Surrogacy for Single Men in 2026: Where It Is Legal, What It Costs, and How Ghana Works

The question underneath the search

Some of the most memorable conversations I've had over the past twenty years have been with single men who wanted nothing more than to become fathers.

Many have spent years assuming parenthood simply wasn't possible for them. They've contacted agency after agency only to hear the same answer: "We don't work with single men."

Others discover that the country they had researched won't accept them because of its laws, regardless of how prepared they are emotionally or financially.

After enough disappointments, many begin wondering whether fatherhood is simply out of reach.

It isn't.

The path is certainly narrower than it is for married couples, and it requires much more careful planning. But every year I watch single men welcome healthy babies into their families.

The key is understanding that international surrogacy is not one program repeated in different countries. Every destination has different laws, different medical standards, different levels of experience, and very different outcomes.

Choosing wisely at the beginning can save enormous disappointment later.

Can a single man have a baby through surrogacy?

Yes.

Through gestational surrogacy, your sperm is used to fertilize a donor's egg through IVF. The resulting embryo is transferred to a surrogate, who carries the pregnancy.

Because the embryo is created using your sperm and a donor egg, the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the child.

From a medical standpoint, this process is well established.

The deciding factor is almost never medicine.

It is the law.

Every country has its own rules governing who may pursue surrogacy. A man who is welcomed in one country may be completely ineligible in another.

Understanding those legal differences should always be your first step—not your last.

Why Ukraine isn't an option for single men

This is one of the hardest conversations I have with prospective fathers because Delivering Dreams has specialized in Ukrainian surrogacy for more than two decades.

Ukraine remains one of the world's most established surrogacy destinations. Its physicians, IVF laboratories, and embryologists are among the most experienced anywhere.

Unfortunately, Ukrainian law permits gestational surrogacy only for married heterosexual couples with a documented medical indication.

That means:

• Married heterosexual couples 
• Single women 
• Single men 
• Male same-sex couples 

This is a legal restriction—not a decision made by clinics or agencies.

Rather than trying to force a solution where one doesn't exist, we developed an entirely separate international program specifically for intended parents who cannot qualify under Ukrainian law.

That program is based in Ghana.

Who Can Pursue Surrogacy in Ghana?

Ghana has opened an important pathway for many intended parents who previously had very few options.

Our Ghana program currently serves:

• Single men
• Married heterosexual couples
• Couples using their own embryos
• Couples requiring donor eggs
• Frozen embryo transfer (FET) programs

High-quality Caucasian egg donors are also available for intended parents who require donor eggs.

Because Ghana is a deeply religious country, eligibility is governed by its assisted reproduction legislation. The law does not currently provide a pathway for male same-sex couples pursuing gestational surrogacy.

As with every international surrogacy journey, legal requirements should always be reviewed before beginning a program because legislation can change.

Where single men can pursue surrogacy in 2026

Today, there are only a handful of realistic international options.

The United States. The United States remains one of the most legally secure destinations for single fathers. The downside is cost. Complete programs commonly exceed $150,000, and in many cases are significantly higher once donor compensation, agency fees, legal work, insurance, and medical expenses are included. For many intended parents, affordability becomes the deciding factor.

Canada. Canada also permits surrogacy for single men. However, surrogate compensation is restricted, which often results in longer waiting times for matching.

Latin America. Several Latin American countries have become increasingly popular. However, laws differ significantly between countries—and sometimes even between regions within the same country. Anyone considering this route should obtain country-specific legal advice before proceeding.

Ghana. For many of our clients, Ghana has become the best balance between affordability, medical quality, and accessibility. But there is something important to understand. Ghana is not simply "Ukraine at a lower price." It is a newer surrogacy destination. That creates both opportunities and challenges.

There is no perfect answer on this list. There is the answer that fits your situation, your budget, and, most importantly, how your home country will treat what you build. More on that below, because it is the part that matters most. You can also read more about our Ghana program for single men.

Why Our Ghana Program Is Different

One of the biggest misconceptions about international surrogacy is that every agency in a country provides essentially the same service.

That simply isn't true.

Surrogacy is still relatively new in Ghana. Since legislation established a legal framework for assisted reproduction, many physicians and fertility clinics have begun offering surrogacy services.

That growth is encouraging.

However, legislation does not automatically create decades of experience.

