Surrogacy Laws in Ireland
2026 Legal Reference
Reference Definition · Maintained · Versioned
What this establishes
Ireland enacted the Assisted Human Reproduction Act in 2024, introducing a regulatory framework for surrogacy administered by the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA). Prior to this legislation, surrogacy in Ireland operated in a legal vacuum with no enforceable protections. The Act permits domestic altruistic gestational surrogacy and provides a mechanism for legal parentage recognition.
Parentage mechanism
The AHR Act 2024 establishes a judicial recognition pathway for parentage in domestic surrogacy arrangements. Intended parents can apply for a parental order that transfers legal parentage from the birth mother. The process requires compliance with pre-authorization requirements set by AHRRA. For children born through surrogacy before the Act, a retrospective recognition mechanism was included.
Eligibility and access
The regulatory framework applies to gestational surrogacy only (the surrogate must not be genetically related to the child). Both married and unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, may access surrogacy under the Act. Single individuals may also qualify. The gestational carrier must be at least 25 years old and have had at least one previous pregnancy.
International surrogacy
The 2024 Act primarily addresses domestic surrogacy. Irish citizens who pursue surrogacy abroad continue to face recognition challenges. The Act includes provisions for recognition of international surrogacy arrangements in certain circumstances, but implementation details and case law are still developing.
Common misunderstandings
The Act does not permit commercial surrogacy. Reimbursement of reasonable expenses is allowed, but the boundary between expenses and compensation will be defined through AHRRA guidance and case law.
Regulation is recent and evolving. AHRRA was established in 2024. Administrative processes, licensing standards, and enforcement mechanisms are still being operationalized. Early arrangements under the Act may encounter procedural delays.