Greece
Registration practices for babies born via surrogacy
In Greece, there are concerns about registration practices for babies born via surrogacy. Surrogacy has been legal since 2004, but the lax legal framework attracted those wanting to exploit women in poverty as surrogates, including international intended parents and human traffickers. Intended parents’ names are recorded on the child’s birth certificate, which may render it impossible for mothers who did not consent to being surrogates to prove and exercise their parental rights. Romanian and Bulgarian women and children (especially Roma) are at risk. In 2012, Greece indicated it was working with Bulgarian authorities to prevent illegal adoptions of Bulgarian children in Greece. In 2022, the CRC urged Greece to ensure children have access to information about their origins in alternative birth situations, including surrogacy.
Promising Practices and Updates
In May 2025, Greece passed a law requiring both intended parents and surrogates to be Greek legal residents, effectively barring international surrogacy in the country.
