Surrogate Requirements

Eligibility may be affected by an age or BMI outside Golden’s current range, not having personally raised a biological child you delivered, certain pregnancy or delivery histories, smoking or illegal drug use, a recent tattoo or piercing, unstable living or financial circumstances, criminal history, limited household support, or medical, psychological, legal, insurance, and clinic-related factors identified during screening. Golden’s published requirements are baseline guidelines and are not all-inclusive. If you are unsure, apply or contact Golden for an individual review rather than assuming you do not qualify.

Golden asks that applicants be between 23 and 37, have a BMI of 30 or under before medical clearance, have given birth to and personally raised, or currently be raising, at least one biological child, have a history of uncomplicated pregnancies, have no more than three previous deliveries and no more than one previous C-section, be in excellent overall health, have a stable and supportive family and living environment, be financially secure, be a non-smoker free of illegal drug use, have no criminal history, have reliable transportation, have had no tattoos or piercings in the previous 12 months, and be enthusiastic and ready to begin a Surrogacy Journey.

These are baseline guidelines. Additional medical, pregnancy-history, psychological, legal, insurance, or clinic factors may also affect candidacy.

Golden accepts applicants between the ages of 23 and 37. That is Golden’s selected program range rather than a universal medical standard, and fertility clinics also apply their own age standards to gestational carriers. If you are near either end of the range, apply and our team will review your history with you.

Golden’s program requirement is a BMI of 30 or under before medical clearance. Meeting this standard before screening helps prevent delays. The applicable fertility clinic evaluates your overall medical eligibility and makes the final determination.

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Yes. Golden asks that applicants have personally raised, or are currently raising, at least one biological child they delivered. This standard is about parenting experience and household readiness, and it is applied respectfully to every applicant.

A previous pregnancy and delivery give the physicians and medical professionals evaluating candidacy information about prior pregnancy, delivery, and recovery. It also means you understand from experience what pregnancy asks of you and your household. Records from prior pregnancies are collected through a professional third-party medical-record service, and medical review is completed by qualified medical professionals.

It depends on the complication and what your records show. Golden asks for a history of uncomplicated pregnancies, and a single past event does not always end the conversation. Your pregnancy and delivery records are collected through a professional third-party service and reviewed by qualified medical professionals, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine review by a qualified physician is included before match presentation. If you are unsure, apply so your history can be reviewed individually.

Yes, if you have had no more than one previous C-section. Golden’s limit is intentionally more selective than the broader ranges many agencies use. Your delivery records are reviewed by qualified medical professionals, and the applicable IVF clinic and reproductive physician make the final medical determination.

Golden accepts applicants with no more than three previous deliveries, and no more than one of those may have been a C-section. These limits are more selective than the broader ranges used by many agencies.

Golden requires at least 12 months between your most recent delivery and embryo transfer. You may apply or contact Golden before that point so the team can review your timing. Screening, medication, and transfer readiness remain subject to your recovery, professional medical review, and the fertility clinic’s requirements.

Breastfeeding and postpartum recovery can affect when screening, medication, and embryo-transfer preparation may begin. Timing depends on your recovery, your physician’s guidance, Golden’s current requirements, and the applicable fertility clinic’s protocols. You may contact Golden or apply for an individual review before making changes to your feeding plan.

Your current birth-control method may affect the timing of medical screening and embryo-transfer preparation. Do not remove an IUD, stop medication, or change birth control solely to qualify without speaking with your own medical professional. Golden can explain what information the applicable fertility clinic may need.

Mental-health history and current or previous medication may affect eligibility, but the answer depends on the full circumstances. Golden includes a psychological assessment and clinical interview with a licensed mental health professional experienced in third-party reproduction. The applicable fertility clinic also reviews medical eligibility. Applicants should never discontinue or alter prescribed medication solely to qualify without guidance from the prescribing professional.

Golden requires applicants to be non-smokers and free of illegal drug use. Questions involving vaping, nicotine, cannabis, prescription medication, or past substance use require individual review under Golden’s current policies and the applicable fertility clinic’s protocols. Contact Golden rather than changing medication or assuming whether you qualify.

Golden requires that applicants have had no tattoos or piercings during the previous 12 months. This is Golden’s published program requirement. If your most recent tattoo or piercing falls within that period, contact Golden about when you may become eligible.

Golden reviews financial stability as part of eligibility. Surrogacy compensation may also affect eligibility for certain need-based programs. Applicants receiving assistance should contact Golden for an individual review and may wish to consult a qualified benefits professional.

Compensation should recognize the commitment of surrogacy rather than resolve an existing financial emergency. Financial stability helps ensure that decisions throughout the journey are made freely and for the right reasons, and it is a widely used ethical standard in third-party reproduction.

Yes. A supportive spouse or partner is important, and when applicable your spouse or partner participates in parts of screening and the legal agreement process. Golden discusses household support during agency intake, the licensed mental health professional evaluates relevant psychological and relationship considerations, and household readiness is also considered during the virtual home visit.

Yes. A journey includes local monitoring appointments, OB visits, and travel to the Intended Parents’ fertility clinic for screening and embryo transfer. Travel expenses connected to the journey are paid by the Intended Parents, and Golden coordinates the arrangements.

No. You do not need to live in Illinois to become a Surrogate with Golden. Golden works with qualified applicants in the surrogacy-friendly states from which we recruit, and your care team supports you remotely and coordinates travel when it is needed.

For more about remote support, read why a surrogacy agency does not need to be local.

Golden accepts applicants from surrogacy-friendly states, and eligibility depends on current state law and the circumstances of a specific journey. Because laws and program considerations change, the most reliable way to confirm your state is to apply or contact Golden. You can also review becoming a Surrogate by state.

Yes. Golden asks that applicants have no criminal history, and Golden coordinates criminal-background and address screening for the applicant and applicable household adults. If you have a question about something in your record, contact Golden and our team can tell you how it is generally handled.

Golden does not directly review or medically interpret pregnancy and delivery records. Golden facilitates collection through a professional third-party medical-record service, coordinates included Maternal-Fetal Medicine review by a qualified physician before match presentation, and coordinates professional review by the medical team at the IVF clinic of a potential Intended Parent. Golden separately determines whether an applicant meets its agency requirements and match-readiness standards. Final medical clearance for a specific journey is determined by the applicable IVF clinic and reproductive physician.

Yes. Many questions cannot be answered by a checklist alone. Golden reviews your application information and coordinates the appropriate professional evaluations, then tells you clearly whether moving forward makes sense. You can also contact the Golden team before applying.