Georgia has become a major hub for international surrogacy, drawing women from different countries and intended parents desperate for a path to parenthood amid legal restrictions elsewhere. However, the rapid growth of its surrogacy market has brought increasing scrutiny over the treatment and rights of surrogate mothers.
Since 2012, more than 5,000 children have been born through surrogacy in Georgia, with registrations of surrogate mothers exceeding 3,000 in 2023 alone according to Georgia’s Public Service Development Agency. The pace accelerated notably after Russia banned foreign surrogacy contracts in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, which led many international agencies and hopeful parents to turn to Georgia as an alternative.
Demand Rises Amid Regulatory Weaknesses
Couples like Olga and Daniel from Germany, who sought surrogacy options forbidden in their home country, found Georgia an accessible but complex market. They encountered agencies showcasing lists of potential surrogate mothers from Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Georgia but faced challenges verifying health and legal details. Intended parents reported pressure to make quick decisions amid competing interests from other couples.
Surrogate mothers, including Anastasia, a 39-year-old Russian woman now working in Georgia, earn between €18,000 and €28,000 per surrogacy, with additional pay for twins. Clinics in cities like Tbilisi and Batumi offer services at roughly one-third the cost of agencies in other countries—about €45,000 to €55,000 per contract.
Limited Legal Protections and Human Rights Concerns
Georgia’s surrogacy laws primarily regulate the relationships among intended parents, surrogate mothers, and clinics, but do not adequately address the role of agencies or establish minimum standards for surrogate rights. Human rights experts highlight that surrogate mothers lack guaranteed medical or social protections, and once embryos are implanted, they cannot refuse to continue the pregnancy or keep the child.
Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the International Women’s Health Coalition have criticized these provisions, citing violations of women’s reproductive self-determination. The absence of legal safeguards makes surrogate mothers vulnerable to exploitation by agencies motivated by financial gain, according to human rights lawyers and analysts.
Agencies’ Role and Ethical Questions
Intended parents report that agencies emphasize urgency and leverage emotional vulnerabilities to hasten decisions, sometimes manipulating clients under the guise of advancing their chance to have a child. Cases emerged where surrogate mothers returned to conflict zones like Ukraine during their pregnancies, contrary to initial assurances they would remain in secure accommodations in Georgia.
The mixed experiences of families and surrogate mothers alike underscore tensions between the demand for affordable surrogacy services and the ethical shortcomings of the current system. Some intended parents, including Olga and Daniel, have decided to pause or reconsider their surrogacy plans in light of these complications.
As Georgia’s surrogacy industry continues its rapid expansion, calls for stronger regulation and protections for surrogate mothers are growing louder. Without reforms, critics warn, the country risks perpetuating exploitation even as it facilitates the dreams of prospective parents worldwide.
