The eligibility requirements to become a surrogate are pretty consistent among reputable agencies, with a few small differences depending on the organization. To become a surrogate with NW Surrogacy Center, you must:

• Be between 21 and 42 years of age
• Be a non-smoker
• Have a history of a healthy pregnancy
• Be actively parenting your own child
• Be willing to take fertility medication injections for several months
• Be willing to abstain from alcohol and drugs throughout the process
• Have a BMI between 18 and 34
• Reside in one of the surrogacy-friendly states where we operate:
  California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut

Most surrogacy agencies follow similar medical criteria, but it’s always best to thoroughly review the details before beginning your journey.

Every surrogacy journey is unique, but on average, the process from application to birth takes 17 to 24 months. The first steps include completing a questionnaire, background checks, getting pregnancy records, and interviews. The next screening phase is reviewing your records, completing a psychological exam, and social worker consultation. All of this can happen in a few weeks, but most surrogates take a few months to complete screening. We are happy to follow your preferred timeline! Once you’re approved and ready to move forward, we can match you quickly with one of the amazing families we have waiting.

There are many important steps in the surrogacy journey. One of the most meaningful is our matching process, where you’re paired with intended parents who share your values and communication style. Once we have matched you with hopeful parents you’re happy to work with, you’ll travel to their clinic for in-person screening. All travel costs and your lost wages and childcare will be covered. This is also when your monthly miscellaneous payments begin.

After signing a contract with the parents, you will receive a $1,000 payment via direct deposit. Then you can start IVF cycle medication and will receive the $500 IVF cycle start bonus, and in about 3-4 weeks, you will travel back to the clinic for the embryo transfer and receive another $500 payment.

Once pregnancy is confirmed by ultrasound, your base surrogate compensation payments begin. Following delivery, the baby will go home with their family, and you will receive all remaining compensation. NW Surrogacy Center will continue to support you through your postpartum recovery and cover all expenses out of your surrogacy account.

At NW Surrogacy Center, our matching process is designed to connect you with intended parents who share your values, expectations, and communication style. In fact, it’s one of the most important parts of our job. A positive, caring, and trusting relationship with your intended family has a big impact on this experience. You’ll complete a detailed questionnaire and have a personal interview to help our team understand what matters most to you.

We then carefully review our intended parents waiting to be matched to find a family we believe is a perfect fit for you. You’ll review their profile, and they will see yours—at NWSC, we’re committed to full transparency. If both sides are interested, we arrange a meeting, either in person or via Zoom. You’ll be encouraged to ask any questions that help you feel comfortable. It is only when both sides feel comfortable and are eager to move forward that a match is confirmed and the next steps begin.

Our matching process is thoughtful and personal, ensuring that there is trust, respect, and compassion on both sides of every match. Many of our surrogates and parents form meaningful relationships—some become lifelong friends.

At NW Surrogacy Center, intended parents deposit the full amount to cover your surrogate compensation and expenses into a secure escrow account. We manage these funds and send you your payments regularly, exactly as outlined in your contract. This way, we ensure that you’ll receive every payment on time and provide a smooth, transparent, and stress-free experience for our surrogates.

Whether it’s the base surrogate compensation, medical bills, or reimbursement for lost wages, the funds are part of your overall income and may be taxable. Please consult a tax professional to understand how your taxes will be affected.