Surrogacy in Canada
Guidance, law and latest news for British parents having children through surrogacy in Canada
– from the UK’s leading surrogacy lawyers
Explore our Canada surrogacy content hub
Our Canada surrogacy content hub has a wealth of free information and resources about UK law for parents through Canadian surrogacy.
Surrogacy in Canada offers a clear legal framework for UK parents which (on a province by province basis) recognises gestational carrier agreements so that intended parents are their child’s legal parents. Canadian surrogacy is available to a broad range of intended parents, including same-sex and single parents. We also typically see strong relationships between surrogates and intended parents which is an important foundation of ethical surrogacy. However, surrogacy in Canada can be complex to navigate in practice. Federal restrictions on surrogate expenses and agency services can make the process of finding a surrogate uncertain and lengthy, with limited screening and matches which often prove fragile.
Our Surrogacy in Canada content hub gives free information and resources on UK legal issues for parents conceiving children through Canadian surrogacy.
What’s the UK legal process for surrogacy in Canada?
International surrogacy and UK law
Why do you need to think about UK law if you are going to Canada 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 in Canada 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 Canada
Will my child through surrogacy be born British? And how do I apply for a British Passport?
If you are expecting a child through surrogacy, one of your top questions may be how you get a British passport for your baby, particularly if they are born outside the UK. British nationality can be complicated in surrogacy cases, and what you need to do depends on...
Travelling home with your baby born through international surrogacy – the options
UK immigration law around surrogacy is complex. There’s no single process that fits all, and the best route home will depend on your personal situation and the country where your baby is born.
Numbers talk – NGA Law and statistics on international surrogacy
CAFCASS data reveals the evolving landscape of surrogacy for UK parents, highlighting the popularity of the US as a destination and the ethical considerations involved. With over a decade of insights, NGA Law provides expert guidance on navigating surrogacy both domestically and internationally.
International Surrogacy Forum in Copenhagen
Natalie was delighted to attend an important international conference on surrogacy that took place in Copenhagen in June 2023.
NGA speaks at Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys conference in Montreal, Canada
Natalie was delighted to speak to the Academy of Assisted Reprodutive Technology Attorneys conference in Montreal, Canada in May 2017. To an audience of global fertility lawyers, she shared the UK perspective on managing long term welfare issues for donor and...
NGA quoted in the Guardian: Unregistered surrogate-born children creating legal timebomb, warns judge
Today's Guardian has reported comments made by High Court judge Mrs Justice Theis at a conference last week about her concerns for children born through international surrogacy whose parents have not applied to properly resolve their legal status in the UK. ...
New Foreign Office guidance for parents planning international surrogacy
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has today published updated guidance for parents planning international surrogacy arrangements. We have been working with the FCO on this new guidance as part of our campaigning and policy work and are proud to have helped with...
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....
How we can help you with surrogacy in Canada
Advice for those planning surrogacy
With decades of experience, we routinely advise intended parents planning surrogacy to help them weigh the risks, timescales, costs and ethics of the different international surrogacy options they may be considering, including surrogacy in Canada.
Top tier legal representation
We support intended parents living in the UK and overseas to navigate UK law successfully, including applicaitons for British nationality and UK passport, and High Court parental order (or other family law) applications, wills and more.
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.