International Surrogacy with Growing Generations
Supporting Intended Parents from over 20 Countries as they Pursue Surrogacy in the United States
Every year, intended parents from around the world turn to the United States to pursue surrogacy as their path to parenthood. Over the last year alone, more than 30% of Growing Generations' intended parents came from outside the United States. For 30 years, we have supported a global community of families, helping welcome more than 2,400 babies across 20+ countries.
From early planning to the day you return home with your child, we are with you at every step — coordinating alongside fertility clinics and independent legal professionals so nothing is left to chance, wherever you are in the world.
Why International Intended Parents Choose Growing Generations
International surrogacy requires coordination across time zones, legal systems, and medical teams. Intended parents choose Growing Generations because of our experience supporting families from around the world.
We have worked with intended parents like you from across the globe, including those based in the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, the United Kingdom, and more than 15 other countries. Our experience means we anticipate the challenges international families may face. It also enables us to guide each step of the surrogacy process.
When you are managing this process from abroad, the quality of your surrogate match matters more than ever. Every surrogate in the Growing Generations program represents the top 2% of applicants, ensuring your match is built on compatibility, shared expectations, and trust.
We support a wide range of family-building paths. Whether you are a couple, an individual, or part of the LGBTQIA+ community, your journey is approached with respect and personalized care.
As international intended parents, we help you navigate through:
Safety and stability when pursuing surrogacy in the United States
Planning for legal parentage and preparing for the process of returning home with a newborn
Coordinating the transport of frozen gametes or embryos to U.S. fertility clinics
Support for International Intended Parents
Our team supports international intended parents at every stage, ensuring communication, logistics, and expectations remain aligned throughout your journey, no matter where you are based.
With flexible scheduling across time zones and multilingual support, including Spanish and Mandarin-speaking team members, we make it easier for you to stay connected, informed, and supported throughout your family-building journey.
As your journey progresses, we provide guidance to help you prepare for travel to the United States, particularly around the time of the embryo transfer and birth of your child. We also help you understand the documentation you may need, working in coordination with experienced independent legal professionals who specialize in both U.S. and international parentage considerations.
To help make your path to parenthood as seamless as possible, we can connect you with trusted fertility clinics and experienced attorneys who regularly support international intended parents, so you have expert guidance every step of the way.
How International Surrogacy Works
International surrogacy in the United States follows a series of defined steps, each designed to move you closer to welcoming your child.
At Growing Generations, we help navigate this journey with ease. From your first conversation through the moment you return home with your baby, we coordinate each stage alongside trusted medical and legal professionals, so you always know what to expect and where you are in the process.
Your journey begins with an in-depth consultation where we learn about your goals, timeline, and family-building vision. This stage includes discussions around medical considerations, legal frameworks, and international logistics.
We thoughtfully match you with a surrogate based on compatibility and shared expectations. Our matching process considers a range of factors to help ensure a strong fit for both you and your surrogate.
Independent reproductive attorneys draft and finalize the gestational carrier agreement, a legal contract between you and your surrogate that establishes the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of both parties. We coordinate closely with experienced legal professionals to help ensure that all requirements are addressed and managed at each stage of your journey.
Your fertility clinic oversees the medical process, including preparation and embryo transfer. If your embryos or gametes are stored internationally, this stage may also include coordination for transport to a U.S.-based clinic.
Throughout the pregnancy, we facilitate communication and provide ongoing support. You will receive regular updates and have opportunities to connect with your surrogate.
As you prepare to welcome your child, we help coordinate travel logistics with your legal team and hospital so everything is in place when you arrive.
After your child is born, your legal professionals will guide you through the steps required to return home, including documentation and timelines. As a general rule, most international families plan to remain in the U.S. for approximately four weeks after delivery to allow time for DNA testing, court proceedings, birth certificate issuance, and passport or visa applications.
STEP 1
Consultation and Planning
STEP 2
Surrogate Matching
STEP 3
Legal Coordination
STEP 4
Medical Cycle and Embryo Transfer
STEP 5
Pregnancy and Communication
STEP 6
Birth and Return Home
What Costs Should International Families Plan For?
International surrogacy involves the same core program costs as a domestic journey, plus several additional categories specific to cross-border planning. Costs vary by journey, but international intended parents should plan for:
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Standard surrogacy program fees
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Legal costs, which may be higher due to international parentage requirements
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Optional newborn insurance policies, which typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on coverage
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Travel and lodging expenses during the birth period
For a detailed breakdown of program fees and what is included, visit our Surrogacy Costs page.
International Intended Parents From Around the World
Growing Generations supports intended parents from more than 20 countries, reflecting the global nature of modern family-building.
We frequently work with intended parents from regions including Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among many others. Each country has its own legal, logistical, and documentation requirements, particularly when it comes to establishing parentage and returning home with your child.
To support this, we coordinate alongside independent legal professionals who are experienced in both U.S. and country-specific requirements. This ensures that your journey is planned with a full understanding of what will be needed not only in the United States, but in your home country as well.
From Around the World, Into Our Care
"Growing Generations selected our surrogate with great care and helped us navigate each step with competency and kindness. We always felt in good hands. Any unforeseen twists were navigated with professionality and empathy — we think that makes a unique mix."
Lisa and Max, Germany
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International Surrogacy FAQs
Costs vary depending on your specific journey, but international intended parents should plan for program fees, legal costs, optional newborn insurance, and travel and lodging expenses.
You are not required to be in the United States for the entire pregnancy. Most international intended parents make two to three trips, typically for the embryo transfer, sometimes for the anatomy scan around 16–20 weeks, and for the birth. For the final trip, we generally recommend arriving by around 38 weeks for a singleton pregnancy and 36 weeks for multiples. We help you plan each stage of travel so you know exactly when to be here.
The length of stay varies depending on legal documentation and travel requirements. Many international parents plan to remain in the U.S. for approximately four weeks after delivery. This allows time for DNA testing, court proceedings, birth certificate issuance, and passport or visa applications. Your legal team will confirm the timeline based on your home country's requirements.
Children born in the United States are generally eligible for U.S. citizenship at birth. However, this area of law is subject to pending litigation and active legal developments. Families should confirm their current status with a U.S. immigration attorney before proceeding. Your home country's recognition of your child's parentage is a separate consideration and also requires legal guidance.
After birth, your child will receive a U.S. birth certificate, which is the first step toward obtaining a U.S. passport. Your legal team will guide you through the passport application process. If your home country requires additional documentation, such as a consular passport or temporary visa, those steps are typically coordinated before you travel home.
Yes. We have experience supporting LGBTQIA+ intended parents, including same-sex couples, single parents, and HIV+ intended parents, from around the world. Legal recognition for same-sex couples varies significantly by home country. We coordinate alongside legal professionals to help plan for country-specific requirements.
Yes. We help coordinate with fertility clinics and specialized transport services to safely move embryos or gametes to the United States.
In many cases, yes. Establishing parentage under U.S. law does not automatically guarantee recognition in your home country. International intended parents typically work with legal professionals both in the U.S. and in their home country to ensure all requirements are met.