Today, dozens of doctors and facilities advertise surrogacy programs throughout Ghana, yet many have only limited experience managing complex international surrogacy cases.

From the outside, it can be extremely difficult for intended parents to know which providers have genuine expertise and which are still developing it.

We've taken a very different approach.

Rather than relying on one clinic to perform every aspect of the journey, we've built a program that draws on specialists for each stage of treatment—exactly as we've done successfully in Ukraine for many years.

Different physicians excel at different things.

Some have exceptional IVF success.

Others are particularly experienced in embryo transfer.

Others specialize in high-risk pregnancies or maternal-fetal medicine.

Others have outstanding records managing births.

Instead of asking one clinic to do everything, we select the doctors and hospitals that perform each part of the process best.

We believe intended parents deserve the strongest team possible—not simply the closest one.

How our Ghana program works

Every surrogacy journey is unique, but for a single father, the process generally follows these steps.

Understanding Your Goals Before Treatment Begins

Before selecting a donor or beginning medical treatment, we spend time understanding your specific circumstances.

Just as importantly, we discuss how your home country recognizes children born through international surrogacy. Every country has different requirements, and understanding them before treatment begins helps avoid surprises after your baby is born.

Once that planning is complete, we begin building your medical team.

Choosing an Egg Donor

Because a single father cannot provide eggs, embryos are created using your sperm and donor eggs, so your child is biologically connected to you. Choosing a donor is a bigger emotional moment than most men expect, and it is worth taking time over rather than rushing.

You will select from screened donor profiles, which typically include medical history, physical characteristics, education, and sometimes photos or a personal statement. Some men choose a donor whose background resembles their own. Others prioritise health history, or simply a feeling they get from a profile. There is no wrong basis for the decision, as long as the donor has been properly screened.

What matters most is the screening behind the profile. A serious programme tests donors for genetic conditions, infectious diseases, and psychological readiness, and is transparent with you about what has and has not been checked. Ask to see the screening standards in writing. The donor is one half of your child's genetics, so this is not a step to hand over blindly or to choose on price alone.

IVF and embryo creation. Why we create embryos in Ukraine instead of Ghana

One of the biggest differences between our program and many others is where embryos are created.

Although pregnancy takes place in Ghana, embryo creation does not. This decision is intentional.

While Ghana has made tremendous progress in fertility medicine, embryology is still developing. Creating healthy embryos requires far more than an IVF laboratory. It requires highly experienced embryologists, sophisticated laboratory systems and extensive quality control.

This is an area where experience makes an enormous difference.

For more than twenty years we have worked with internationally recognized embryologists in Ukraine, whose expertise includes:

• IVF fertilization
• Blastocyst culture
• Embryo grading
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGD/PGT)
• Cryopreservation

Every embryo created for our Ghana programs is developed by these experienced embryologists before being transferred to Ghana.

This allows intended parents to benefit from one of the world's most experienced embryology teams while still completing their surrogacy journey in Ghana.

Just as importantly, all of our programs include PGD testing.

Testing embryos before transfer helps identify chromosomally normal embryos, reducing the risk of miscarriage while increasing the likelihood of a successful pregnancy and healthy baby.

Rather than transferring embryos without knowing their chromosomal status, we believe intended parents deserve the reassurance that comes from transferring the healthiest embryo possible.

Safe International Embryo Transport

Many intended parents are understandably nervous when they learn embryos are transported internationally.

In reality, this has become a routine part of international fertility treatment when managed correctly.

Once embryos have been frozen and approved for shipment, they are transported from Ukraine to Ghana by an experienced international cryogenic shipping company.

Embryos remain frozen in specialized liquid nitrogen shipping containers that maintain temperatures of approximately -196°C throughout the journey.

They are hand-carried under carefully controlled conditions with continuous chain-of-custody procedures, ensuring they remain protected from the moment they leave the IVF laboratory until they arrive safely at their destination.

For intended parents, this means combining the expertise of world-class embryologists with the convenience and affordability of a Ghana surrogacy program.

Comprehensive medical screening of surrogate candidates

Medical screening standards vary considerably from one country to another. One area where we have invested heavily is surrogate screening.

Routine laboratory testing performed in Ghana is often relatively limited compared with the protocols we have followed for many years in Ukraine.

Rather than relying solely on standard testing, Delivering Dreams has developed its own comprehensive screening protocol.

Every potential surrogate undergoes more than 40 medical tests before acceptance into the program.

