How to Ship Existing Embryos from a Third Country to Colombia for Surrogacy (Step-by-Step Guide) (From an IVF Embryologist)

How to Ship Existing Embryos from a Third Country to Colombia for Surrogacy (Step-by-Step Guide) (From an IVF Embryologist)

If you already have frozen embryos and are considering surrogacy in Colombia, you’re actually in a very strong position.

But here’s the reality most people don’t realize:

👉 The process is not just medical — it’s regulatory, logistical, and time-sensitive.
👉 And most problems don’t happen in the lab — they happen between clinics, countries, and documentation.

As an IVF embryologist working with international surrogacy cases, I’ve seen both smooth transfers and situations where everything got delayed because of one missing document.

So here’s a clear, step-by-step breakdown of how the process actually works.

Step 1: Infectious Disease Screening (Most Critical Step)

Before anything moves, this must be confirmed.

For Colombian regulations — and more importantly, for the safety of the surrogate — both the sperm and egg providers must have negative infectious disease screening results.

This typically includes:

  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • HIV
  • Syphilis

Ideally, these results should come from the same cycle when the embryos were created.

👉 Why this matters:

If these reports are missing, incomplete, or cannot be released (which happens more often than people expect), the entire process can stop right here.

I’ve seen cases where intended parents had perfectly good embryos — but couldn’t proceed simply because the donor refused to release test results.

Step 2: Clinic Registration & Initial Deposit

Once your screening results are confirmed, the next step is registering with the receiving clinic in Colombia.

This usually involves:

  • Passport copy (photo page)
  • Basic patient information
  • Initial deposit (in many programs, around $500)

This step officially opens your case with the clinic and allows them to coordinate with your current IVF center.

👉 Important:

At this stage, your case starts transitioning from “planning” to “execution.”

Step 3: Embryo Transportation (Where Most Hidden Complexity Happens)

After registration, the embryo transport process begins.

This is not just shipping — it is controlled biological transport under strict temperature and legal conditions.

Most clinics work with specialized international transport companies such as Cryosend.

The process includes:

  • Coordination between your current clinic and the receiving clinic
  • Legal documentation for export/import
  • Liquid nitrogen dry shipper handling
  • Chain-of-custody tracking

👉 What people underestimate:

Transport is often where delays happen — not because of risk, but because of coordination.

Different countries, different regulations, and different clinic response times all come into play.

Step 4: Embryo Arrival in Colombia

Once your embryos arrive safely in Bogotá, things become much more straightforward.

At this point, you will:

  • Sign the formal surrogacy agreement
  • Begin the main program payment
  • Enter the clinical matching phase

👉 This is the moment your journey officially begins.

Up until now, everything has been preparation.

Step 5: Matching & Embryo Transfer Timeline

After arrival and agreement, the clinic begins:

  • Matching you with a medically screened surrogate
  • Preparing the surrogate for transfer
  • Final clinical checks

In most cases, embryo transfer happens within:

👉 3 to 6 months

This timeline depends on:

  • Surrogate readiness
  • Medical synchronization
  • Clinic scheduling

What Most People Get Wrong

From my experience, the biggest misconception is this:

👉 People think surrogacy starts when they sign a contract.

In reality:

👉 It starts when your embryos are ready to move — and properly documented.

Final Thoughts

Colombia has become a realistic and accessible option for intended parents who cannot pursue $150,000+ surrogacy programs in the US.

But affordability doesn’t remove complexity.

👉 It just shifts where that complexity exists.

If you understand the process, prepare the right documentation, and work with coordinated teams, the journey can be smooth and predictable.

If not, delays and frustration are almost guaranteed.

If you’re currently in this situation — with embryos already created — you’re actually closer than you think.

You just need to execute the process correctly.

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