Quick Answer:

Yes, you need to travel to Ukraine for surrogacy — but for most families, it is a single trip of roughly two weeks. You arrive before your child's birth, complete post-birth documentation, and leave with your baby.

Do You Need to Travel to Ukraine at All?

Yes — travel to Ukraine for surrogacy is required for every intended parent. You must be present when your child is born, and all post-birth documentation — birth registration, exit paperwork, and (for most nationalities) consular appointments — must be completed in person.

For the vast majority of families, this means one trip: arrive approximately one week before the estimated due date, be present for the birth, and stay for roughly 10–14 business days to complete formalities. That is typically the full extent of your time in Ukraine. Some families also choose an optional earlier visit — near the embryo transfer stage, to meet their surrogate or see the clinic — but this is not a program requirement.

Expert tip: Only book fully refundable flights and accommodation. Birth dates cannot be guaranteed, and a penalty-free booking is the only responsible approach.

Have questions about timing your trip? Our team is available for a free consultation — no commitment required.

When in the Surrogacy Timeline Do You Travel?

Understanding when travel actually happens removes a significant amount of anxiety:

• Optional early visit: Around the surrogate matching or embryo transfer stage — some families use this to meet their surrogate and see the clinic in person. Entirely optional.

• Mandatory final visit: Arrive no later than one week before the estimated due date. Because birth timing is unpredictable, waiting until labor begins means you will almost certainly miss it.

• Post-birth stay: Plan for 10–14 business days after birth for birth certificate registration, exit documentation, and consular appointments. Ukrainian public holidays and embassy scheduling can all affect this timeline.

Choosing Your Entry Route: Train, Private Driver, or Bus

No commercial flights currently operate into Ukraine. All arrivals enter by land from a neighboring country, and Poland is the most practical option for most families — Krakow's international airport connects to the Polish border crossing in approximately 2–3 hours. Here are the main options:

Lviv vs. Kyiv: Where Will You Spend Your Time?

For most of your stay, Lviv is your base. It is where your surrogate receives her prenatal care, where most clinical appointments take place, and where the majority of families choose to give birth. Its proximity to the Polish border — roughly one hour — is a practical advantage that matters when you are traveling with a newborn. Learn more about why we operate from Lviv.

Kyiv is a targeted day trip for most nationalities, not a base. U.S. citizens must attend the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv in person — with both parents and the newborn — to begin the CRBA and passport process. The standard approach is an overnight sleeper train from Lviv (arriving early morning), a morning embassy appointment, and a return the same day or the following morning.

German citizens do not need to travel to Kyiv at all. All documentation required to exit Ukraine with their child can be processed entirely in Lviv — making the entire journey, from arrival through departure, manageable within the western region. German families will, however, need to work with a lawyer in Germany or Ukraine for the post-return adoption process.

Understanding the U.S. State Department Advisory

The overall Ukraine advisory is Level 4 ("Do Not Travel"), but this applies primarily to the frontline and eastern regions. Lviv and seven other western oblasts carry a Level 3 ("Reconsider Travel") designation — a meaningful distinction.

Level 3 is not a prohibition. It reflects that no part of Ukraine is entirely without risk, while acknowledging that western oblasts are materially safer than active combat zones. Practical steps for your safety:

• Download the Air Alert app (Повітряна тривога) before you arrive — it provides real-time alerts

• Know your nearest shelter — your hotel, apartment, and clinic will all have a designated underground shelter

• Observe the overnight curfew — typically midnight to 5:00 AM in Lviv Oblast

• Carry document copies separately from your originals at all times

Medical & security conditions can change rapidly. Always check travel.state.gov before departure.

Travel Readiness Checklist

Before departing, confirm the following:

•  Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates

•  All passport scans are sent to your coordinator in advance

•  Air Alert app downloaded, notifications enabled

•  International data plan activated

•  Mastercard or Visa card — bank notified of Poland and Ukraine travel

•  European plug adapters (Type C/F); Ukraine uses 220–240V

•  Travel insurance verified to cover medical emergencies in conflict-adjacent zones

•  Fully refundable flights and accommodation

•  For U.S. citizens: DS-11 printed, CRBA pre-filled, DHL prepaid return label created

Shipping Embryos and Sperm to Ukraine: How It Works

You do not transport your own genetic material. All sperm and embryos travel with licensed international biological shipping companies — not in your carry-on, and never through X-ray machines.

Embryos and sperm follow the same core process:

1. Your clinic receives contact from the shipping company; a formal Act of Biomaterial Transfer is prepared on the clinic's letterhead

2. You sign a contract directly with the shipping company — Delivering Dreams coordinates logistics, but does not ship

3. Material is cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen inside a GPS-tracked, temperature-monitored cryo-container, certified to hold safe temperature for up to 16 days

4. A dedicated WhatsApp group keeps you updated in real time throughout transit

For sperm, Delivering Dreams recommends making two donations spaced at least three days apart before shipping — multiple samples give embryologists a better selection and eliminate the cost of a second shipment. Donation is also possible directly in Kyiv or Lviv, in which case all collection, cryopreservation, and storage costs are included, with no international shipping required.

See our full guide to biomaterial shipping and the IVF process.

Where Does Your Surrogate Live During Pregnancy?

Until approximately week 32, your surrogate lives at home — in her own community, close to family. From week 32 onward, she relocates to a furnished apartment in Lviv or Kyiv, close to the maternity hospital. She may bring children or a family member for support; if she prefers not to, she is placed alongside other surrogates in the same situation. She is never alone.

In the event of a serious security escalation, a contingency protocol allows relocation to Lviv (if based in Kyiv) or to Slovakia, where prenatal care continues with trusted partner doctors. Your surrogate's safety is not a secondary concern — it is structurally built into every stage of the program. Read more about surrogate care and matching.

How Delivering Dreams Manages Your Travel Logistics

Hundreds of families from across Europe, North America, and beyond have made this journey through our program. The logistics — when managed by a team that runs this route regularly — are far more straightforward than they appear from a distance.

What you get:

• A bilingual coordinator is available by phone at the border if immigration officials have questions

• Pre-vetted, experienced private drivers for the Krakow–Lviv crossing

• Real-time WhatsApp updates throughout biomaterial shipping

• Full guidance on Kyiv embassy preparation — including pre-drafted emails and document checklists

• In the Unlimited Program: private car from Krakow, first-class overnight train to Kyiv, all surrogacy-related in-country transport, and a Ukrainian SIM card with unlimited data

Explore our program options and pricing, or review our guarantees and risk management approach.

Ready to talk through your specific travel plan? Reach out for a free, no-obligation consultation — our team answers logistics questions every day, and there are no wrong questions.

Medical & Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general informational guidance only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Surrogacy laws, travel regulations, and security conditions in Ukraine vary by country and may change without notice. Always consult qualified legal and medical professionals before making decisions related to your surrogacy journey. Review your government's official travel advisory immediately before departure.