Because no single laboratory in Ghana performs every investigation we require, testing is carried out through multiple accredited laboratories depending on the type of examination needed.

Our evaluation includes infectious disease screening, blood work, hormonal testing, reproductive assessment and other medical investigations designed to identify potential risks before pregnancy begins.

This approach requires additional coordination, but we believe careful screening is one of the most important investments we can make in protecting intended parents, surrogates and, ultimately, the child.

Finding the right surrogate

Once embryos have been created and screening is complete, we begin matching you with a surrogate.

One important difference from our Ukraine program is timing.

Because surrogacy has existed in Ukraine for many years, the pool of experienced, fully qualified surrogates is larger.

In Ghana, matching generally takes a little longer.

Although most intended parents understandably hope for the fastest possible match, we have never believed speed should come before quality.

Our priority is finding a healthy, emotionally prepared woman who fully understands the commitment she is making—not simply the first available candidate.

Every surrogate undergoes medical, psychological, and social evaluation before entering the program.

A different standard of pregnancy care.

Pregnancy is where our program differs most significantly from many others.

Rather than leaving surrogates to manage pregnancy entirely on their own, our surrogates live together in a purpose-designed, one-story residential apartment complex during pregnancy.

This arrangement allows us to maintain a consistently high standard of care while providing a supportive community for the women participating in the program.

Residents benefit from:

• Daily nutritional support
• Professionally prepared meals
• Regular cleaning and hygiene oversight
• Nursing support
• Ongoing medical monitoring
• Assistance with medications
• Immediate attention if concerns arise

Maintaining excellent nutrition, hygiene, and medical supervision throughout pregnancy helps create the healthiest possible environment for both surrogate and baby.

It also provides intended parents with greater peace of mind, knowing their surrogate is receiving consistent care every day rather than only during scheduled medical appointments.

Continuous medical oversight

One of the greatest strengths of our Ghana program is that we do not simply introduce intended parents to a clinic and step away.

Delivering Dreams has its own dedicated pregnancy and birth specialist based in Ghana.

Her role is to oversee every stage of the pregnancy, acting as an additional layer of medical coordination between intended parents, physicians, hospitals and the surrogate herself.

She follows each pregnancy closely, helps coordinate appointments, monitors progress, communicates with our team and assists throughout delivery.

Having someone whose sole responsibility is overseeing pregnancies provides another level of quality control that many programs simply cannot offer.

Staying involved during the pregnancy

One worry I hear from single men is that surrogacy abroad will leave them as a distant name on a contract, receiving occasional updates. It does not have to be that way, and I would treat it as a warning sign if a program keeps you at a distance.

In a well-run program, you should be able to communicate with your surrogate, follow the pregnancy, and be kept informed at each stage rather than only at the end. Many single fathers travel for key moments, including the birth, and a good agency helps you plan that around your work and your budget. Ask any program you are considering how much contact you will have and when. The answer tells you a great deal about whether you will feel like a father throughout the journey or only once it is over.

Watching ultrasound appointments, celebrating milestones and sharing the journey together helps many fathers begin bonding with their child long before birth. We believe surrogacy should feel like a partnership built on mutual respect—not a process managed from a distance through occasional updates.

Bringing your baby home: the most important question you’ll ask

Creating your family through surrogacy is only part of the journey.

The next step is ensuring your parenthood is recognized when you return home.

This is one area where many intended parents unintentionally make a costly mistake. They spend months comparing clinics, doctors and prices, but don't fully investigate how their own country recognizes children born through international surrogacy until after the baby arrives.

Every country has different rules.

Some countries recognize the biological father's legal parentage immediately.

Others require additional court proceedings, adoption, or other legal steps before parenthood is fully recognized.

The required documentation also varies from country to country.

For that reason, we discuss these issues at the very beginning of every program—not after treatment has already started.

No matter where you live, we strongly recommend consulting an attorney familiar with your country's laws before beginning your journey.

Doing so provides clarity and helps ensure the process of bringing your child home is as smooth as possible.

For US citizens, the U.S. State Department's guidance on assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy abroad explains how a child's citizenship is determined, and the Hague Conference on Private International Law tracks how countries recognise cross-border parentage. Whatever your country, this is not a reason to give up. It is a reason to start here rather than treat it as an afterthought. Before you commit to any programme, in any country, get advice specific to your country of residence. An agency that raises this with you early is acting in your interest. One that waves it away is not.

