Surrogacy In The Time of COVID

Historical article — last reviewed August 2026. This page describes how the COVID-19 pandemic affected surrogacy journeys in 2020–2021. It is preserved for historical context and should not be used as current medical, travel or clinic guidance. COVID-related testing, vaccination, masking, visitor and travel requirements have changed substantially over time and continue to vary by clinic, hospital and jurisdiction.

How COVID-19 disrupted surrogacy journeys

During the early pandemic, fertility clinics temporarily changed or paused services, international and domestic travel became unpredictable, hospitals restricted visitors, and intended parents sometimes faced difficulty reaching the place of birth. Gestational carriers, egg donors and intended parents also encountered changing testing and infection-control requirements.

Clinic procedures changed frequently

At different points in the pandemic, clinics used measures such as symptom screening, COVID testing, limits on accompanying visitors, virtual consultations and revised embryo-transfer scheduling. These were not universal rules and should not be assumed to apply today.

Travel and birth planning became more important

International intended parents were particularly affected by border restrictions, flight cancellations and quarantine rules. Some families needed contingency plans for who could be present at delivery and how newborn care, parentage documents and travel home would be handled if the intended parents were delayed.

What should intended parents and surrogates do now?

For a current journey, rely on today's instructions from the fertility clinic, obstetric team, delivery hospital and relevant public-health or travel authorities. Do not use pandemic-era assumptions about mandatory testing, vaccination, quarantine, visitor restrictions or transfer cancellation.

The broader lesson from the pandemic remains useful: surrogacy plans should include flexibility for unexpected medical, travel and logistical disruptions. Contracts, insurance arrangements and birth plans should address what happens if appointments are delayed, travel becomes difficult or one of the parties becomes ill.

Bottom line

COVID-19 changed how many surrogacy journeys were managed during the early 2020s, but the specific protocols from that period are not current guidance. Confirm present-day requirements directly with the professionals and institutions involved in your journey.

This article is retained as historical information and is not medical, legal or travel advice.