In Cambodia, surrogacy together is banned for everyone.
Then, Laos has no legal intervention of the government, but soon they will crack down on the laws. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid going for surrogacy in these countries or you know take calculated risks.
So, where is surrogacy legal and comes with much-needed protection?
For married hetero couples, we would advise surrogacy in East European countries like Ukraine and Georgia. Here, surrogacy is 100% legal and both parent’s names come on the baby’s birth certificate. The surrogacy cost in European countries is much more affordable than in the US and Canada.
More resources on this topic:
Surrogacy In Mexico-Everything Intended Parents Need To Know
Surrogacy in Colombia- Everything You Need to Know
Best Countries for Surrogacy ( In 2023)That Parents Need To Know
Our Affordable International Surrogacy Programs and Plans
Gestational Surrogacy is an expensive enterprise. At IVF Conceptions, we believe that money should not be a reason for not becoming a parent.
That is why we continuously work to find affordable surrogacy with donor egg options in the USA and outside the USA.
Over the year, we have developed a unique relationship with numerous IVF Clinics and surrogacy agencies, egg donor agencies, legal professionals, and logistic support teams. Thus, we can offer the most trusted and affordable surrogacy services in multiple countries.
Each couple has different surrogacy requirements, we manage each case individually with personal care and attention. Contact us to learn more.
If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, and surrogacy services worldwide, check out the rest of our website at IVF Conceptions. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy consulting services for FREE.
More resources for Legal International Surrogacy countries:
- Surrogacy in Mexico
- Surrogacy in Ukraine
- Surrogacy in Georgia
- Surrogacy in Colombia
International Surrogacy Cost in 2023
So, how much can surrogacy cost by country? The answers depend on which country and what specific services you choose. Please see below our international surrogacy services, which are affordable yet trusted and secure.
#1. USA (Los Angeles)- For All Parents
How much does surrogacy cost in the USA? The average cost of services in the USA ranges from $130,000 to $150,000.
IVF & surrogacy is done in one of the leading fertility and best clinics in LA. The full package includes your surrogate, clinic procedures, & legal fees. Available to all married couples, singles, and LGBT couples seeking surrogacy.
#2. Guarantee Surrogacy Baby in Colombia, Bogota- For all parents
How much does gay surrogacy cost in Colombia? – The cost of IVF, egg donor, and surrogacy with an all-inclusive guaranteed surrogacy baby is $65,000.
#3. Guaranteed Surrogacy Baby in Tbilisi, Georgia- For married couples
How much does surrogacy in Georgia cost? The secure or guaranteed baby cost in Georgia is 67,000 USD. This is a fixed-price program with unlimited clinic & admin services until you are home with your baby. We are proud to offer the most affordable, secure, and reliable surrogacy programs in Bogota with the team having more than 13 years of experience in global surrogacy services.
#4. IVF with Egg Donor & Surrogacy in Mexico- For all parents.
How much does surrogacy cost in Mexico? The guaranteed baby surrogacy in Mexico is available for 66,900 USD. Fixed-price programs with unlimited clinic & admin services until you are home with your baby. We are proud to offer the most affordable, secure, and reliable surrogacy programs in Mexico City with the team having more than 13 years of experience in global surrogacy services.
If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website: IVF Conceptions. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy consulting services for FREE.
FAQs about the Cost of Surrogacy in Asia:
FAQs about the Cost of Surrogacy in Asia:Is surrogacy legal in Thailand?
No, surrogacy is not legal for international intended parents in Thailand. In 2015, Thailand passed a law that banned commercial surrogacy, making it illegal for both Thai and foreign intended parents.
The law restricts surrogacy to married heterosexual Thai couples who have been married for at least three years and have a medical incapacity to gestate. Only altruistic surrogacy, where the surrogate does not receive payment beyond reimbursement for medical expenses, is permitted. The law also prohibits the intervention of agencies or promotion/publicity in the surrogacy process.
How much does surrogacy cost in Thailand?
The approximate cost of surrogacy in Thailand is between $60,000 and $70,000. The total cost may vary depending on factors such as the number of transfers required, multiple pregnancies, or the need for a cesarean section. It’s important to note that additional funds are usually required to cover any unforeseen medical or legal complications.
Where is the lowest cost of surrogacy in the world?
The lowest cost of surrogacy is in Georgia, Mexico, and Colombia. The average cost of surrogacy is around $50,000 to $60,000 USD. While surrogacy costs can vary greatly depending on the destination and specific circumstances, countries like Ukraine, Colombia, and Mexico are known to offer more affordable surrogacy programs compared to other locations. These countries have established surrogacy laws and regulations that provide clarity and often lower costs for intended parents.
Which country has the best surrogacy?
Determining the “best” country for surrogacy depends on individual preferences and needs. Several countries have established surrogacy programs and regulations, including the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Georgia, and Mexico. These countries offer various legal frameworks, expertise, and support systems for intended parents. Choosing the best country for surrogacy involves considering factors such as legal protections, cost, accessibility, medical expertise, and cultural compatibility.
It’s worth mentioning that surrogacy laws and regulations can change over time, so it’s crucial to consult with legal experts or agencies specialized in surrogacy to obtain the most up-to-date information and guidance on the specific country of interest.
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