How long does the process take?

One of the first questions every intended father asks is, "When could I realistically be holding my baby?"

While every journey is different, most Ghana programs follow the same general timeline:

• Initial consultation and planning
• Donor selection (if needed)
• IVF and embryo creation in Ukraine
• PGD testing
• Embryo shipment to Ghana
• Surrogate matching
• Embryo transfer
• Approximately nine months of pregnancy
• Birth and documentation
• Returning home with your child

The stages that vary the most are donor selection and surrogate matching.

Because Ukraine has offered surrogacy for many years, surrogate matching there is often faster. Ghana has a smaller pool of qualified surrogates, so matching generally takes a little longer.

We believe that is a worthwhile trade-off.

Finding the right surrogate—not simply the first available surrogate—is one of the most important decisions in the entire journey.

After pregnancy, the time required to obtain your baby's travel documents depends primarily on your country's citizenship and immigration requirements rather than the surrogacy program itself.

If any agency promises an unusually short or guaranteed timeline, ask how that promise is being made. Biology doesn't follow a schedule, and honest programs acknowledge that every pregnancy progresses at its own pace.

What it costs, and what changed in 2026

A Ghana surrogacy program for a single man typically costs $45,000-$100,000. As of 2026, the Ghana route has become more affordable, which widens the door for men who had been priced out of the United States.

As with any program, the number only means something once you know what it includes. A complete program should cover donor selection and screening, IVF and embryo creation, the surrogate's compensation and care, medical care through birth, and support with documentation. Travel and accommodation are usually paid separately.

The same rule that applies everywhere applies here. A very low headline price is usually a sign that services have been unbundled and will reach you later, not a genuine saving. Compare what is included, and compare how the program answers the hard questions, not just the figure at the top.

How is this different from adoption?

Many single men consider both adoption and surrogacy.

Neither path is inherently better.

They simply serve different goals.

Adoption allows you to provide a loving home for a child who already exists.

Surrogacy allows you to have a biological child and participate in the journey from the very beginning of life.

Both paths involve legal processes, emotional commitment and significant financial planning.

Many intended fathers choose surrogacy because they want the opportunity to experience pregnancy milestones, be present at birth and build a biological connection with their child.

Others find adoption is a better fit.

The important thing is understanding the requirements, costs and legal implications of each before making a decision.

Is surrogacy in Ghana safe and ethical?

This is one of the most important questions you should ask.

The answer depends less on the country itself than on the quality of the program you choose.

As with any international medical treatment, standards vary.

Rather than asking whether Ghana is safe, ask how the program protects both intended parents and surrogates.

For example:

• How are surrogates recruited?
• What medical testing is performed?
• Who monitors the pregnancy?
• Can you communicate directly with the surrogate?
• How are emergencies managed?
• Which physicians deliver the babies?
• What hospitals are used?
• Who coordinates care throughout the pregnancy?

Programs should answer these questions openly and transparently.

If those answers are vague, consider it a warning sign.

We cover the current situation in more detail in our companion article, Is Ghana Safe for Surrogacy?.

One conversation every future father thinks about

Many single fathers eventually ask me the same question.

"What will I tell my child about how they came into the world?"

I've found that children respond best to honesty from the very beginning.

When surrogacy is presented as a normal part of their family's story rather than a secret, children generally accept it with remarkable ease.

Your child will grow up knowing that many people helped make their life possible—an egg donor, a surrogate, doctors, embryologists and, above all, a father who wanted them deeply and planned carefully for their arrival.

That isn't something to hide.

It's something to celebrate.

Choosing the right agency

Choosing an agency is about much more than comparing prices.

The agency you choose will coordinate one of the most important experiences of your life.

Ask questions that go beyond marketing brochures.

For example:

• How many years has the agency managed international surrogacy programs?
• Do they work with one clinic or multiple physicians?
• Who creates the embryos?
• Is PGD testing included?
• How many medical tests are performed before a surrogate is accepted?
• How are pregnancies monitored?
• Will you communicate directly with your surrogate?
• Who coordinates your case after pregnancy begins?
• What happens if the first embryo transfer is unsuccessful?
• Are all fees clearly explained before treatment starts?

If an agency cannot answer those questions clearly, continue your search.

The right program should welcome informed questions and provide transparent answers.