Worldwide differences

Rules on surrogacy vary from country to country, which can lead to pitfalls and complications for would-be parents.

United Kingdom: It is legal to use a surrogate mother but couples can only pay reasonable expenses. Using a foreign surrogate mother is not explicitly outlawed, but a couple bringing a child born of a surrogate mother into the UK must apply for a parental order to have parental rights.

India: Having a surrogate mother as commercial surrogacy is legal, and the costs are significantly lower than in developed nations. Since 2013, would-be parents traveling to India must have a surrogacy visa, which are only available to heterosexual married couples living in a country that accepts cross-border surrogacy.