Surrogacy is one of the methods of assisted reproduction technologies applied, when a woman is not able to carry and deliver a baby due to her poor health state. Several years ago the only way out of such situation was an adoption. Since 2002 the surrogacy is considered to be legal in Armenia. It is important to know, that in Armenia people can apply only for gestational surrogacy.

This means that the surrogate cannot have any biological link to a child. Though a traditional surrogacy (defined as one where the surrogate is also the biological mother) is simpler and less expensive than a gestational surrogacy, it is still illegal in Armenia. Obtaining a child through the traditional surrogacy is deemed as trafficking- buying a child, which is a criminal offense with a sentence of imprisonment. The surrogacy regulations in Armenia state some legal solutions to prevent the implementation of traditional surrogacy. Accordingly, from the maternity hospital intended parents can receive the newborn child only after the DNA test. It is important to know that the DNA paternity test requires not only for the surrogate and the child to exclude their biological connection but also for those who have contracted with the surrogate (intended parents). A child born of a surrogate mother is transferred to the intended parents (parent) that have signed a surrogacy contract as prescribed by the law of the Republic of Armenia, if DNA result determines that at least one of the spouses or a person without a spouse is the child's biological parent. The surrogate does not have the right to refuse the transfer the child to the intended parents and does not have any rights and does not bear any responsibility for the baby since the delivery her/him to the parents (parent). If you are planning to have a surrogacy program in Armenia, you will need to find and work closely with a licensed medical clinic. Medical Clinics, which are specialized in surrogacy, have their own database of examined surrogate candidates meeting the requirements of the legislation. The relationships between the medical clinic, surrogate mother and intended parents (parent) should be regulated by a written and notarized contract. It sets out not only the responsibilities of the surrogate and medical clinic but also the surrogate's remuneration and schedule of the payment. Child’s birth registration is carried out through the Civil Registry Agency on the basis of the child's birth medical documents, notarized surrogacy contract, and DNA results.