I. Legal Basis and Current Policy

The legal basis for assisted reproduction in Georgia is the Law of Georgia on Health Care, enacted in 1997. Article 143 sets out the circumstances for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, while Article 144 concerns the cryopreservation of embryos and germ cells.

It should be noted that in 2023 Georgia submitted to parliament a draft law intended to restrict foreign nationals participation in commercial surrogacy. As of 2026, however, the draft has never been put to a vote and the current legal framework remains unchanged, so foreign nationals may still pursue assisted reproduction in accordance with the rules. Policy may be subject to adjustment, so it is advisable to rely on the latest official information before starting.

II. Eligible Groups: What Status of Foreign Nationals May Undergo IVF

Georgia imposes no nationality restriction on IVF treatment, nor a marital-status threshold at the legal level. The applicable pathways and required documents differ by status, as detailed below:

2.1 Married Couples

Married couples have the most straightforward path: with a notarized and authenticated marriage certificate, they can open a file and start a cycle, and may proceed according to the rules using their own eggs and sperm or donated resources.

2.2 Unmarried Partners

Georgia is among the countries that open assisted reproduction services to unmarried couples, and IVF does not require a marriage certificate. Unmarried partners need to provide a notarized proof of partnership (cohabitation), and once registered as a couple at the hospital, treatment can proceed per the normal process.

2.3 Single Women

Single women may independently open a file, undergo stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer; the entire process is legal and requires no partner or marriage certificate.

2.4 Single Men

Single men may also pursue programs, but when third-party assisted reproduction is involved, local common practice requires a female companion: the two must obtain a Hague-notarized proof of partnership and register as a couple at the hospital before the process can move forward.

2.5 Same-Sex Couples

Same-sex couples in Georgia may normally open a file and pursue IVF with egg or sperm donation, without being restricted by marriage. It should be noted, however, that different family structures follow different documentation paths for parentage registration, birth certificates, and subsequent paperwork. Some third-party sources (e.g., public advisories from the U.S. Embassy in Georgia) indicate that certain family structures face limitations at the birth-certificate stage. Such families are advised to confirm their individual eligibility and documentation path item by item with the service provider before starting, and to rely on the latest policy.

III. Age Requirements: No Uniform Statutory Ceiling

At the legal level, Georgia sets no uniform hard age ceiling for foreigners undergoing IVF. In practice, each hospital medical assessment acts as the gatekeeper; for the female partner, around age 50 is generally used as a reference upper limit. Older individuals may be evaluated in combination with options such as egg donation; specifics depend on each hospital policy.

Two categories of people related to the program have clear common standards: egg donors are generally required to be 20-35 years old and to pass physical and genetic screening; women undertaking the pregnancy stage are generally required to have previously given birth to a healthy child and to pass medical and psychological evaluation.

IV. Document Preparation Checklist

V. Notarization, Authentication Process, and Timelines

China formally acceded to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Convention) in November 2023. When Chinese public documents are used in Georgia, embassy double-legalization is no longer required, and the process has been significantly simplified.

Current mainstream path (Hague Apostille):

1. Domestic notarization: Notarize the marriage certificate, relationship proof, translated medical reports, etc. at a notary office in the place of household registration or habitual residence; usually about 3-7 business days.
2. Apostille (Certificate of Authentication): Apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or an authorized local foreign affairs office for issuance of an Apostille; usually about 5-10 business days.
3. Overall timeline: it is recommended to allow 2-4 weeks, including time for document correction.

Embassy legalization path: When the Hague Convention does not apply or individual documents have other requirements, the traditional double-legalization of Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication plus Georgian Embassy in China authentication is still required, generally taking 2-4 weeks or more; advance planning is advised.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

VII. Conclusion

Georgia is characterized by early legislation, high inclusiveness regarding status, and clear documentation paths, providing space for different family structures - married couples, unmarried partners, single persons, and same-sex couples - to pursue assisted reproduction compliantly. In practice, families are advised to first confirm the eligibility and documentation path corresponding to their status, then choose a regular service provider, plan notarization and authentication 2-4 weeks in advance, and continuously monitor policy developments, relying on Georgia latest official policy and the hospital requirements.