Surrogacy in the Hellenic Republic (Greece)
In the Hellenic Republic, surrogacy became legal in 2002 and it is regulated by the Greek Civil Code and the Assisted Reproduction Law. In 2014 foreigners also obtained the right to use surrogacy in Athens and other cities of Greece.
Features of surrogacy in the Hellenic Republic
The next categories of people can use the services of a surrogacy in Greece:
- spouses who are officially married,
- heterosexual couples who are not officially married,
- single womеn.
Single men as well as gay couples are prohibited from using the services of SM. The kids who are born with the help of surrogates don’t acquire the citizenship of Greece.
If the newborn does not acquire the citizenship of his parents’ country, there are several provisions in Greek law that allow the child to acquire Greek citizenship.
After examining the surrogate mother and spouses, collecting a package of documents, program participants conclude a contract. It is obligatory to obtain a conclusion from the gynecologist or any other doctor indicating the reasons why the patient can’t become pregnant on her own to participate in the program.
According law of Greece, the biological parents, whose names are entered on the birth certificate, are considered as the legal mom and dad of a newborn.
Greek legislation has established some restrictions on the use of surrogacy:
- relatives and friends of genetic parents cannot donate oocytes / sperm,
- the parents do not have the opportunity to choose the sex of the unborn baby,
- the law prohibits the disposal of unused embryos. They are stored for a certain period of time, after which they are used for research purposes or transferred to patients who need them.
The cost
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Greece works with the altruistic model only: a fee for the surrogate is ruled out. She is entitled to reimbursement of the expenses that arise during the pregnancy, together with compensation for the period of incapacity after the birth — an amount that is not treated as payment for her participation.
This is what sets the Greek route apart from programs in countries with a commercial model, where the surrogate’s compensation is agreed in advance and forms part of the overall cost of a surrogacy program, alongside the medical, legal and coordination work.
Where is surrogacy also legal?
Most of the states have abandoned surrogacy. This method of infertility treatment is practiced in several states:
Ukraine
Benefits:
- the law controls the procedure for the provision of medical services,
- high-quality medical care,
- surrogacy agencies work under a contract,
- strict requirements for surrogates,
- to achieve the best results, you can combine different methods of fertility treatment,
- wide range of reproductive technology agencies,
- affordable cost,
- fast paperwork for a newborn.
Shortcomings:
- single girls and gay couples cannot use surrogate mother services.
Georgia
Benefits:
- spouses and a surrogate mother sign the contract about cooperation
- according to the law parental rights belong to biological father and mom
- a package of documents for a baby is drawn up in a short time
- the opportunity to take part in the program for foreigners
- affordable cost of services for a Georgian surrogate mother
Shortcomings:
- only officially married spouses are eligible to participate in the program.
Cyprus
Benefits:
- free for charge surrogacy is allowed in Cyprus,
- the surrogate and biological mom of the baby are entitled to maternity leave and have the right to protection from dismissal.
Shortcomings:
- services for surrogate mother are not available for citizens of other states.
Albania
Benefits:
- it is allowed to pay a monetary reward to the SM on the territory of the country,
- foreign citizens are eligible to participate in the program.
Shortcomings: there are no any law to regulate the procedure for the use of surrogacy in Albania
