Couples who already have frozen embryos often ask whether these can be used in a surrogacy program abroad. SILK Medical in Tbilisi, Georgia accepts embryos created in other countries and integrates them into surrogacy programs under Georgian law. Georgia is one of the few countries where international intended parents are recognized as the legal parents from the moment of birth. For couples with stored embryos, this makes it possible to move forward directly with surrogacy, without undergoing a new IVF cycle.
Who Can Proceed with Own Embryos
This option is available to couples who are legally married or can show at least one year of cohabitation. Georgian law does not allow single intended parents or same-sex couples to take part in surrogacy programs. In those cases, SILK Medical’s branch in Yerevan, Armenia provides an alternative, since Armenian legislation allows single men and women to participate.
Handling Shipped Embryos
Frozen embryos can be shipped to Tbilisi from the United States, Europe, Asia, and other regions, as recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. SILK Medical works with specialized transport providers such as ARK Cryo and Cryo-Transport. The embryology lab is compatible with widely used freezing media such as Kytazato and Cryotech, so most shipments can be accepted without issue.
To proceed, Georgian authorities require specific documentation from the clinic that created the embryos. This includes an embryo creation certificate with the fertilization date clearly stated, a freezing certificate, and a cryopreservation protocol. All documents must be signed by the doctor and clinic director, stamped, translated, notarized, and apostilled. Infectious disease screenings of both partners, taken at the time of embryo creation, must also be provided.
Surrogacy Programs with Own Embryos
For couples who already have embryos, two programs are available:
- Effective Program: includes one embryo transfer.
- Classic Program: allows up to three transfers.
Both programs cover surrogate selection and care, monthly support payments, childbirth assistance, and full legal services leading to a birth certificate in the intended parents’ names. If further transfers are needed beyond those included, they can be arranged at a set cost.
Legal Documents Required
To join a surrogacy program, couples must provide an original apostilled marriage certificate or proof of one year of cohabitation. Copies of both passports and a power of attorney for contract signing are also required. For shipped embryos, the creation and freezing certificates and the culture protocol must be included. These requirements guarantee that the child will be legally registered under the intended parents from the day of birth.
Timeline from Shipping to Transfer
Once embryo documentation is reviewed and approved, shipping and storage in SILK’s cryobank can be arranged quickly. Surrogate matching usually takes up to three months, though expedited options may be possible. After the surrogate’s preparation cycle, embryo transfer is scheduled. Some surrogates remain in Tbilisi throughout pregnancy, while others return home after transfer and come back to Georgia in the third trimester.
If a Transfer Fails
If the first transfer does not succeed, the program contract remains valid. The same surrogate may continue with another transfer if medically suitable, or a new surrogate can be matched if needed. Additional frozen embryo transfers beyond those included in the programs are available at a fixed cost. If intended parents choose to replace the surrogate without medical indication, a one-time replacement fee applies. This structure gives couples continuity without restarting the entire process.
Why Georgia Is a Practical Choice
For couples who have already invested in IVF abroad, transferring embryos to Georgia for surrogacy combines affordability with legal certainty. Programs with own embryos begin below $40,000, while equivalent programs in the US or Western Europe often cost two to three times more. Georgian law recognizes intended parents as the only legal parents from birth, without giving the surrogate any rights over the child.
SILK Medical strengthens this legal clarity with advanced laboratory systems. Time-lapse monitoring through the AI-powered EmbryoScope helps select the most viable embryos, while the IVFID Witness system electronically tracks every sample to prevent mix-ups. With experienced staff and international patient services, Georgia offers a straightforward pathway for couples ready to use their own embryos in surrogacy.
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