You have done your research, you meet the requirements, and you are ready to take the next step. But knowing you want to become a surrogate is one thing. Knowing exactly what happens when you apply is another.
The application process is more straightforward than many women expect. It moves through several distinct stages, each with its own purpose. This guide covers how to apply to be a surrogate step by step, what you will need at each stage, and what to expect from the first form to the moment you are matched.
Before You Apply: Make Sure You Meet the Requirements
Before filling out any form, take a few minutes to check that you meet the core surrogate requirements. Agencies set eligibility criteria to protect both the surrogate and the pregnancy, not to exclude women who genuinely want to help.
The core requirements cover: age between 21 and 37, a BMI of 29 or below, at least one successful pregnancy carried to term, and a non-smoking lifestyle free of recreational drug use. You also need to be a US citizen or legal permanent resident, financially stable, and off antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications for at least 12 months.
If something in your history gives you pause, apply anyway and let the medical team review your records. Many women who wonder can anyone be a surrogate are surprised to find they qualify. The process is thorough, not discouraging.
Step 1: Submit Your Surrogate Application Online
Start by completing the online inquiry form on the agency’s website. The form takes just a few minutes and gathers the basic information the agency needs to assess your initial eligibility.
Filling out the application carries no commitment. It starts the conversation and gives the team what they need to review your details before inviting you to the next stage.
What the Application Asks You
The initial application covers several areas: your personal background and living situation, your pregnancy and delivery history, your current lifestyle habits including smoking, medications, and substance use, and your reasons for wanting to become a surrogate.
No question aims to trick you. The agency wants to understand who you are, whether your circumstances are stable, and whether your motivations fit the journey. Honest, straightforward answers are always the right approach.
How Long the Application Takes
The initial form takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Once you submit it, the agency reviews your details and contacts you to confirm whether you move into the screening portal. Most applicants hear back within a few business days.
Step 2: Enter the Screening Portal
When the agency approves your initial application, you receive an invitation to create an account in the secure screening portal. This is where the more detailed phase of your application begins. You can track your progress at each stage and see exactly what still needs completion. The surrogate screening process moves efficiently, but your responsiveness at this stage directly affects the overall timeline.
Documents You Need to Upload
The portal asks you to upload a set of medical documents: your OB/GYN records, delivery records for all previous pregnancies, and a copy of your insurance card.
Gathering these documents before your invitation arrives can save time. Delivery records often take a few days to request from a hospital or provider. Having them ready in advance keeps things moving without unnecessary delays.
What the Medical Team Reviews
The agency sends your uploaded documents to its medical team. They review your full delivery history, any complications in previous pregnancies, and your overall health profile to confirm you are a strong candidate.
This is not a simple pass or fail moment. The team looks at the full picture and takes context into account. Once they clear you, you move into the psychological evaluation stage.
Step 3: Complete Your Psychological Evaluation
Every surrogate completes a psychological evaluation before moving forward. A licensed psychologist who specializes in reproductive health conducts the session via Zoom. Both you and your partner, if applicable, take part. The psychological evaluationdoes not aim to disqualify you. Its purpose is to confirm you are emotionally ready, that you understand what surrogacy involves, and that your home support system is solid.
What the Psych Eval Covers
During the evaluation, expect to discuss your motivations for becoming a surrogate, how you handle emotional stress, the support you have at home, and how you would approach difficult scenarios such as a failed embryo transfer or a pregnancy loss.
The psychologist may also ask about your own pregnancies and how you feel about handing the baby to the intended parents after delivery. These are not trick questions. They give you a chance to reflect and show that you have genuinely thought through what the process involves.
What It Means If You Have a Mental Health History
A past mental health history does not automatically disqualify you. What matters is the nature of the issue, how you addressed it, and whether it currently affects your life.
Active use of antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications is disqualifying. Surrogacy by Faith requires surrogates to have been off these medications for at least 12 months. A history of treatment is different and gets reviewed case by case. If you have concerns about your specific situation, apply and let the process give you a clear answer.
Step 4: Get Matched With Intended Parents
Once the agency fully approves you, the matching process begins. Your profile draws on the information you provided throughout the screening phase. The agency shares it with intended parents who may be a good fit. The relationship between surrogates and intended parents is one of the most meaningful parts of the journey, and agencies treat the matching process accordingly.
How the Matching Process Works
The agency reviews your profile alongside intended parents who are ready to match. Compatibility covers shared values, communication preferences, relationship expectations during and after the pregnancy, and practical factors such as location and clinic access.
When the agency identifies a potential match, it shares your profile with those intended parents. If they express interest, you receive their profile in return. Both sides must agree before anything moves forward. No one faces pressure to accept a match that does not feel right.
What Happens on the Match Call
Once both parties review each other’s profiles, the agency schedules a video call. This is your chance to meet the intended parents, ask questions, and get a feel for whether the connection is there.
The call typically covers communication expectations during the pregnancy, how involved the intended parents want to be in appointments, and the type of relationship both sides hope to build. When the conversation flows and both parties feel comfortable, the match moves forward.
