FOREIGN couples visiting Thailand to have surrogate babies might soon become a reality. According to the Department of Health Service Support, officials are preparing to amend the country’s existing surrogacy law to accept overseas couples.
Two contentious cases that made national news in 2014 compelled the Thai government to ban commercial surrogacy and make it illegal for foreigners.
Thai couples who have been married for at least three years are the only ones eligible to use surrogacy services under current laws. The surrogate must be the sibling of either one of the couples, and at least one spouse must be a Thai national.
Information provided by Surrogate.com indicates that individuals who are unmarried or in a same-sex relationship are banned from using these services, regardless if they are Thai nationals.
There are also plans for Thailand’s health insurance to cover surrogacy. The United States, Ukraine, Georgia, and Greece are among the nations that allow commercial surrogacy.
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin, signed a law in December 2022 that banned foreigners from using Russian surrogate mothers.
A child born through a surrogate mother in Russia would automatically acquire Russian citizenship after birth.
