Kazakhstan is one of the countries in Central Asia with the most complete legislation on assisted reproduction. The legal basis for surrogacy in this country mainly comes from two levels: one is the "Marriage (Spouse) and Family Code" (Law No. 518-IV of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2011, hereinafter referred to as the "Family Code"); the other is the "Citizens' Health Protection Law" (Law No. 193-IV in 2009, and its previous revised versions).
Article 54 of the Family Code clearly stipulates: If the couple gives written consent and another woman (surrogate mother) implants a fertilized egg and becomes pregnant, the right to register the parents of the child born belongs to the couple who provided the gametes (the client), not the surrogate mother. The significance of this provision lies in:
Article 54, Paragraph 2 (2011) of the Marriage (Spouses) and Family Code (2011), the original text states: With written consent, the couple implants fertilized eggs into other women for conception. After the child is born, the couple is registered as its parents, and the surrogate woman has no right to claim parental rights over the child. (Source: Legislative database of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adilet.zan.kz, 2011)
Article 55 of the "Citizens' Health Protection Law" and related assisted reproductive technology regulations further standardize the medical operation standards of surrogacy:
As of May 2026, no draft legislation in Kazakhstan to restrict or ban commercial surrogacy has entered the parliamentary stage for consideration. In recent years, the Kazakh government has included assisted reproductive technology as a key support area in the national population policy. The "Assisted Reproductive Technology Quality Standards" (Order No. 147) issued by the Ministry of Health in 2025 further standardized the IVF laboratory certification requirements and objectively improved the quality of surrogacy medical services. In contrast, Kazakhstan’s surrogacy policy environment is far more stable than that in Southeast Asia (Thailand banned it in 2015 and Cambodia banned it in 2016).
The qualifications of the client for surrogacy in Kazakhstan, according to the Family Code and the Ministry of Health, must meet the following conditions:
| condition category | Specific requirements | illustrate |
|---|---|---|
| Marital status | Married heterosexual couples | Legal marriage certificate must be provided (certified translation + notarization) |
| medical indication | Have a medical reason for not being able to conceive naturally | If the uterus is absent, repeated IVF failure, medical contraindications, etc., a diagnosis certificate must be issued by the hospital. |
| Nationality restrictions | No clear nationality restrictions | Legally applicable to foreign married couples, but visa and residence arrangements need to be planned in advance |
| age | There is no clear upper limit in law. In practice, the applicable age for IVF is usually referred to. | Women over 55 years old who use their own eggs require special medical evaluation; donor eggs are not subject to age restrictions |
| health status | Both spouses must pass a basic health assessment | Used to confirm gamete quality or select egg/sperm donor options |
Before launching a surrogacy project in Kazakhstan, the client usually needs to prepare the following documents (some documents can be gradually added during the process):
The complete process of surrogacy in Kazakhstan is usually divided into six main stages and takes about 18-26 months in total, depending on the time of successful embryo transfer and the progress of documentation after the child is born.
Choose a surrogacy agency or work directly with a local hospital to complete initial consultation, document evaluation, fee negotiation and contract signing. This stage can usually be completed remotely via video, without the need to go to Kazakhstan in person.
The client usually needs to go to Kazakhstan once (or complete part of the examination in China and then mail the report) for a comprehensive medical evaluation. If self-ovulation is used, the woman needs to undergo ovulation induction and egg retrieval in Kazakhstan or China, and the embryos are cultured and PGT-A chromosome screened (optional) in a Kazakh laboratory. If egg donation is used, the institution will match the egg source and the man will provide a sperm sample.
The agency will match the surrogate mothers from the screened database based on the client's requirements (blood type, appearance, health status, etc.). The two parties sign a three-party surrogacy contract, which must be notarized by the Kazakh Notary Office to ensure legal validity.
After the surrogate mother completes endometrial preparation (usually using HRT artificial cycle plan), she performs frozen-thaw embryo transfer (FET). A blood HCG test was performed 14 days after the transplant to confirm pregnancy, and then routine prenatal care was entered. The surrogate mother completes the full prenatal check-up, mid-trimester ovulation screening and delivery preparations in accordance with regulations at the local hospital in Kazakhstan.
