Legally Compliant & Government-Regulated Surrogacy in Surat

Medically reviewed by Dr. Pooja Nadkarni Singh | Gynaecologist and IVF Specialist, Nimaaya Women’s Centre for Health & IVF Centre, Surat 

Surrogacy in Surat is legal, but only as altruistic gestational surrogacy under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. Eligible intended parents are legally married Indian couples with certified infertility, eligible Overseas Citizens of India, and widowed or divorced women aged 35–45. No fee can be paid to the surrogate — only her medical expenses and mandated insurance.

For couples in Surat unable to conceive naturally, surrogacy offers a route to a biologically related child. But because Indian law tightly regulates who can pursue it and how, understanding the legal framework matters as much as choosing the right clinic. This guide covers eligibility, the step-by-step process, realistic costs, and what to expect from a Surat-based fertility centre

What Is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman — the surrogate — carries and delivers a child on behalf of intended parents. In India, only gestational surrogacy is legally permitted: an embryo created in the lab using the intended parents’ eggs and sperm (or, in specific medically certified cases, one donor gamete) is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. Because she
contributes no genetic material, the surrogate has no biological connection to the baby.

Is Surrogacy Legal in Surat, India?

Yes — altruistic surrogacy is legal across India, including Surat, for intended parents who meet the eligibility criteria under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. Commercial surrogacy, meaning any payment to the surrogate beyond her medical costs and insurance, is banned and is a criminal offence

surrogacy centre in surat

Who Is Eligible for Surrogacy in Surat?

Intended parents

• Legally married Indian couples with a certified medical need for surrogacy (e.g. absence of uterus, recurrent IVF failure,
or a condition that makes pregnancy medically unsafe)
• Eligible Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), subject to the same medical criteria
• Single women who are widowed or divorced, aged 35–45, under specific conditions
• Foreign nationals, live-in couples, and single men are not currently eligible

Surrogates

• A willing, married woman aged 25–35
• Has at least one biological child of her own
• Medically and psychologically evaluated and certified fit
• Can act as a surrogate only once in her lifetime

What Are the Mandatory Legal Approvals?

• District Medical Board certification confirming medical necessity
• Essentiality Certificate issued by the Appropriate Authority
• 36 months of insurance coverage for the surrogate, including postpartum complications
Once these approvals and the required agreements are complete, the child is recognised in law as the biological and legal
child of the intended parents, and a parentage order is issued after birth.

The Surrogacy Process in Surat: Step by Step

1. Initial consultation — fertility evaluation and medical history review to establish certified need
2. Medical board approval — District Medical Board certification, followed by the Essentiality Certificate
3. Surrogate screening — clinical, psychological, and eligibility screening
4. IVF and embryo creation — eggs and sperm from the intended parents are used to create embryos
5. Embryo transfer — a screened, healthy embryo is transferred to the surrogate
6. Pregnancy monitoring — regular antenatal check-ups through the pregnancy
7. Delivery and parentage order — legal documentation confirms the intended parents as the child’s legal parents

What Does Surrogacy Cost in Surat?

Because commercial surrogacy is banned, no fee is paid to a surrogate. Costs instead cover medical treatment, the surrogate’s care and insurance, and legal documentation – and vary by case complexity and number of IVF cycles required. The table below gives a general sense of what each cost component covers; ask any clinic for a personalised, itemised estimate rather than relying on a single headline figure.

Cost Component What It Typically Covers
IVF / ICSI treatment cycle(s) Egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo culture — cost depends on the number of cycles needed 
Embryo transfer & monitoring Transfer procedure plus follow-up scans and blood work
Surrogate’s medical care

Antenatal check-ups, delivery, and postpartum recovery — reimbursed, not a fee

Mandatory insurance

36 months of coverage for the surrogate, including

postpartum complications

Legal & documentation

Agreement drafting, Essentiality Certificate support,

parentage order filing

Why Choose Nimaaya IVF for Surrogacy in Surat

Experienced fertility care — the surrogacy program is led by  Dr. Pooja Nadkarni Singh | Gynaecologist and IVF Specialist, Nimaaya Women’s Centre for Health & IVF Centre, Surat,
with a focus on medical precision and clear communication at every stage
Coordinated care under one roof — fertility work-up, IVF cycle, embryo transfer, and antenatal monitoring managed at a
single Surat centre
Transparent cost breakdown — a clear estimate shared before treatment begins, with EMI options for eligible intended
parents
Dedicated counselling support — through every legal and medical milestone, from medical board certification to the
parentage order

Frequently Asked Questions

Is surrogacy legal in Surat, India?

Yes. Altruistic surrogacy is legal across India, including Surat, for eligible intended parents who meet the criteria under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

Can I pay a surrogate in India?

No. Only medical expenses and mandated insurance can be covered — any additional payment is illegal under the 2021 Act.

Can foreign nationals or NRIs pursue surrogacy in Surat?

Foreign nationals are not currently eligible. Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) may be eligible, subject to the same medical and legal criteria as Indian citizens — this should be confirmed on a case-by-case basis.

How long does the legal process take before treatment can start?

Timelines vary by case, since they depend on District Medical Board scheduling and documentation completeness. A clinical coordinator can give a case-specific estimate after the initial evaluation.

Who can be my surrogate?

The surrogate must be a willing, married woman aged 25–35 with a biological child of her own, medically and psychologically certified fit, and undertaking surrogacy for the first time.

Key Takeaways

• Only altruistic gestational surrogacy is legal in Surat — commercial surrogacy is banned.
• Eligibility is limited to married Indian couples with certified infertility, eligible OCIs, and widowed/divorced women.
aged 35–45
• District Medical Board certification and an essentiality certificate are mandatory before treatment starts.
• Costs cover medical treatment, the surrogate’s care and insurance, and legal fees — never a payment to the surrogate
herself
• Choosing a clinic that coordinates the medical and legal process together reduces delays and confusion.
• Couples seeking guidance after IVF failure in Surat trust Nimaaya for individualized fertility care and expert second opinions.

 


This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Eligibility, costs, and timelines
vary by individual case and should be confirmed directly with the clinic’s medical and legal coordination team.