Cyprus sees rise in surrogacy applications, mostly from Ukraine

Since surrogacy laws were introduced in Cyprus in 2017, there have been 96 applications for surrogacy up to 2023, with four of those being turned down. Currently, three applications are under review for this year. The Council for Medically Assisted Reproduction handles these applications and decides whether to approve or reject them.

Who can apply to be surrogates:

- Single women and heterosexual couples who are married, living together, or in a stable relationship can apply, but they must be Cypriots or permanent residents.
- The surrogate mother must also be a Cypriot or permanent resident.
- If a local surrogate can't be found, the Council might allow a non-resident surrogate who must stay in Cyprus from the 28th week of pregnancy until birth, unless there is a medical issue that justifies otherwise.

Approved cases so far:

- Most surrogates who don’t live in Cyprus are from Ukraine:
- 2018: 6 cases (4 from Ukraine, 2 from Romania)
- 2019: 12 cases (all from Ukraine)
- 2020: 3 cases (2 from Ukraine, 1 from Bulgaria)
- 2021: 10 cases (all from Ukraine)
- 2022: 9 cases (4 from Ukraine, and 1 each from Russia, Kenya, Greece, and 2 from Georgia)
- 2023: 2 cases (both from Ukraine)

- Applicants need to provide medical proof of infertility and undergo psychological evaluations to ensure they understand the surrogacy process.

Regulations and Clinics:

- Cyprus has ten clinics that offer medically assisted reproduction services. These clinics must follow strict laws:
- Private Hospitals Act 2001: Eight inspectors ensure compliance.
- Quality and Safety Standards Law 2007: One Chief Inspector and six Inspectors oversee this.
- Medically Assisted Reproduction Act 2015: One Chief Inspector and six Inspectors manage enforcement.

These clinics are regulated to maintain high standards of quality and safety.