Childbirth in Europe

Currently, childbirth in Europe is the most requested option across nearly all of our packages. Intended parents from outside the region choose surrogacy with childbirth in Europe for one practical reason: it makes leaving the country with their newborn faster, simpler, and more predictable.

The Two Exceptions: Ukraine and Georgia

There are two exceptions where the birth must take place in the same country as the programme itself: Ukraine and Georgia. In both cases, the birth certificate names the intended parents directly only when the child is born in that jurisdiction. Otherwise, parental recognition would require adoption procedures — something we always work to avoid.

This rule applies specifically to those two destinations and is most relevant for traditional couples. You can read more about it on our programme page for traditional couples.

Why European Birth Matters, Especially for Single Men

For single men, in particular, childbirth in Europe is highly popular. The reason is straightforward: it removes a major bureaucratic step. When the child is born in an EU country, parents do not need to obtain a passport or citizenship for the newborn before leaving. Within a few days of discharge, the surrogate mother and the biological father receive the birth certificate. On the same day, they can also sign a notarised power of attorney — from the surrogate to the father — and the family is essentially free to travel home.

You can read more about this pathway on our single men surrogacy programme page.

The Post-Birth Timeline in Practice

Here is what typically happens after childbirth in Europe:

• Day of discharge: the parents receive the newborn and prepare initial paperwork
• Within two to three days: the birth certificate is issued, naming the biological father and the surrogate mother
• Same day as the certificate: a notarised power of attorney is signed, transferring decision-making to the father
• Within roughly a week: the family is ready to travel home

A Popular Choice for LGBT Families Too

Childbirth in Europe is also widely chosen within LGBT surrogacy programmes. For same-sex couples, the same advantages apply: a birth certificate issued within days, a notarised power of attorney signed on the spot, and no need to arrange a passport or citizenship for the newborn before travelling. It’s one of the reasons the European route has become the default for LGBT families as much as for single men and traditional couples.

Travelling Home With Your Baby: One Important Caveat

Here is a detail that surprises many intended parents. If you plan to fly home with your newborn, you must check with the airline in advance which documents are required. Most carriers do not allow infants to board without a passport — even on flights inside the EU.

For this reason, many parents choose to drive home instead. With only the birth certificate and the notarised power of attorney, you can cross internal EU borders by car and reach your country of residence without delay. Once at home, you can then take your time to apply for a passport, register the child under your domestic system, and obtain a local birth certificate where required.

Which Countries Are Included — and Which Are Optional

The package price covers birth in Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland. However, other European countries are also possible on request. So far, we have arranged births in Germany, Spain, Greece, and Bulgaria. In several of these countries, we also work with local lawyers who can consult the parents and handle post-birth registration, if the parents prefer not to manage it themselves.

Any country outside the standard package requires individual coordination, including separate fees, logistics, and confirmation that the local healthcare system can accommodate the arrangement.

A Practical Summary

In short, childbirth in Europe has become the default expectation for most intended parents working with us, because it shortens the post-birth phase to days rather than weeks and keeps the legal pathway clean. The two exceptions — Ukraine and Georgia — exist for legal reasons specific to those jurisdictions, not because European birth is unavailable elsewhere. For everyone else, the question is usually which European country fits best logistically, rather than whether European birth is possible at all.