Understanding the True Cost of Surrogacy in Canada

Surrogacy is an incredible journey. Full of hope, love, and yes, a bit of overwhelm about logistics. In Canada, intended parents often budget roughly $80,000–$130,000 CAD for a full surrogacy path. 

This may feel like a lot, but remember: that range covers everything needed to safely and ethically grow your family. Canada’s model is “altruistic”, so surrogates are only reimbursed for documented expenses (not paid a fee). Instead, costs focus on medical and practical support.

Breaking Down the Costs

So where does the money go? Think of surrogacy costs in Canada as a bundle of items rather than one big fee. These typically include:

• Medical and IVF fees: This is often the largest piece. It covers fertility treatments (IVF cycles, ICSI if needed), prenatal care, ultrasounds, and delivery hospital bills. Clinics charge for procedures and medications, on the order of tens of thousands of dollars per IVF round.
  

• Legal and administrative fees: Every Canadian surrogacy requires legal contracts (ensuring everyone’s rights are protected) and usually a court or registry process to establish parentage. Lawyers and notaries typically charge a few thousand dollars for this specialized service.
  

• Coordination or agency services: While traditional “for-profit” surrogacy agencies cannot operate in Canada, there are matching consultants and coordinators who help screen surrogates and intended parents. If used, these services cost several thousand dollars for counseling, matching, and ongoing support.
  

• Screening and testing: Both the surrogate and intended parents must undergo medical and psychological screening. You’ll pay for health tests, background checks, and (if needed) donor egg or sperm banking. These lab and counseling fees can add up to a few thousand.
  

• Surrogate’s reimbursed expenses: Perhaps most importantly, intended parents must cover the surrogate’s pregnancy-related expenses. By law, a surrogate can submit receipts for a wide range of costs directly related to her surrogacy. These reimbursements often run into the tens of thousands (commonly $20–30K). 
  

Typical examples include:

• Travel and lodging: Bus, train or airfare and hotels if the surrogate must travel for doctor’s appointments or to deliver. (This includes taxis, parking, meals on the road, etc.)
  

• Medical supplies and bills: Co-pays for fertility medications, prenatal vitamins, and any recommended medical equipment (e.g. blood pressure monitor). Also covered are costs of doctors’ visits, ultrasounds and tests.
  

• Maternity needs: Maternity clothes, prenatal vitamins or supplements, and even reasonable amounts for groceries (food only).
  

• Childcare or petcare: If the surrogate needs to pay for a babysitter or pet sitter while attending appointments, those costs can be reimbursed.
  

• Counseling and legal fees: The surrogate’s independent legal fees (to review her contract) and counselling sessions about surrogacy are reimbursable.
  

• Insurance and healthcare: If additional insurance (like supplemental pregnancy insurance) is needed, or extra maternity dental care is recommended, those are covered.
  

• Lost wages: If a doctor certifies that the surrogate must stop working for health reasons, she can be reimbursed for lost income (the law requires a medical note).
  

Every dollar paid to the surrogate must be tied to an actual, documented expense, nothing less, nothing more. Expenses are only paid after they happen, not as “advance” or hidden payment.

Canadian Law: Reimbursement Only (No “Surrogate Fees”)

It’s important to remember Canadian law is clear: you cannot pay a surrogate for her service beyond reimbursable expenses. The federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) makes it a criminal offense to pay or offer payment to a surrogate. Instead, reimbursements are only allowed for eligible costs under regulations. In practice, that means the surrogate submits receipts for everything she spent (like the items above), and you (or your agency/clinic) reimburse exactly those amounts. Any extra “bonus” would violate the law.

To comply with the law, keep all the records neat. The regulations actually require you to get a signed declaration from the surrogate that lists each expense with dates and amounts, and of course save every receipt or invoice. I will always recommend having a lawyer, agency or an independent surrogacy consultant (like me) to guide you through this paperwork. 

