Newsroom
A British same-sex couple who had been stranded in the occupied territories of Cyprus with their newborn twins have finally departed, as authorities continue to investigate a Limassol-based clinic suspected of offering surrogacy services without proper licences.
The couple reportedly turned to Cyprus for surrogacy after failing to find a surrogate in the UK — but what began as a journey to parenthood became a bureaucratic ordeal marked by legal uncertainty and mounting frustration.
The Republic of Cyprus’ Ministry of Health has lodged a formal complaint with police against the clinic, which allegedly arranged the surrogacy. The clinic came under scrutiny after authorities discovered it had been advertising its services online without the required permits.
From Joy to Limbo
According to reports in the British press, the couple arrived in Cyprus on New Year's Eve, ahead of the twins' birth on January 3. They had been in contact with the clinic since April 2024, when they were informed that the surrogate mother was pregnant.
However, what should have been a moment of joy quickly turned into a nightmare. The couple said they applied for travel documents for the babies on January 13, but bureaucratic delays left them stranded in north Cyprus for nearly two months.
During their wait, they accused authorities of dragging their feet, claiming they had spent around £85,000 on the entire surrogacy process.
Ongoing Investigation
The clinic at the centre of the case is now under police investigation, with authorities confirming it was never granted a licence to operate.
Surrogacy laws in Cyprus allow only altruistic surrogacy under strict conditions — and commercial surrogacy, where payment is involved beyond medical and other necessary expenses, is strictly prohibited.
The case has reignited debate over surrogacy regulations and the lack of clear legal frameworks for intended parents, especially foreign couples seeking services in Cyprus.
While the couple’s ordeal has come to an end, the investigation into the clinic's practices is ongoing — raising questions about how such services were allowed to operate under the radar.
