When considering surrogacy in South Africa, you need to know how much it is going to affect your bank balance. The term ‘surrogacy’ can mean different things in different countries and states. For example, you may have heard of egg donation or embryo donation as surrogacy but are not aware that they are not legal in South Africa (or they’re only available if you can prove infertility). Since there is no exact definition of what makes up a ‘surrogate’, we will use the term ‘gestational carrier (GC) throughout this article.
How much does surrogacy cost in South Africa?
The average cost of surrogacy in South Africa is roughly $60,000. However, this number can vary widely depending on several factors including:
- The type of surrogacy you choose
- The age of the surrogate
- Your location and your surrogate’s location (if you are not based in South Africa)
How is the surrogacy fee structured?
The agency, not the surrogate charges surrogacy fees. The amount of money you pay to an agency is up to that agency. Some will charge more than others, and some may offer discounts for first-time clients or non-profit organizations.
While fees vary between agencies, most allow payment in instalments over three months — this allows you plenty of time to save up for your fee without having to worry about paying it all at once.
Note that these payments are made directly to the surrogate and not to the agency itself: if they choose not to use an agency’s services (or if they don’t have one), then their costs will be lower than those who do.
What is included in the surrogacy fee?
The cost of surrogacy in South Africa varies depending on where you choose to have your child born. The average price for a surrogate in South Africa ranges from $18,000-$30,000 and includes:
- Surrogate’s compensation (payment for her services)
- Ongoing medical expenses during pregnancy and delivery
- Hospital fees -(admission to hospital before delivery) – (delivery room charges) – (laboratory tests/radiology) -(infant care after birth) -Postnatal care for mother (such as follow-up appointments with doctor/midwife).
Is a surrogate paid monthly or hourly?
You will be paid monthly, on a retainer basis. The amount of your retainer is determined by the agency that you work with and can range anywhere from R2000 to R20 000 per month.
I get paid an hourly rate.
Are there any out-of-pocket expenses?
You will be responsible for the surrogate’s legal costs, which can be quite high. Besides that, you will also need to pay for her medical expenses and travel expenses. You may even need to pay the surrogate’s lawyer fees if your intended parents’ agency does not cover them.
You will also need to cover your legal fees and any medical costs you incur during this process (like drug testing) because the surrogate isn’t paid until after she has given birth.
When considering surrogacy in SA, you need to know how much it is going to affect your bank balance.
The costs of surrogacy include medical, legal and agency fees. Medical costs may include:
- The surrogate’s medical procedure (including related anaesthetic and aftercare)
- Antibiotics and other medications during pregnancy (such as oral progesterone)
- Ultrasound scans during pregnancy
Legal fees are also a factor. They include attorney costs for the surrogacy contract, court orders and other documents required by law. Agency fees vary between agencies but usually range from 15% – 25%.