Tax Credits and Financial Support

While surrogacy has costs, Canada does offer some financial relief through tax credits and programs:

Federal Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC)

The federal METC lets you claim eligible fertility and surrogacy expenses on your income tax return. In 2022, the government explicitly expanded the METC to cover more fertility-related costs. Now things like doctor visits, lab fees, certain medications, and even the surrogate’s reimbursed health costs can be claimed (on lines 33099/33199 of your tax return). 

You cannot claim expenses that were done outside Canada or already reimbursed, but anything unreimbursed and medical in nature is fair game. In short, keep all receipts: you’ll need them for METC claims. 

Provincial Programs and Credits

Many provinces have programs that lower the burden of IVF and related fertility care, which indirectly helps intended parents. For example:

Ontario: The province funds one IVF cycle per person (up to age 42) through the Ontario Fertility Program. Ontario also just announced a new Fertility Tax Credit (effective Jan 2025) that reimburses 25% of eligible fertility expenses up to $5,000 per year. This credit covers things like IVF costs, medications, travel and testing.

British Columbia: Starting July 2025, BC will fund a one-time grant of up to $19,000 toward a standard IVF cycle (based on income). This coverage includes the IVF procedure and medications at participating BC clinics.

Manitoba: The Manitoba Fertility Treatment Tax Credit lets residents claim 40% of fertility and surrogacy expenses (up to $20,000 per year, a max $8,000 credit). In 2024 that limit doubles to $40,000 of expenses ($16,000 credit). The credit is refundable and claimed on your tax return, so even if you owe no tax, you get the money back.

Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia offers a Surrogacy and Fertility Tax Credit of 40% of eligible costs (also up to $20,000 of expenses, i.e. $8,000 max credit). This refundable credit explicitly includes surrogacy-related medical expenses.

Québec: Québec’s public health plan (RAMQ) funds one IVF cycle per eligible patient (including meds and embryo freezing) for those up to age of 42. In other words, one round of IVF can be effectively free in Quebec. (Québec also covers unlimited IUI cycles.)

Many other provinces also have fertility grants or credits (for example, New Brunswick and Newfoundland offer IVF subsidies, and Yukon has a new 40% fertility/surrogacy credit). 

For details, you can check Health Canada’s “Financial Support for Fertility Treatment and Surrogacy” page and your provincial health or finance website.

Canada vs. the U.S.: Why It’s Less Expensive Here

It’s natural to wonder how Canada compares to the U.S. on cost. Because Canadian surrogacy is altruistic, you don’t pay a surrogate a salary or fee. This typically shaves off $30,000–$50,000 or more compared to U.S. arrangements. 

In fact,, a U.S. cycle can easily exceed $230,000 once you include surrogate compensation, while in Canada it can be just a fraction of that cost. On top of that, Canada’s public healthcare may cover the surrogate’s prenatal and delivery care, and drug plans may help with some medications, further reducing out-of-pocket bills. In short, you pay only actual expenses for the surrogate (with strict limits), not an additional fee for her service.

Looking for Help During the Surrogacy Process

I know – that was a lot of information. The bottom line is this: surrogacy in Canada is expensive, but the system is built for transparency, ethics, and support. Every dollar you spend is going toward real services and care, not profit. 

The Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) and its regulations ensure the process protects everyone involved. Your investment in this journey covers expert medical help, legal safeguards, and making sure your surrogate is fully cared for during pregnancy.

You are not alone in this. 

Canadian government resources listed above provide all valuable details. Provincial sites also outline any local support. 

If you feel like you can manage gathering all important data, you can reach out to your local fertility clinic, a specialized lawyer, surrogacy consultant, or a surrogacy-friendly support group for guidance. Probably all of them will know these rules inside-out because all laws are public and respected.

Still, for many families, the surrogacy journey can feel like stepping into a maze especially when you are just starting your research or deciding on the first steps. There are new terms to learn, complicated medical and legal steps to understand and importantly find the right people to help make this journey ethical and compassionate.

With good planning (keep those receipts!) and support, many hopeful parents have successfully navigated Canadian surrogacy. 

This path may feel challenging at times, but countless families have come through it joyfully. Take it one step at a time, and know that Canada’s laws and programs are there to back you up every step of the way.

Still having questions? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Discovery Call with me