Yes, surrogacy is legal in Greece under strict conditions. The Greek Parliament legalized altruistic surrogacy in 2002 (Law 3089/2002), later amended by Law 4272/2014 and Law 4538/2018. Only heterosexual married couples or unmarried partners (with cohabitation proof) may pursue surrogacy, excluding single parents and same-sex couples. The surrogate must be a genetically unrelated third party, compensated only for documented expenses, with judicial pre-approval mandatory.
Key Regulations for Surrogacy in Greece
- Eligibility Restrictions: Only Greek citizens or EU residents married for ≥2 years (or cohabiting ≥3 years) qualify. Foreigners must provide additional documentation, including a home country surrogacy ban declaration.
- Judicial Oversight: A Greek court must approve the surrogacy agreement before embryo transfer, verifying compliance with Law 4272/2014. Appeals are permitted within 10 days.
- Surrogate & Compensation Limits: The surrogate must be aged 25–45, with no prior surrogacy history. Compensation is capped at €10,000, covering medical, legal, and living expenses, per Hellenic Republic Ministry of Health guidelines (2023 circular).
Recent 2026 amendments (Law 5057/2026) introduce stricter penalties for commercial surrogacy, including fines up to €50,000 and surrogate disqualification. The National Authority of Medically Assisted Reproduction (ΕΟΠΕ) now mandates pre-approval for all surrogacy clinics, aligning with EU cross-border healthcare regulations.