The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act sets specific eligibility criteria for both intended parents and surrogate mothers. Understanding these requirements early prevents wasted time and heartbreak.

Eligibility Criteria for Intended Parents

For the intended couple to qualify for surrogacy in India, they must meet all of the following conditions:

✅ Must be a legally married Indian couple (marriage certificate required) ✅ The wife must be between 23 and 50 years of age ✅ The husband must be between 26 and 55 years of age ✅ Must have a medical necessity certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner confirming that the intended mother cannot carry a pregnancy herself ✅ Must not have any surviving child (biological, adopted, or through surrogacy) — except where the existing child is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from a life-threatening disorder ✅ Must obtain an Eligibility Certificate from the Appropriate Authority before proceeding

Medical Conditions That Qualify as Necessity for Surrogacy

The intended mother may qualify for surrogacy if she has:

• Absent or surgically removed uterus
• Congenital uterine anomaly (e.g., Rokitansky syndrome)
• Repeated IVF implantation failures
• Recurrent pregnancy loss with an identified uterine cause
• A medical condition that makes pregnancy life-threatening

Eligibility Criteria for the Surrogate Mother

The surrogate must meet all of the following criteria:

✅ Must be married and have her own biological child ✅ Must be between 25 and 35 years of age ✅ Can act as surrogate only once in her lifetime ✅ Must provide written informed consent — as must her husband ✅ Must be medically and psychologically fit as assessed by registered medical practitioners ✅ Must not be the egg donor for the same surrogacy arrangement ✅ Must have an insurance policy covering health, life, and post-delivery complications (cost borne by intended parents)

Who Cannot Opt for Surrogacy in India

The law explicitly excludes the following from surrogacy arrangements:

❌ Unmarried individuals (single men or single women) ❌ Homosexual couples ❌ Live-in or cohabiting couples without legal marriage ❌ Foreign nationals (even if married to an Indian citizen — specific restrictions apply) ❌ NRI couples (Non-Resident Indians) — subject to specific legal restrictions as of 2026 ❌ Couples who already have a healthy surviving child

Altruistic surrogacy in India is significantly more affordable than surrogacy in the UK, USA, or most European countries — where commercial surrogacy may cost ₹50,00,000 or more. In Delhi, the total cost of an altruistic surrogacy arrangement varies depending on the medical protocol, legal complexity, and surrogate care requirements.

Surrogacy Cost Breakdown Table

Please note: These are indicative ranges. The actual cost will depend on the specific medical protocol required, the number of IVF cycles needed, legal fees in your specific state, and any complications during pregnancy or delivery. A personalised cost estimate is provided during your consultation at KIC Delfinium.

Costs do not include any payment to the surrogate as compensation — as this is prohibited under Indian law.

Having your documentation in order before beginning the process avoids significant delays. Below is a checklist of documents typically required:

For Intended Parents: ✅ Marriage certificate (registered) ✅ Age proof (Aadhaar, passport, or birth certificate) for both husband and wife ✅ Medical necessity certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner ✅ Proof of Indian citizenship for both partners ✅ Application for Eligibility Certificate to the Appropriate Authority ✅ Photographs (passport size)

For the Surrogate: ✅ Marriage certificate ✅ Birth certificate of her existing biological child ✅ Age proof (Aadhaar or passport) ✅ Written informed consent from the surrogate ✅ Written consent from the surrogate’s husband ✅ Medical fitness certificate ✅ Psychological assessment report

Legal Documents: ✅ Drafted and signed surrogacy agreement (before any medical procedure) ✅ Eligibility certificate issued by the Appropriate Authority (for both parties) ✅ Insurance policy covering the surrogate’s health, life, and delivery complications

All documents must be verified and in order before any clinical procedures commence. KIC Delfinium’s counselling team will provide a detailed document checklist specific to your state and situation during your initial consultation

Surrogacy success rates are directly linked to the quality of the IVF programme, the embryology laboratory, and the clinical expertise of the fertility team — all of which are central strengths of KIC Delfinium.

Because the surrogate’s uterus is typically healthy and has previously supported a successful pregnancy, implantation rates in surrogacy are often higher than in standard IVF cycles where the intended mother’s uterine environment may be compromised.

At KIC Delfinium, the IVF programme that underpins every surrogacy cycle reports pregnancy success rates of 38–42% per embryo transfer, with cumulative rates across two or three attempts reaching 60–70% for most couples. Over 8,000 successful deliveries have been achieved at the centre since 1980, reflecting four decades of consistent clinical excellence.

The use of vitrified (rapidly frozen) embryos for transfer to the surrogate — a standard practice at the centre — ensures that only the highest-quality embryos are used, maximising the chance of a successful, healthy pregnancy.

Surrogacy is not only a medical process — it is one of the most emotionally significant journeys a family can undertake. The anticipation, the legal complexity, the relationship with the surrogate, and the long months of waiting all carry profound emotional weight.

KIC Delfinium provides dedicated counselling support for intended parents at every stage of the process. This includes pre-treatment psychological preparation, guidance on managing the waiting period, and support in the event that a cycle does not succeed and further attempts are needed.

For the surrogate, psychological counselling is equally important — and legally required. The centre ensures all surrogates receive independent counselling, understand their rights fully, and enter the arrangement with complete, free, and informed consent. The wellbeing of the surrogate is treated as a clinical and ethical priority, not an afterthought.

On the legal side, the team’s familiarity with the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act and its 2024 amendments means intended parents are guided through the application process for eligibility certificates, the surrogacy agreement, and the post-birth parentage order with accuracy and care.

Choosing the right centre for surrogacy is one of the most consequential decisions a couple will make. Here is why KIC Delfinium is a trusted choice for families across Delhi NCR and beyond.

Decades of Experience: With over 40 years in fertility medicine and more than 40,000 couples supported, KIC Delfinium brings clinical depth that few centres can match. Complex surrogacy cases — including those involving donor eggs, prior failed attempts, or older intended mothers — are handled with the expertise that only genuine experience provides.

Legal Compliance: The centre operates in full compliance with the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 and its amendments. Every arrangement is structured to protect all parties legally — the intended parents, the surrogate, and the child.

Advanced IVF Laboratory: The surrogacy process depends entirely on the quality of the IVF cycle and embryo. KIC Delfinium’s state-of-the-art laboratory, led by Dr. Nalini Gupta’s UK-trained embryology expertise, ensures the highest standards of fertilisation, embryo culture, and cryopreservation.

Transparent Pricing: There are no hidden costs and no financial surprises. Intended parents receive a clear, itemised cost estimate at the outset, with honest communication about what may vary.

Compassionate Care: The centre’s approach to surrogacy is built around dignity — for the surrogate, for the intended parents, and for the child. Every family is treated as unique.