After the child is born, the client must go to Kazakhstan to go through the following procedures:
With the Kazakh birth certificate, complete consular authentication at the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan (Astana) or the Consulate General (Almaty), and apply for the child's Chinese travel documents (such as a travel permit) or visa. After returning to the country, you can register your household registration in the country. For specific return procedures, please refer to"The Nationality and Parental Rights of Surrogate Babies"and"Complete Guide to the Return and Settlement of Overseas Surrogacy Children"。
| stage | Main matters | Estimated duration | Do you need to go to Kazakhstan? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation and consultation | Agency selection, evaluation, contract signing | 1-2 months | Can be done remotely |
| Medical Assessment and Gamete Preparation | Physical examination, egg retrieval/donation, embryo culture | 1-3 months | It is recommended to visit Kazakhstan once |
| Surrogate Mother Matching and Contract | Matching, medical examination, notarized contract | 1-2 months | Remote + notarized mailing possible |
| Embryo transfer and pregnancy | Transplantation, prenatal check-up, waiting for delivery | 10-12 months | Going to Kazakhstan or remotely monitoring during the transplant period |
| Childbirth and parental rights registration | Birth certificate, ZAGS registration | 1-2 months | Must go to Kazakhstan |
| Return procedures | Consular authentication, visa/travel certificate | 1-2 months | Completed in Ha |
| total | About 18-26 months |
The overall cost level of surrogacy in Kazakhstan is in the low-to-medium price range among the world's major legal surrogacy destinations. It has a significant cost advantage compared to the United States (usually 1 million to 2 million yuan), and is close to (slightly lower or equal to) the price in Kyrgyzstan. The overall transparency is higher than that in some gray areas in Southeast Asia.
| Expense Category | Specific projects | Cost range (RMB) | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | IVF/ICSI egg retrieval and embryo culture | 20,000-40,000 yuan | Uses self-ovulated eggs; contains ovulation-stimulating drugs |
| PGT-A chromosome screening (optional) | 15,000-30,000 yuan | It is strongly recommended for clients who are over 35 years old or have genetic risks. | |
| Egg donation cost (if donor eggs are used) | 30,000-60,000 yuan | Alternative self-ovulation IVF cost | |
| Surrogate mother’s full prenatal check-up and delivery | 20,000-35,000 yuan | Including pregnancy B-ultrasound, fetal screening, hospital delivery costs | |
| Surrogate mother category | Surrogate mother remuneration (full process) | 80,000-140,000 yuan | Payment in stages; including basic remuneration + transplant bonus + childbirth bonus |
| Surrogate mother living allowance and insurance | 10,000-20,000 yuan | Pregnancy living allowance and medical insurance | |
| Legal | Lawyer fees (contract drafting, parental rights registration) | 10,000-20,000 yuan | It is recommended to use a professional lawyer who is familiar with assisted reproduction laws |
| Notary fees, ZAGS registration, consular authentication | 0.5-10,000 yuan | Translation fee included | |
| Institutional services | Surrogacy agency service fee (full coordination) | 50,000-100,000 yuan | Covering matching, full coordination, and file management |
| Travel and accommodation for the client to Kazakhstan (estimate) | 10,000-20,000 yuan | Usually I go to Kazakhstan 2-3 times, 1-3 weeks each time | |
| Miscellaneous | DNA identification, translation, accident reserve | 0.5-10,000 yuan | |
| Total (using self-egg) | About 250,000-430,000 yuan | ||
| Total (using donor eggs) | About 280,000-460,000 yuan | ||
| destination country | Level of legal protection | Total cost reference (RMB) | Applicability to foreign principals | Type of surrogacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | Family Code Level, High | 250,000-450,000 yuan | married couple | Commercial surrogacy is legal |
| Kyrgyzstan | Health code level, high | 250,000-400,000 yuan | Married Couples/Partially Single | Commercial surrogacy is legal |
| georgia | Civil Code level, high | 300,000-550,000 yuan | Married heterosexual couples | Commercial surrogacy is legal |
| Colombia | Constitutional precedent protection, medium to high | 300,000-500,000 yuan | All types of families | Commercial surrogacy is legal |
| United States (California and other states) | State legal level, very high | 1 million to 2 million yuan | All types of families | Commercial surrogacy is legal |
Kazakhstan’s surrogacy projects are mainly concentrated in two cities: Almaty (formerly known as Almaty, the largest city in the south) and Astana (the capital, formerly Nur-Sultan). Both cities have assisted reproductive medical institutions certified by the Ministry of Health, with complete IVF/ICSI laboratories and surrogacy management capabilities.
Almaty is the largest city and economic center in Kazakhstan, and is also the area with the most concentrated surrogacy medical resources. The city has a number of internationally certified assisted reproductive centers, some of which have established cooperative relationships with member institutions of the European Society for Reproductive Medicine (ESHRE), and have high standards in laboratory quality standards and physician training systems.
For the Chinese client, Almaty has a certain Chinese service base (the Kazakhs have long-term contacts with the Chinese border areas), and the Chinese Consulate General in Kazakhstan is also located in this city, which facilitates the handling of consular authentication matters. Take a direct flight from major cities in China to Almaty, the flight time is about 3-5 hours (about 3 hours in Urumqi, about 5 hours in Beijing).
Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, has invested heavily in medical infrastructure in recent years and has also seen significant development in the field of assisted reproduction. Some international chain reproductive medical institutions have branches in Astana. The administrative efficiency of the capital city is more advantageous for handling parental rights registration (ZAGS) procedures. The Chinese Embassy is located here, and passport and visa procedures can be completed here.
