Surrogacy In Canada- What Parents Need To Know

The most important thing in the world is family and love. Children can exponentially increase the amount of love and happiness in a family. Parenthood is beautiful, but many couples struggle to experience it. But modern medical facilities and some kind women help such couples out, giving them a second chance at life.

Out of surrogacy friendly countries, Canada is one. It is not very popular, but still a few local and international intended parents do explore surrogacy in Canada.

Is surrogacy legal in Canada?

Yes and No.

Only autistics surrogacy is allowed in Canada.

Surrogacy can be conventionally divided into altruistic surrogacy and commercial surrogacy according to the nature of finances involved in the surrogacy contract.

In simple terms, altruistic surrogacy refers to a mode of non-profit surrogacy where the surrogate mother has no separate incentive or margin of profit during the period that she provides surrogacy services.

On the other hand, in commercial surrogacy contracts, the surrogate mother is paid a pre-determined surrogacy compensation as agreed in the contract between the intended parents and surrogate mother. Such practices are highly prevalent in the United States of America and give enormous financial gain opportunities to surrogate mothers. But, illegal in Canada to pay any financial benefit to surrogate mother.

Although it is not true that surrogacy in Canada is illegal, it is somewhat restricted. The federal law in Canada does not oppose or criminalize the practice of surrogacy. But the laws are such that a surrogate mother cannot be paid any amount of money above whatever expenditure has been incurred during the period of her services. Thus, there is no scope of profit in surrogacy services in Canada, which is explicitly deemed as unconstitutional and can be liable to fine.

However, the Quebec Civil Code deems all surrogacy contracts, whether commercial or altruistic, unenforceable.

The bottom line is that surrogacy in all of Canada, except Quebec, is legal but it is restricted and regulated by federal law.

The benefit of surrogacy in Canada

• As surrogacy in Canada is not strictly illegal, parents who have not been successful in conceiving can opt for gestational surrogacy in Canada.

In other countries, like the United States of America, where surrogacy is mostly commercial in nature, the costs can go very high as the financial side is not regulated by law.

But in Canada, since surrogacy services are strictly non-profit, the surrogacy cost in Canada is significantly less. The intended parents pay only for the expenses that the surrogate mother has to bear to maintain the child in her womb.

As a result, the net surrogacy expenses are on average 25-30% lower in Canada than in other countries.

• The Nation Health Care Service also covers the medical treatment costs of the surrogate mother and the process of delivery which further brings down the total cost of surrogacy in Canada.
• The baby born through surrogacy is also entitled to Canadian citizenship.

The challenges of surrogacy in Canada

As commercial surrogacy is not allowed in Canada, there is a shortage of surrogate mothers. Locally, the number of intended parents are much more than the number of surrogate mothers in Canada. On top of that, when international surrogacy seekers wish to seek surrogate mother in Canada, there is a long waiting list for surrogate mothers (months to years)

• You cannot pay egg and sperms donor financially for their donation services, which again reduce the prospect of many available egg donors.
• No third party or surrogacy agency is allowed to do surrogacy matching service in Canada. No party can get the financial benefit of the surrogacy process in Canada. So, the intended parents are left to find their own surrogate mother and navigate through the process of their own. There are some surrogacy consulting services in Canada that prepare, support, and guide intended parents and surrogate mothers.
• Despite altruistic surrogacy, the surrogacy cost in Canada is much higher when compared to European surrogacy countries like Ukraine or Georgia.

How much does surrogacy cost in Canada?

The cost of surrogacy in Canada can be roughly between $70,000 and $80,000 depending on whether it is the traditional or gestational type of surrogacy.

The approximate break down of surrogacy cost in Canada is as follow:

• Frozen Transfer Cycle/IVF cycle ($10,000-$20,000+)
• Medical evaluation ($0-$1,000)
• Surrogate Psychological Evaluation & Intended Parent(s) Implication Counselling ($800-$1,000)
• Surrogate Mother Expenses (Pre-Pregnancy) ($1,500-$3,000+)
• Surrogate Mother Expenses (Pregnancy and post-delivery) ($18,000-$25,000)
• Additional Surrogate Mother Expenses (up to $10,000)
• Legal Fees ($5,000-$8,000)
• 1-year Life Insurance Policy ($300-$500)
• DNA Diagnostics ($0-$500)
• Consultant Fee ($0-$6000)

Thus, roughly the cost of surrogacy in Canada is well within $80,000 which is lower than the average cost of surrogacy in the USA. Yet, it is higher than the surrogacy cost in Ukraine, which is around $55,000.

Conclusion for surrogacy in Canada.

Surrogacy in Canada can still be an option for many childless couples. However, it is good to make an informed decision and plan well beforehand.

If you are would-be intended parents based in Canada, then finding surrogate mothers locally can be a good option. However, if you are a foreign intended parent, there are available cheap surrogacy countries with legal security that parents might think of.

At IVF Conceptions, we offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy services to build families with love.

Our surrogacy consultancy is free of cost. We do not charge any fee and make sure that you are well aware of all your options to make an informed decision.

I am Neelam Chhagani and work as infertility and surrogacy consultant since 2010. I have a blog— , providing information, guide, and support to the would-be parent.