Fertility & Surrogacy
IVF abroad: donor anonymity rules that change your child's future
Some countries guarantee donor-conceived people the right to know their donor at 18. Others do not. Decide before you travel.
Donor anonymity is a decision your child will live with longer than you will. It varies sharply by country.
Open vs closed donation
In open-donation countries, donor-conceived people can access identifying information about their donor at 18. In closed systems, the donor remains anonymous forever.
Why it matters for travel
Your home country may not recognise a donor arrangement that is lawful abroad but conflicts with its own donor rights regime. A legal opinion in both countries is not optional here.
Ask the clinic
- Is the donor known or anonymous?
- Are donor-conceived people able to contact the donor?
- Are donor numbers capped per clinic?
The Fertility portal's IVF & Egg Donation Abroad track walks through this before you commit.
This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Retain qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction before acting.