Where you live changes the route. Choose your country.
The legal and citizenship points differ from country to country. This is general information: your own lawyer confirms what applies to you.
If you live in the United States
For a child born abroad to a surrogate, the US State Department generally looks for proof of a genetic link between the child and at least one US citizen parent, usually shown with a DNA test.
Check first
- Who will be the genetic parent, and whether a donor is involved.
- Your own US immigration lawyer, before you spend money.
- That rules and processing times change.
What we coordinate
- Written agreements before treatment.
- Birth registration in Nigeria.
- DNA testing.
- The paperwork for your child's citizenship papers and passport through the US Embassy in Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos.
What your lawyer handles
- Whether your route qualifies.
- The citizenship application itself.
- Your child's status and records at home.
If you live in the United Kingdom
Please speak to a UK solicitor who handles surrogacy before you begin. UK rules on becoming a child's legal parent, and on what can be paid and advertised, differ from other countries.
Check first
- How a child born through surrogacy abroad becomes your legal child at home.
- What payments to a surrogate are allowed.
- That we may only be able to give you general information.
What we coordinate
- The medical and legal coordination in Nigeria.
- Written agreements and independent advice for the surrogate.
- Documents and records you will need to show your solicitor.
What your lawyer handles
- Whether your route works under UK law.
- The steps to be recognised as your child's parent after the birth.
- Immigration steps for your child.
We will tell you plainly if our route does not work for you. Some families should not proceed, and we would rather say so on the first call.
If you live in Canada
Canadian law limits what can be paid to a surrogate, and what can be advertised. Please speak to a Canadian family lawyer who handles surrogacy before you commit to anything.
Check first
- Which payments and reimbursements are allowed.
- How your child's parentage and citizenship are proved.
- That the rules differ by province.
What we coordinate
- The medical and legal coordination in Nigeria.
- Written agreements and independent advice for the surrogate.
- The records your lawyer will ask for.
What your lawyer handles
- Whether your route is lawful for you.
- Parentage and citizenship for your child.
- Your provincial requirements.
If you live in Nigeria
There is no citizenship paperwork to plan, so the conversation is about the medical route, the agreements and the costs.
Check first
- That Nigeria has no single national law on surrogacy, and that Lagos State has its own guidelines.
- Your own Nigerian lawyer, before you sign.
What we coordinate
- The medical plan with the clinic and your doctors.
- The matching and the written agreements.
- Birth registration after the birth.
What your lawyer handles
- How the agreements work in your state.
- How parentage is recorded in your case.
If you live somewhere else
Countries treat surrogacy abroad very differently, including how a child's parents are recognised. Some do not recognise it at all.
Check first
- Whether your country allows or recognises surrogacy abroad.
- How your child would receive citizenship and travel documents.
What we coordinate
- We explain how our process works.
- We tell you plainly if the route does not work for you.
What your lawyer handles
- The law in your own country.
- Citizenship and immigration for your child.
Still unsure? Find your route.
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