Yes, embryos can be shipped internationally. You'll need release consent from your current clinic, written acceptance from the receiving clinic, your embryology records and any import approval the destination country requires. A hand-carry courier travels with the embryos in the cabin and handles customs and handover at the other end.
Why families ship embryos abroad
- International surrogacy, when the gestational carrier's clinic is in another country.
- Relocating and taking stored embryos to a clinic in the new country.
- Treatment abroad, for cost, access or a specific programme.
- Donor cycles, where embryos are created in one country and transferred in another.
What makes international transfers different
The equipment and handling are the same as a domestic transfer. What changes is the paperwork and the planning:
- Two sets of rules. Both the sending and receiving countries have requirements, and the receiving clinic will have its own on top.
- Import approval. Some countries require approval from a national health authority before reproductive material can enter. Others need only clinic paperwork.
- Customs. The shipment is declared at the border with documents describing what it is and why it's travelling.
- Longer journeys. Connecting flights and time zones need planning around the dry shipper's hold time, with a margin for delays.
- Laboratory hours. Collection and delivery have to fit the working hours of two labs in different time zones.
Documents you'll usually need
Every route is different, and the receiving clinic will tell you its exact requirements. Most international transfers involve:
- Signed release consent for the releasing clinic (often from both intended parents, sometimes notarised).
- A letter from the receiving clinic confirming it will accept the embryos.
- An embryology report: number of embryos, stage, freezing method and storage device.
- Copies of the intended parents' identification.
- Infectious disease screening results, if the receiving clinic or country requires them.
- Donor eligibility records, where donor eggs, donor sperm or donated embryos are involved.
- An import permit or approval, where the destination country requires one.
- Customs documentation for the shipment.
We'll tell you what your route needs and coordinate with both clinics to gather it.
Shipping into and out of the United States
Into the US: US clinics follow FDA rules for human cells and tissues used in reproduction. When donor eggs, donor sperm or donated embryos are involved, the receiving clinic will need donor screening and eligibility records that meet those rules before it can use them. Check this with the US clinic early, as it can take time to gather records from overseas.
Out of the US: The main requirements usually sit with the destination country and the receiving clinic. Some countries require an import approval before arrival; your receiving clinic will normally know the process and can apply or advise you.
Routes we serve
Vessel Couriers is based in the New York area and serves all US states. For worldwide transport of embryos, eggs and sperm, we regularly travel to and from Mexico, Colombia, Georgia, Greece and Spain, and we plan routes well beyond those corridors. Each route is planned around the destination's own documentation and import requirements.
Planning a route that isn't listed? Ask us. We'll tell you honestly what's involved.
Timing an international transfer
Start as early as you can, especially if a treatment or surrogate transfer date is already set. Gathering signatures, records and any import approval is usually what sets the pace, not the flight. A good rule of thumb is to bring both clinics and your courier together as soon as you know the embryos will need to travel.
Frequently asked questions
Can embryos be taken on a plane?
Yes. A correctly prepared dry shipper contains no free liquid nitrogen, so it isn't classed as dangerous goods for air travel. With Vessel, it travels in the cabin with your specialist and is never checked as baggage.
Do I need an import permit to ship embryos?
It depends on the destination. Some countries require approval from a national health authority before embryos arrive; others don't. The receiving clinic usually knows the process, and we'll check it as part of planning your route.
How long does international embryo shipping take?
The journey is usually one to two days door to door. The overall timeline depends on paperwork, so allow time for consents, records and any import approval.
Will my embryos go through customs X-ray?
Your specialist stays with the shipper through customs and airport security, and it never passes through X-ray screening.
Can you ship embryos to my surrogate in another country?
Yes. We regularly coordinate international transfers for intended parents and surrogacy agencies, working directly with the agency's case manager and both clinics.