Step 5: Medical Screening at the IVF Clinic
After matching, you attend a full medical screening at the intended parents’ IVF clinic. This is the same facility where the embryos were created. The clinic’s medical team needs to confirm you are physically ready for an embryo transfer. The screening is a standard part of the surrogacy process and applies in every case.
This appointment is often the first time you meet the intended parents in person. That makes it both a practical step and a meaningful milestone in the journey.
What Tests Are Included
The medical screening follows the guidelines of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). It includes a drug screening, a full blood panel, sonograms, and a uterine evaluation. Each test confirms a specific aspect of your readiness for the transfer.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a thorough pre-transfer evaluation is a key factor in maximizing the likelihood of successful implantation. The clinic uses these results to finalize its medical clearance.
How Long Results Take
Blood work results typically take around two weeks to come back. Legal clearance cannot begin until the medical screening is complete. This phase sets the pace for everything that follows.
Step 6: Legal Clearance and Contract Signing
When medical clearance comes through, the legal phase begins. Both you and the intended parents retain independent legal representation throughout. The surrogacy contract must be fully signed before any medical procedure takes place. All parties review the terms, negotiate where needed, and sign off before anything moves forward.
At this stage, funds move into an escrow account to secure compensation and expenses before the medical process begins.
What the Surrogacy Contract Covers
The contract defines the roles and responsibilities of each party. It covers the full compensation structure, how escrow payments work, how medical decisions get handled during the pregnancy, and the agreed approach to communication before and after birth.
The non-termination clause is one of the most important elements. Both parties agree on it upfront. This removes one of the most common sources of delay in the legal process. When both sides align on this from the start, the contract stage moves much faster.
How Long Does Legal Clearance Take?
Timelines vary considerably between agencies. At many, the process takes several months. Negotiations often stall on key clauses that both sides did not discuss in advance.
When both parties enter the legal phase already aligned on the core terms, the process is much smoother and faster. The section on Surrogacy by Faith below covers the specific timeline you can expect with this agency.
How Long Does the Full Application Process Take?
Understanding the full timeline helps you plan ahead and set realistic expectations for yourself and your family.
The screening phase typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. This depends on how quickly you submit documents and complete your evaluation. The matching phase varies based on your preferences and how quickly a compatible intended parent profile becomes available.
From match to signed contract takes approximately 2 to 2.5 months. After contracts are signed, the medication protocol before embryo transfer runs for about 3 weeks.
Your responsiveness at each stage directly affects the pace. Surrogates who gather documents early and reply promptly to portal requests move through each step faster. The full surrogacy process guide covers everything from this point through to delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Applying to Be a Surrogate
Can I Apply If I Have a C-Section in My History?
One prior C-section does not automatically disqualify you. What matters most is your overall delivery history, the nature of the surgery, and what the IVF clinic’s medical review concludes. Many women with a prior C-section go on to become successful surrogates. Multiple C-sections may raise additional considerations depending on the clinic’s guidelines, but each case gets individual review. The surrogacy disqualificationspage gives a full breakdown of what affects eligibility.
What Happens If My Application Is Not Approved?
Not every applicant moves through every stage, and that is a normal part of the process. Some disqualifications are permanent, but many are temporary. A BMI slightly above the threshold, recent medication use, or a delivery outside the required timeframe are all circumstances that can change.
If your application does not move forward, the agency will explain the reason and whether reapplying later is a realistic option. Not qualifying right now does not mean the door is permanently closed.
Do I Need to Have Health Insurance to Apply?
You do not need existing insurance that covers surrogacy in order to apply. If your policy does not cover a surrogate pregnancy, the intended parents can purchase a surrogate-specific medical plan on your behalf. The health insurance and surrogacy page explains how coverage works in practice and what different policy types do and do not cover.
Can I Apply If I Have Tattoos or Piercings?
Tattoos and piercings alone are not disqualifying. Timing is what matters. IVF clinics generally ask that surrogates have not received any new tattoos within the 12 months before the embryo transfer. This is due to infection risk and blood-borne pathogen protocols. If your most recent tattoo is older than 12 months, it is unlikely to affect your eligibility. Placement is not a factor in the application itself.
How Surrogacy by Faith Supports You Through the Process
Surrogacy by Faith supports surrogates who want an agency experience grounded in care, transparency, and genuine connection. Children and family are a gift, and every decision in the process reflects that.
Legal clearance at Surrogacy by Faith takes 2 to 3 weeks, compared to several months at many other agencies, because both parties agree on the non-termination clause upfront. Only PGT-A tested embryos are transferred, which contributes to a 92% first-transfer success rate against a 40 to 60 percent national average. The team has been through the process themselves, with 8 babies between them, and support is available 24 hours a day throughout the journey. Compensation starts at $50,000 base pay, with up to $13,000 in extras covering gym membership, maternity clothing, travel, and more. Surrogates also receive $2,500 even if the transfer does not result in a pregnancy. For a full breakdown, the surrogate compensation guide covers every component.
If you think you might qualify, the application takes just a few minutes to start. Fill out the surrogate application today, or read the complete how to become a surrogate guide if you want to understand the full journey before applying.