Surrogacy is legal in Colombia
The assisted reproductive system is generally protected by the Colombian Constitution and surrogacy, in particular, is supported by the Constitutional Court.
The Constitutional Court states the required requirements and conditions of the surrogacy program, including:
- An individual has health problems with pregnancy.
- Eggs for IVF are not extracted from the surrogate (no biological link between surrogate and born child)
Non-commercial or altruistic surrogacy is allowed. - The surrogate must undergo a rigorous medical and psychological screening.
- The surrogate (once pregnant) cannot withdraw from giving birth to the child to the parents.
- Under no circumstances can biological parents reject a child.
- The death of biological parents before birth does not leave the child unprotected.
- Pregnancy of surrogacy with a medical indication from her doctor can only possible way to terminate.
- The Colombian constitution protects LGBT populations from all discrimination – same-sex couples can continue to have surrogacy in Colombia if at least one parent is genetically related to the child.
- Every child born to surrogacy in Colombia automatically has Colombian citizenship and is entitled to a Colombian passport, which allows intended parents to return home country with the child and transfer citizenship in the comfort of their or her place of residence.
Benefits of performing Surrogacy in Colombia
The World Health Organization positions the Colombian health system 22nd out of 191 countries on its list. This means that Colombian healthcare is better than Canada or the United States.
In addition, half of the leading hospitals in Latin America are located in Colombia.
South America has become a popular travel destination for medical tourism in general and Colombia is a frontrunner in this area.
Rising health care costs across the globe are driving health tourism in the region. Columbia hospitals are taking this opportunity to invest heavily in world-class medical services.
All Colombians including surrogates and newborns are entitled to public health insurance. But even for those who do not have health insurance, the cost of treatment is still low.
Modern hospitals, Spanish and English doctors, and an acquainted infrastructure make Colombia a convenient place to visit for tourists. Exotic places provide them with an ideal place to view and pick up a place.
While surrogacy in Colombia still accounts for a small percentage of medical tourism, procedures such as laser eye surgery, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, and hair transplantation are on the rise.
The cost of surrogacy in Colombia
The cost of surrogacy in Colombia is about $ 60,000 for a complete program, including a program guarantee. This is the same price for the same program in Ukraine and not half in the United States.
Cost-effective surrogacy in Colombia is possible due to the low cost of living in combination with many of the world’s first medical infrastructures and facilities.
Shorter living costs mean shorter salaries not only for medical care but also for the compensation of the surrogate. The earnings of Colombian surrogates are the same or more than their American counterparts when they are adjusted for the cost of living.
Legalization of surrogacy in Colombia
Surrogacy is legal in Colombia. Assisted reproductive techniques, including surrogacy, are generally protected by the Colombian Constitution, and surrogacy, in particular, is supported by the Constitutional Court.
In 2009, the Colombian Constitutional Court declared surrogacy unconstitutional and ordered lawmakers to approve legal aid. Although no specific surrogacy law has been passed in Colombia, the court has issued its guidelines. Safe and secure surrogacy is already the law of the country in Colombia for all couples.
The Colombian Constitution also guarantees same-sex couples and single parents access to same-sex surrogacy and ART practices. The law protects these groups from discrimination – so anyone who grows up can pursue surrogacy in Colombia if there is a genetic link to the child.
Requirements to become a surrogate mother in Colombia
- She must be between 21 and 37 years old.
- She must have at least one or more of her children.
- She should have no history of complications and a complete pregnancy.
- She must have a clear legal agreement and permission to become an alternate.
- Utmost mental and physical health.
Surrogates must also undergo various psychological and medical treatments before embryo implantation, and must be qualified for various medical examinations, such as uterine receptivity and infectious diseases, screening before, during, and after pregnancy.
Ravi Sharma is a self-motivated, successful entrepreneur and has a solid experience in the fertility segment. and he is the director at ARTbaby Global (ARThealthcare). He is a pharmacy graduate with post-graduation in business administration and has 14 years of rich experience in the field of infertility segment. He loves to write about IVF, Surrogacy, and other ART (assisted reproductive technology) news, issues, and updates. He is a Pharmacy graduate (B. Pharm) and M.B.A (marketing).
His most recent success includes the successful launch of the medical tourism company, ARTbaby, which offers treatment options for infertility, egg donation, and surrogacy. He likes spending time with his family and writing about various aspects of IVF surrogacy and donating eggs.