Wondering if you qualify to become a surrogate? Here are the complete surrogate requirements — medical, psychological, legal, and lifestyle qualifications — you need to meet before starting your surrogacy journey with New Grace Fertility.
✅ Check If You Qualify →If you're considering how to become a surrogate, understanding the requirements is your first step. At New Grace Fertility, our surrogacy requirements are designed to protect your health, ensure the safety of the baby, and maximize the success of your surrogacy journey — while making the process as transparent and supportive as possible.
Whether you're learning how to become a surrogate in California or exploring gestational surrogacy from another state, this guide covers every qualification you need to meet. Our requirements align with guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and are standard across leading surrogacy agencies.
Every woman who wants to become a surrogate mother must meet these core qualifications. These surrogate mother requirements are non-negotiable and are designed to ensure a safe, successful surrogacy experience.
Understanding the reasoning behind surrogacy requirements helps you see that every qualification exists to protect you — the surrogate — as well as the intended parents and the baby.
The ASRM recommends this age range for gestational surrogacy because it balances reproductive health with emotional maturity. Women in this range have the lowest risk of pregnancy complications and the highest IVF success rates.
Having given birth to at least one child proves your body can carry a pregnancy to term. This is one of the most critical surrogate qualifications — it demonstrates your reproductive capability and provides a medical history for evaluation.
A healthy BMI reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and other complications. Fertility clinics require a BMI of 31 or below because it significantly improves IVF embryo transfer success rates and ensures a healthier pregnancy.
The limit of 3 C-sections and 5 total pregnancies follows ASRM guidelines. Multiple C-sections increase the risk of uterine rupture, and too many prior pregnancies can affect uterine health. These limits protect your safety during the surrogacy journey.
Smoking and drugs pose serious risks to fetal development. Surrogates must be non-smokers and drug-free, and must avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Medical testing throughout the journey ensures compliance for the health of you and the baby.
Stability ensures you can attend all medical appointments, follow protocols, and focus on a healthy pregnancy. Financial independence prevents any perception of coercion — surrogate mother compensation should be a benefit, not a necessity.
Beyond the basic qualifications, every surrogate candidate at New Grace Fertility must pass comprehensive medical and psychological evaluations. These gestational surrogacy requirements ensure you're physically and emotionally prepared for the journey.
Your medical screening includes a thorough review of your reproductive history, current health status, and lab work.
A comprehensive psychological assessment ensures you are emotionally prepared for the unique experience of gestational surrogacy.
Once you've met all surrogate requirements and been matched with intended parents, you take on important responsibilities throughout the journey. Here's what's expected of you as a surrogate with New Grace Fertility:
Dedicate yourself fully to the surrogacy process — attending all appointments, following medical protocols, and prioritizing a healthy pregnancy. The intended parents are counting on you.
Have dependable transportation to attend all clinic appointments, monitoring visits, and the delivery hospital. If travel is needed, New Grace Fertility coordinates and covers all costs.
No smoking, no excessive alcohol, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke or recreational drugs. You'll undergo periodic testing to ensure compliance — protecting both you and the baby.
Maintain timely communication with your coordinator, the intended parents, and the medical team via phone, email, and in-person visits. Transparency builds trust throughout the journey.
Notify us immediately if you move, change phone numbers, experience changes in your health, or have any change in your personal circumstances. We need to reach you at all times.
Never hesitate to ask questions — even if you've asked them before. Your coordinator is an experienced surrogate herself, and we want you to feel fully informed and confident at every step.
Review this checklist to see if you qualify to become a surrogate mother with New Grace Fertility.
If you checked all the boxes above, you likely qualify! Start your application today.
Apply to Become a Surrogate →California is one of the most surrogacy-friendly states in the U.S., with established legal protections for both surrogates and intended parents. If you're a California resident wondering how to become a surrogate in California, here's what makes the state ideal:
California law recognizes gestational surrogacy agreements and provides clear legal frameworks. Pre-birth orders establish intended parents' rights before the baby is born, and surrogates' rights are fully protected by independent legal representation.
California is home to some of the nation's top fertility clinics and IVF centers. As a surrogacy agency in California, New Grace Fertility partners with leading clinics in Southern California to provide you with the best medical care available.
California surrogacy laws are inclusive — supporting LGBTQ+ families, single parents, and international intended parents. This diversity means more matching opportunities and a welcoming environment for every surrogate.
If you meet the surrogate requirements above, take the first step today. A dedicated coordinator — herself an experienced surrogate — will reach out within 24 hours.
Take the first step — a coordinator will reach out within 24 hours.
Your information is confidential and secure. We never share your data.
Your decision to become a surrogate can change someone's life forever. Join New Grace Fertility's surrogacy program — we make every step simple, safe, and supported. Earn $50,000–$85,000+ with zero out-of-pocket costs.
Apply to Become a Surrogate →Answers to the most common questions about surrogate requirements, qualifications, and eligibility to become a surrogate mother.
To become a surrogate mother at New Grace Fertility, you must be a healthy woman aged 21–39 with a BMI under 31, have given birth to at least one healthy child of your own, have no more than 3 C-sections and no more than 5 total pregnancies, be a non-smoker with no illegal drug use, pass a psychological evaluation, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have a stable living situation and support system. Check if you qualify →
Surrogates must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 31 or below. A healthy BMI reduces the risk of complications during pregnancy — including gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia — and improves the success rate of IVF embryo transfer. Fertility clinics enforce this surrogate requirement to protect both the surrogate and the baby.
Yes, you can become a surrogate if you've had a C-section — however, the ASRM guidelines limit surrogates to no more than 3 prior C-sections. If you've had 2 or fewer C-sections with no complications, you may still qualify. A thorough medical review of your surgical records will be conducted during the screening process.
Yes. One of the most important surrogate requirements is that you must have given birth to at least one child of your own. This ensures your body has demonstrated the ability to carry a pregnancy to term successfully. The ASRM considers prior successful pregnancy and delivery a prerequisite for gestational surrogacy.
Yes! Having your tubes tied (tubal ligation) does not disqualify you from becoming a surrogate. In gestational surrogacy, the embryo is created through IVF and transferred directly into your uterus — your fallopian tubes are not involved. Tubal ligation is actually considered acceptable by all major fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies.
Yes. A comprehensive psychological evaluation is a mandatory part of the surrogate screening process. A licensed mental health professional will assess your emotional readiness, support system, understanding of the surrogacy process, and ability to cope with the emotional aspects of carrying a child for someone else. This protects your well-being and ensures a healthy, positive journey.
To become a surrogate in California, you must meet all standard surrogate requirements (age 21–39, BMI under 31, at least one prior birth, etc.), complete an application with a licensed surrogacy agency in California like New Grace Fertility, pass medical and psychological screenings, sign a legal contract with independent representation, and undergo IVF embryo transfer. California is one of the most surrogacy-friendly states, with strong legal protections for surrogates and intended parents alike.
Still have questions about surrogate requirements?
Start Your Application →