Surrogacy in Asia – from the UK’s leading surrogacy lawyers
Asia is not generally a current destination for UK parents building families through surrogacy.
India was a significant international surrogacy destination for UK parents until 2015 when changes to the immigration rules in India (later reinforced by changes to Indian law) effectively prohibited surrogacy in India for foreign intended parents. Gay and single dads had already been excluded prior to 2015, and this had prompted a rise in unregulated surrogacy in Thailand and Cambodia which was then subsequently also outlawed in 2015. Since then, surrogacy in Asia is very rarely an option for UK intended parents, although still arises from time to time in very specific personal circumstances.
Expert UK law guides from our Knowledge Centre
International surrogacy and UK law
Why do you need to think about UK law if you are going abroad for surrogacy? Find out what to ask at the planning stages, how to bring your baby home and what you need to do to become a family under UK law
Parental orders
UK parents who have a child through surrogacy overseas are expected to apply for a UK parental order after their child is born. Find out why you need one, what the court is assessing and how the process works
Latest news about surrogacy in Asia
Read our most recent updates concerning surrogacy in India, Thailand and Asia
NGA on BBC News – UK parents expecting four ‘twiblings’ through surrogacy in India
The BBC has reported a surrogacy case involving a British couple who are anticipating the birth of four babies through surrogacy – two sets of twins being carried simultaneously by two Indian surrogate mothers. Natalie was interviewed for the piece, by Poonam...
High Court judge warns ‘loud and clear’: international surrogacy parents need a UK court order
In a High Court ruling published today (a case in which we represented the parents), Mrs Justice Theis has warned parents of children born through international surrogacy that they must apply to court in the UK if they want to be the legal parents of their children....
International surrogacy – UK High Court judge awards parenthood to non-British gay dads
The decision in Re A & B (Parental Order: Domicile) represents another landmark ruling for NGA – a parental order having been granted to a non-British gay couple following the birth of their son through Indian surrogacy last year. The case not only clarifies the...
Indian surrogacy reforms – what’s the latest for gay dads and others?
There has been press coverage over the past couple of days about the new Indian surrogacy laws blocking gay dads from accessing surrogacy in India. It is an issue which has been brewing for a while, with a Bill lurking in the Indian Parliament for the past two years...
NGA leading international surrogacy case – judge awards parenthood to gay dads after Indian surrogate ‘disappears’
The Telegraph and Daily Mail have today reported the international surrogacy case of D and L (surrogacy) 2012. The case marks a legal first: the court agreeing to make a parental order after the surrogate mother could not be found to give her consent. We are proud to...
The Indian surrogacy industry and why we need to reform UK surrogacy law – Article published in Bionews
Natalie has written a comment piece in this week's Bionews about surrogacy in India. Following various media stories about British parents getting stuck in India waiting for UK passports for their babies born through surrogacy, Natalie sets out how this is a common...
Indian surrogacy for British parents – what’s the law?
Following prominent Indian surrogacy stories in the Telegraph and Evening Standard, Natalie was interviewed on BBC Radio this afternoon to explain the law. In the absence of regulation, a commercial surrogacy industry in India has boomed over the last few years, with...
NGA quoted in the BBC – the childless UK couples considering Indian surrogates
NGA has been quoted by the BBC today, reporting on Indian surrogacy: "There are not only medical warnings but according to leading surrogacy lawyer Natalie Gamble, legal issues too. "The first hurdle is immigration, and in many cases the conflicting laws between the...
Surrogacy law: court awards parenthood to deceased father following Indian surrogacy
The High Court has made an unprecedented order awarding parenthood to a deceased father of a baby boy born through surrogacy in India. A couple, known only as Mr and Mrs A, entered into a surrogacy arrangement and their son was born in India on 12 April 2010. The...
How we can help you with surrogacy abroad
Getting your baby home safely
We can advise you on your UK options for bringing your baby home, and represent you in British nationality and passport applications. We have a long history of working to champion the interests of parents through surrogacy, including working with the UK government on emergency travel measures during COVID and on improving the passport application process
Securing your legal parentage
Even if you are recorded on your child’s overseas birth certificate you will need a UK parental order to become legal parents in the UK. The court process is well established, but will be heard by a High Court judge who will expect detailed evidence. We work with parents in a range of different ways, depending on your budget and the support you feel you need.
Still have questions?
If you need legal advice or want to make an appointment, feel free to get in touch. We offer meetings in-person in London or in the New Forest, as well as online.
We are here to help however we can.