An agency fee can tell you what it costs to start a surrogacy program. It says less about what you’ll pay when a clinic needs another appointment or you have to stay in Colombia longer after the birth. Before comparing two quotes, put each payment next to the step that triggers it. The timeline can show what one quote leaves for you to arrange and pay for later.
Loom Surrogacy’s program page explains what to include when estimating the cost of surrogacy in Colombia. Its guide to the cost of surrogacy in Bogotá gives intended parents a budget checklist for care in the capital. Use those categories to request a written estimate and record who bills you, in which currency and when payment is due.
Start with the costs you could incur before a match
Ask which consultations and assessments you need to budget for at the outset. If embryos already exist, find out who will confirm whether the receiving clinic can accept them and who would handle transport, storage and any associated fees. If embryos still need to be created, ask the clinic to separate that estimate from any fees for a transfer. A quote that begins with a transfer can look very different from one that includes earlier lab work.
If you live outside Colombia, seek advice in your home country as well about recognizing parentage and getting the documents the child would need to travel. The U.S. Department of State advises U.S. citizens considering surrogacy abroad to consult an immigration attorney. Budget for that advice, and ask which documents, translations or other expenses may apply to your case. Get those answers from the people handling the legal work.
If you’re considering surrogacy in Colombia and haven’t chosen a city, Loom’s local guides can help you prepare questions about appointments, travel and paperwork. Ask which visits can be combined so you can budget for the right number of trips.
Price a change in the timeline
Ask the agency and clinic to walk through the same example. Suppose a planned transfer is postponed after you’ve made a payment. Which charges have already been incurred? Which could carry over, and which might be billed again? Ask how the answers would differ if you needed a new match or another transfer. You want to be able to identify the next invoice and when it would arrive.
Ask what the estimate assumes about prenatal care, delivery and postpartum care. If an insurer or other provider is expected to cover any of those services, ask a qualified adviser to confirm the terms in writing. Find out how the surrogate can reach her own lawyer or support team and which provider would bill for that support.
Check who holds each payment
Ask for a sample payment schedule before sending a deposit. If someone will hold funds for later expenses, ask whose name the account is in, when money is released and how you’ll receive a statement. Have your independent advisers review the terms. An agency estimate may include an allowance for a charge that another provider will invoice separately. Ask what happens to any unused balance and how you would approve additional expenses.
Write out one scenario using your actual plan. If the program involves two trips, list what is due before the first trip, what might be due while you’re there and what must be paid before the next visit. Mark which expenses are refundable and which services can be rescheduled. If a provider asks for a payment you can’t match to the schedule, ask for an itemized invoice that explains what it covers. Compare the date on that invoice with the date on your plan, especially if another provider is expecting payment the same week.
Keep a separate plan for the time after birth
Ask your lawyers to explain the expected steps from hospital discharge to any document applications and travel. For U.S. families, confirm requirements with the relevant consular office and immigration counsel. Parentage, citizenship and travel documents are distinct questions, and the answers depend on your circumstances.
Put lodging, meals and local transport on a separate line from agency and clinic fees. Work out what another week would cost your household, including time off if it would affect your income. If a provider bills in Colombian pesos and you hold funds in another currency, note the exchange rate date and check the fees your bank would charge for sending money.
Before choosing between estimates, follow each quote through the same set of milestones. Start with what you’d pay before transfer, then check what would be due during pregnancy and after birth. Flag any item with no price and give it to the clinic, agency or attorney who would actually bill you.