No. Surrogacy remains illegal in Norway under the Biotechnology Act (2003), which prohibits all forms of commercial and altruistic surrogacy. The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) enforces strict prohibitions, with penalties including fines or imprisonment for violations. Recent 2026 amendments reinforce criminalization, targeting both surrogacy agencies and participants, while clarifying that intended parents cannot obtain legal parental rights through foreign surrogacy arrangements.
Key Regulations for Surrogacy in Norway
- Absolute Ban: The Biotechnology Act §2-18 explicitly criminalizes surrogacy agreements, whether commercial or altruistic, with no exceptions for medical necessity.
- Parental Rights Void: Intended parents cannot register a child born via surrogacy abroad as their own under Norwegian law; only gestational mothers retain parental rights.
- Enforcement by Bufdir: The agency monitors violations, including advertising surrogacy services, and refers cases to prosecutors under §2-19, with penalties up to 3 years imprisonment.
Foreign surrogacy arrangements are unrecognized, and children born this way face legal limbo regarding citizenship and parental rights. Norway’s stance aligns with its conservative bioethical framework, prioritizing protection against exploitation over reproductive autonomy. No legislative proposals currently suggest decriminalization.