Surrogacy in Georgia: the UK Parental Order guide
For UK intended parents · Reviewed June 2026
If you're a UK intended parent having a baby through surrogacy in Georgia, your legal parenthood in the UK is only settled by a Parental Order — which must be applied for within six months of the birth. This guide walks through the Georgia process end to end: who's eligible, the in-country journey step by step, the documents and consent you'll need, and how you bring your baby home.
Current position (June 2026): In June 2023 the government announced a ban on surrogacy for foreigners (targeted for 1 January 2024), but the bill was withdrawn from its third reading and has NOT been enacted — so Georgia remains open to foreign opposite-sex couples as at this guide's date. The political intent was real and could revive, so re-check the current position (ideally with a Georgian lawyer) before committing.
Immigration & nationality: this guide explains the general process only — it is
not immigration advice (a regulated area in the UK). Your child's nationality, passport and entry to the UK depend on your circumstances — see
GOV.UK and take advice from a registered immigration adviser (IAA-regulated) or a solicitor.
At a glance
Risk levelAdded legal or logistical risk
EligibilityOpen to opposite-sex couples
Typical in-country stay2–4+ months (driven by the UK travel-document wait — no Georgian passport for the child)
Surrogate consentSigned in-country (around week 6)
TranslationGeorgian (and Russian / the surrogate's language for consent) — certified English translation for the UK court
ApostillePublic Service Development Agency (PSDA), Ministry of Justice — an e-apostille is available
The in-country journey, step by step
- Days 1–5Birth registrationAt the Public Service Hall — the Intended Parents are named directly (the surrogate is not). Administrative, no court order. Certificate in Georgian.
- Days 2–10Certified translation + apostilleGeorgian→English translation and apostille via the PSDA (standard 8 working days at GEL 30, or same-day at GEL 150). An e-apostille is available.
- Weeks 1–2DNA testFor the British passport. Use an accredited lab with proper chain of custody; confirm acceptability with the British Embassy Tbilisi.
- Weeks 2 → several monthsUK passport / British nationalityThe major bottleneck — there is no Georgian passport for the child, so you cannot leave until the UK travel document is issued.
- Within 6 months of birthFile C51Absolute deadline. File early so C52 reaches the surrogate before week 6.
- Week 6+Surrogate (and spouse) signs C52 & A101ABefore a Georgian notary, after translation; apostilled by the PSDA. Earliest valid date is day 42.
This guide covers the practical Georgia-specific process and is based on common practice. Surrogacy is limited by statute to opposite-sex couples and the legal position for foreigners has been under political threat — read it alongside current advice from your agency, a Georgian lawyer, and your UK solicitor. It is not legal advice.
The full Georgia guide goes deeper
Inside PO Navigator, the detailed Georgia guide covers each of these in depth — with the exact UK forms, document checklists and a directory of vetted in-country providers:
Legal status & eligibility
Surrogacy is governed by Article 143 of the Law on Health Care plus health-ministry regulation. It permits gestational surrogacy for opposite-sex couples with a medical indication, and the Intended Parents are placed on the birth certificate by operation of law (no court order).
Your legal team
Engage an independent Georgian surrogacy lawyer (not only the agency's) to handle the surrogacy agreement, the birth registration, and to coordinate the surrogate's week-6 signing — alongside a UK specialist solicitor for the Parental Order.
Birth certificate
Issued administratively at the Public Service Hall, naming both Intended Parents (the surrogate is never named), usually within 1–5 working days, in Georgian.
DNA testing
Required for the child's British passport. Use an accredited lab with a proper chain of custody, and confirm acceptability with the British Embassy Tbilisi before sampling.
Notarisation of UK forms (C52 & A101A)
Georgia is a civil-law notary jurisdiction; notaries already handle the surrogacy agreement and can certify translations. The steps: your UK solicitor sends C52 and A101A to your Georgian lawyer; they are translated into Georgian (and, if the surrogate is not a Georgian speaker, into Russian or her own language); at week 6+ the surrogate (and her husband, if married) attends a notary, who witnesses the signature and completes the A101A witness section; the forms are then apostilled by the PSDA, and any Georgian notarial wording is translated back into English for the bundle.
Travel & exit
There is no exit permit — but no Georgian passport for the child either, so you cannot leave until a UK travel document is issued. That wait is the main driver of a typical 2–4+ month in-country stay; the exact nationality route depends on your circumstances, so confirm it on GOV.UK or with a registered immigration adviser.
🔒 The complete step-by-step Georgia guide, the document detail and the vetted provider directory are inside PO Navigator. Start free to read the full overview and unlock the detail.
Frequently asked questions
Who can pursue surrogacy in Georgia?
Georgia is generally open to opposite-sex couples. Article 143 limits surrogacy to opposite-sex couples (married or cohabiting for at least one year). Eligibility rules can change, so confirm your position before you commit.
How long will I need to stay in Georgia?
Plan for around 2–4+ months (driven by the UK travel-document wait — no Georgian passport for the child). The main variables are the local documents, any required DNA testing, and the wait for your child's UK travel document.
Do I still need a UK Parental Order after surrogacy in Georgia?
Yes. Wherever your child is born, your legal parenthood in the UK is only settled by a Parental Order, and you must apply within six months of the birth — a hard deadline that cannot be extended.
What does the UK court need from Georgia?
Typically the foreign birth certificate (apostilled, with a certified English translation where it is not already in English), the surrogate's consent on forms C52 and A101A signed after the six-week point, DNA evidence where required, and your own statement.
Do I need a solicitor for the Parental Order?
Not necessarily — a Parental Order can be made without a solicitor, and many families self-represent with the right structure. PO Navigator provides that structure; for advice on your specific legal position a solicitor remains the right call. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Pursuing surrogacy in Georgia? Start free — we'll set up your Georgia guide and track your 6-month UK filing deadline.
Start free →