Surrogacy Services in Georgia: Law, Technology, and Reproductive Choice for Global Families
Legal Safeguards and Inclusive Policies
Georgia, which has clarified the legality of surrogacy since 1997 through its Civil Code, is one of the few countries in the world where legal safeguards are at the center of support for commercial surrogacy. The uniqueness of its legal framework is reflected in:
Wide range of applicants: married heterosexual couples, singles and the LGBTQ+ community are permitted to legally participate in surrogacy, with no restrictions on nationality.
Parental rights are clear: the birth certificate of the newborn directly registers the commissioning party as the legal parent, without the need for adoption procedures, and the surrogate mother has no right to claim custody.
Compulsory validity of the contract: the surrogacy agreement is legally binding after notarization, and clearly defines the ownership of the embryo, medical responsibility, and payment terms in stages, avoiding cross-border disputes.
The revised Citizen’s Health Protection Law of 2024 further strengthens ethical oversight by requiring medical institutions to set up independent ethics committees and prohibiting non-medical operations such as gene editing. Such legal safeguards and policy inclusiveness have made Georgia one of the top surrogacy destinations for families worldwide.
Groundbreaking Application of Third Generation IVF Technology (PGT)
Georgia’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is centered on Third Generation IVF Technology (PGT), combined with international standard laboratory equipment to achieve high success rates and accurate screening:
Embryo Chromosome Screening (PGT-A):
Rule out chromosomal abnormalities (e.g. Trisomy 21) through whole genome sequencing with 99% accuracy and live birth rate increased to 60%-70%.
Timelapse dynamic culture system monitors embryo development in real time, with blastocyst formation rate exceeding 70%, reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies.
Genetic Disease Blocking (PGT-M):
Screening for 200+ single-gene genetic diseases (e.g. cystic fibrosis, thalassemia), providing fertility protection for families with a family history of the disease.
Personalized Ovulation Promotion Program:
Customized antagonist or microstimulation regimen based on ovarian reserve (AMH values) with a target number of eggs acquired of 8-12 eggs/cycle to reduce the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).
Georgia’s third-generation IVF (PGT) technology is not only synchronized with that of Europe and the United States, but also enhances global competitiveness through international collaboration (e.g., sharing of European embryo laboratory standards).
Standardized Processes and Cross-Border Collaboration
Surrogacy services need to follow a standardized process to ensure efficiency and safety, and the core steps include:
Matching of needs and qualification review:
The client submits health reports (e.g. semen analysis, infectious disease screening), and the agency matches the surrogate mother (age 20-35, BMI 18.5-24.9, at least one healthy child).
Medical manipulation phase:
After sperm/egg collection, healthy embryos are screened by PGT technology and painlessly transferred to the uterus of the surrogate mother under ultrasound guidance, with a pregnancy confirmation cycle of only 6-8 weeks.
Pregnancy monitoring and risk control:
The surrogate mother stays in a medically supervised apartment, with daily monitoring of blood pressure (<130/85mmHg), fetal heart rate (120-160 beats/minute), and customized high protein diet (120g/day) and iron supplementation.
Legalization and cross-border settlement:
After the birth certificate is certified by The Hague, the commissioning party can directly apply for a passport; cross-border families need to complete settlement through consular certification, which takes about 3-4 weeks.
This standardized process, combined with a multilingual support team, provides a seamless cross-border surrogacy service for families worldwide.
Ethical Oversight and Risk Balancing
Despite technological advances, Georgia has always placed ethical oversight at the center to avoid potential risks:
Surrogate mother rights and protections:
Agencies are required by law to provide mental health support (e.g., postnatal cognitive behavioral therapy), privacy protection protocols, and reasonable living conditions, and are prohibited from withholding compensation (commissions ≤ 30%).
Surrogate mothers are required to pass SCL-90 psychological scale screening to ensure emotional stability.
Child Rights Protection:
Commercial trafficking of embryos or children is prohibited, and an intercountry adoption database is established to prevent custody disputes.
Industry Compliance Regulation:
Healthcare facilities are required to be ISO 9001 certified, and laboratory equipment is required to meet EU standards (e.g., Cook MINC incubators); non-compliant facilities face license revocation and criminal charges.
However, ethical controversies remain. For example, some poor women have been forced to engage in surrogacy due to financial pressures, leading to criticism of the “commodification of the womb”. The Georgian government is working to reduce the legal gray area by adopting measures such as legislation to refine the norms for multiple pregnancy reduction and limiting the duration of embryo freezing to a maximum of 10 years.
Future Outlook: Technology Iteration and Globalization Challenges
Direction of technology upgrade:
The introduction of PGT-SR technology (structural chromosome abnormality screening) is planned for 2025 to further reduce the miscarriage rate.
Development of artificial intelligence embryo rating system to improve the efficiency of high-quality embryo screening.
Legal system improvement:
Legislation is proposed to clarify the minimum wage for surrogate mothers, limit the percentage of agency intermediary commissions, and strengthen anti-exploitation provisions.
International cooperation network:
Expansion of teleconsultation cooperation with medical institutions in Europe and the United States, support for cross-border embryo transportation and joint ovulation programs, and enhancement of service accessibility.
The Georgian surrogacy industry is reshaping the global assisted reproduction landscape with the synergistic development of legal safeguards, third-generation in vitro fertilization (PGT) technology and ethical oversight, providing more families with safe and compliant fertility solutions.