No matter which city you choose, when evaluating surrogacy agencies in Kazakhstan, it is recommended to focus on checking the following dimensions:
The "success rate" of surrogacy is not a single number, but is determined by the composite probability of a series of medical links. The following data comes from ESHRE's 2023 annual report and public data from some institutions in Kazakhstan (actual data may vary due to different institutional and individual circumstances).
| link | Reference success rate | Main influencing factors |
|---|---|---|
| Ovulation induction to obtain available eggs | 80—90% | Woman’s age, AMH value, ovarian reserve |
| ICSI fertilizes and forms embryos | 70—80% | Sperm quality, egg maturity |
| Blastocyst culture was successful | 40—60% | Embryo development potential, laboratory quality |
| Proportion of transferable embryos after PGT-A | 30—60% | The woman’s age (the rate of chromosomal abnormalities increases over the age of 35) |
| Single frozen-thaw embryo transfer (FET) clinical pregnancy rate | 50—65% | Embryo quality, surrogate mother’s uterine condition, endometrial preparation plan |
| live birth rate after pregnancy | 85—92% | Have the embryos been screened with PGT-A? |
| Overall live birth rate (cumulative, including multiple transplants) | 70—85% | Depends on number of embryos available |
According to the ART data report for the Eurasian region released by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in 2023, in frozen-thaw embryo transfer cycles using self-ovulated eggs and PGT-A screening for people younger than 35 years old, the clinical pregnancy rate can reach 60% to 70%, and the live birth rate is about 55% to 65% (per transfer cycle). (Source: ESHRE ART Data Collection 2023)
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are currently the two legal surrogacy destinations in Central Asia that attract the most attention from Chinese-speaking families. There are certain differences in the legal systems, costs, and applicable groups between the two countries. When choosing, you need to make a comprehensive judgment based on your own situation.
| Contrast Dimensions | Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Article 54 of the Marriage and Family Code (Code Level) | Article 104 of the Citizen Health Protection Act (Code Level) |
| legal stability | High, the provisions will be retained in the 2022/2024 revisions | High, new law in 2024 strengthens protection |
| foreign client | Married heterosexual couples | Married couples (some institutions accept singles) |
| Cost range | 250,000-450,000 yuan | 250,000-400,000 yuan |
| medical resources | Almaty/Astana, several international certification bodies | Mainly in Bishkek, the number of institutions is small but concentrated |
| Flight convenience | There are direct flights from many cities in China | Usually requires a connecting flight via Almaty or Moscow |
| Chinese service | Limited, Kazakhs have a certain foundation in Chinese | Limited, some institutions have Chinese coordinators |
| Immediateness of parental rights registration | ZAGS directly registers the entrusting party as parents | Direct registration, no adoption procedures required |
| Number of surrogate mothers | The population base is larger and there are relatively sufficient candidates | The number of candidates is limited and matching may take longer |
| Return document link | Kazakh birth certificate → consular authentication → return to the country | Kyrgyzstan birth certificate→Apostille/Consular authentication→Return to the country |
The Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan usually requires the following: Kazakhstani birth certificate (ZAGS registered version, showing that the client is the parent), passport and marriage certificate of the client, notarized surrogacy contract, and DNA paternity test report (issued by an accredited laboratory). After meeting the above materials, the embassy can issue a travel certificate (Chinese Citizen Travel Certificate) for the child to return to the country. It is recommended to make an appointment with the embassy to confirm the specific procedures before departure, as the policy may be updated.
When using donor eggs for surrogacy, the child's genetic material comes from the egg donor (eggs) and the client's male (sperm), and has no genetic relationship with the client's female. The legal mother of the child is the woman of the client (ZAGS registration confirmation), but there is no genetic connection. This fact does not affect legal parental rights, but the client's family should be mentally and ethically prepared in advance.
According to Article 54 of the Family Code, after the surrogate mother signs a notarized contract, the law does not give her the right to claim parental rights over the child. If a dispute occurs, the client can apply for enforcement of the contract through the Kazakh courts. The court usually makes a ruling in favor of the client based on the notarized contract and ZAGS registration records. This is why the notarization of the contract and the involvement of professional lawyers are important.
unnecessary. The client usually only needs to go to Kazakhstan at the following points: ① Medical evaluation and egg retrieval (about 1-2 weeks); ② Embryo transfer (remote monitoring is sufficient in some cases, if it is necessary to go to Kazakhstan for about 1 week); ③ Document processing after the child is born (about 2-4 weeks). A total of about 4-8 weeks of actual time in Kazakhstan, and the rest of the time can be spent waiting in the country.
Kazakh law allows PGT-A embryo screening if there are medical indications (such as sex chromosome-related genetic diseases), and the screening results include embryo gender information. Regarding gender selection for non-medical purposes, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health stipulates that there are restrictions. In actual operation, each agency has different implementation standards. It is recommended to ask clearly at the contract stage.
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The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a licensed professional for specific circumstances.