If you’re considering how to become a surrogate in 2025, you’re joining a growing number of women exploring surrogacy as a meaningful way to help others build a family. Whether you’re motivated by compassion, personal experience, or a desire to contribute to someone’s parenting journey, it’s essential to understand how the requirements to be a surrogate in the US have evolved. This article walks you through what’s new, what remains essential, and what varies depending on your location and the agency or clinic you choose.
1. What Hasn’t Changed?
The core requirements to be a surrogate in the U.S. remain consistent and are focused on safety, health, and emotional readiness. These standards ensure that the surrogate, the baby, and the intended parents are all well supported.
Basic requirements include:
Age between 21 and 40 (some agencies accept up to 42)
At least one full-term, healthy pregnancy without complications
A BMI typically between 19 and 32 or 33
No significant pregnancy or delivery complications (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes)
No smoking, drug use, or substance abuse
Pass psychological and background evaluations
A stable financial and home environment
These benchmarks have stood the test of time, but new trends are shaping how clinics and agencies evaluate surrogates in 2025.
2. What’s New in 2025?
The surrogacy process continues to evolve, especially in how agencies and clinics assess readiness and manage risk. Here’s what’s changed recently in the requirements in the US.
2.1 Enhanced Mental Health Evaluations
While psychological screening has always been standard, the approach in 2025 has become more nuanced and trauma-informed.
Clinics now consider:
Past experiences with birth trauma or postpartum depression
Coping mechanisms and emotional resilience
Whether the applicant has a strong support system (partner, family, or friends)
The goal is to ensure that potential surrogates are not only mentally healthy at the time of screening but also emotionally equipped to handle the complex journey of surrogacy.
2.2 Updated BMI Guidelines with More Flexibility
Although most clinics still follow the BMI range of 19–32 or 33, some are adopting a more flexible, health-centered model.
Instead of using BMI alone, clinics may consider:
Medical history and previous pregnancy outcomes
Body composition scans (like DEXA) for more accurate health assessments
This shift acknowledges that BMI alone doesn’t always reflect overall health or pregnancy fitness.
2.3 COVID-19-Related Health Criteria
Even after the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to influence health screening protocols.
Current trends include:
Many agencies now require or strongly prefer COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters
Additional screening if you’ve had COVID-19, especially if symptoms were severe or prolonged
Evaluations for long COVID or lingering health effects before clearance
This ensures that potential surrogates can carry a pregnancy safely and without avoidable health complications.
2.4 Legal Variations Across States
Following recent national legal shifts, particularly after the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, state laws have become a more prominent factor in determining who can be a surrogate and where.
For example:
States like California, Connecticut, and New Jersey are considered surrogacy-friendly with clear protections and legal frameworks
States like Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas have more complex or restrictive surrogacy laws
In states with unclear or conservative laws, agencies may ask for additional documentation or avoid matching surrogates altogether.
2.5 Increased Focus on Informed Consent
In 2025, there is a stronger emphasis on ensuring that surrogates are fully informed and empowered throughout the process.
New practices include:
Mandatory pre-match education sessions
Clear explanations of medical procedures, potential complications, and ethical boundaries
Documentation of consent for handling rare situations such as pregnancy termination or multiple embryo transfers
This transparency is aimed at reducing future misunderstandings and creating a fairer experience for everyone involved.
2.6 Higher Financial Stability Standards
Financial motivation is still a factor for many, but 2025 standards reflect a more cautious approach to financial eligibility.
You may be disqualified or put on hold if:
You rely heavily on public assistance as your primary income
You cannot show stable housing or employment
The goal here is to ensure you’re making this decision out of informed choice—not financial desperation—which could impact emotional and physical outcomes during pregnancy.
2.7 More Inclusive Screening of LGBTQ+ Surrogates
Agencies and clinics are becoming more inclusive, welcoming trans men and nonbinary individuals with the ability to carry a pregnancy. However, this inclusion is managed with thoughtful medical and psychological considerations.
For example:
Medical reviews of hormone history (such as testosterone use) and its impact on fertility and pregnancy
Counseling tailored to gender identity, dysphoria, and body image during pregnancy
These updates reflect broader cultural shifts while ensuring all participants receive the support they need.
3. Independent vs. Agency Surrogacy in 2025
If you’re thinking of pursuing independent surrogacy (without a surrogacy agency), some requirements may vary, but others do not.
Things to consider:
Clinics still enforce core medical and psychological screening requirements
You must handle legal contracts on your own, which makes hiring an attorney essential
Some intended parents now prefer agency matches because of the added layer of legal and emotional support
While independent surrogacy can offer flexibility, it requires a greater degree of preparation, responsibility, and legal awareness.
4. What’s Changed in the Requirements to Be a Surrogate
| Requirement Area | 2025 Update |
|---|---|
| Mental Health | Broader, more in-depth evaluations |
| BMI Guidelines | More personalized; less rigid |
| COVID Considerations | Vaccine history and long COVID screening |
| Legal Environment | Increased state-by-state variation |
| Informed Consent | Stronger emphasis on education and documentation |
| Financial Stability | Stricter scrutiny to avoid financial coercion |
| LGBTQ+ Inclusion | More inclusive policies with case-by-case care |
6. Understand The Evolving Requirements To Become a Surrogate?
Yes—if you’re physically healthy, emotionally prepared, and legally eligible, 2025 is still an excellent time to be a surrogate. In fact, with rising demand and better protections in place, the current surrogacy environment offers more clarity, fairness, and support than ever before. However, it’s more important than ever to do your research. Whether you go through an agency or match independently, understanding the evolving requirements in the US is crucial to making an informed and confident decision.
