Embryo donation is available in several European countries, but it is not the same as donor egg IVF or double donation.
In embryo donation, an embryo that already exists is donated for another person’s treatment. In double donation, a new embryo is created using donor eggs and donor sperm.
Spain, Greece, Czech Republic and Portugal all provide routes to embryo donation, but the rules on recipient eligibility, age and donor identity differ.
Key takeaways
- Embryo donation usually involves embryos remaining from previous IVF treatment.
- It is different from creating a new embryo with donor eggs and donor sperm.
- Spain, Greece, Czechia and Portugal allow embryo donation.
- Czechia excludes single women and female couples under its current ART framework.
- Spain uses an anonymous donation system.
- Portugal allows donor-conceived adults to obtain donor identity.
- Greece has different donor-identity categories.
- Denmark does not permit reproductive donation of fertilised embryos.
- Embryo availability and waiting times are clinic-dependent.
Embryo donation in Europe: quick comparison
| Country | Embryo donation | Approx. private cost | Main age rule | Main donor rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Yes | €3,000–€5,000 | No numerical statutory maximum | Anonymous |
| Greece | Yes | €3,500–€6,000 | Up to 54 | Several identity models |
| Czech Republic | Yes | €2,000–€3,500 | Woman must not exceed 49 | Anonymous framework |
| Portugal | Yes | €2,000–€3,000 | Up to 50 | Identity may be available from 18 |
| UK | Yes | Approx. £3,400–£5,500 | Clinic policy | Identity-release |
What is embryo donation?
Embryo donation normally involves using a cryopreserved embryo that was originally created during another patient’s or couple’s IVF treatment.
If the embryo is no longer required and the people responsible for it give the necessary consent, it may be donated for another person’s reproductive treatment where national law permits this.
The donated embryo is thawed and, if suitable, transferred to the recipient.
Embryo donation vs double donation
The two treatments are often confused.
| Embryo donation | Double donation | |
|---|---|---|
| Embryo already exists | Yes | No |
| Egg source | From original embryo creation | Egg donor |
| Sperm source | From original embryo creation | Sperm donor |
| New fertilisation cycle | No | Yes |
| Embryo originally created for recipient | No | Usually yes |
| Cost | Often lower | Usually higher |
| Availability | Depends on donated embryos | Depends on egg and sperm donor availability |
A clinic advertising an “embryo donation programme” should explain whether it uses surplus donated embryos or embryos newly created through double donation.
Embryo donation or donor eggs?
The treatments solve similar problems in different ways.
Embryo donation
May be considered when neither intended genetic contribution will be used.
Advantages can include:
- lower treatment cost
- no new donor egg retrieval
- simpler recipient treatment
The disadvantage is that embryo availability can be limited.
Donor egg IVF
Uses a donor egg but can use sperm from the patient’s partner where applicable. This preserves the genetic link to the sperm provider.
A new embryo is created specifically for the treatment.
Embryo donation in Europe – What to consider
| Country | Is embryo donation available? | Who can receive treatment? | Approximate private cost | Maximum age | Donor identity rules | Important considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Yes. Law 14/2006 allows cryopreserved embryos to be donated for reproductive purposes when the required informed consent has been provided. | Adult women can access assisted reproduction regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. This includes single women, heterosexual couples and female couples. | €3,000–€5,000 | No numerical statutory maximum is established in Law 14/2006, but clinics apply their own medical age limits. | Anonymous. The recipient does not normally receive the identities of the people whose reproductive material was used to create the embryo. | Availability depends on embryos having been donated after treatment and may be more limited than standard donor-egg treatment. |
| Greece | Yes. Surplus fertilised eggs or embryos that are no longer required by the people for whom they were created may be donated with their consent. | Eligible patients include women accessing medically assisted reproduction within the Greek legal framework. Clinics should confirm eligibility for single women, unmarried couples and international patients. | €3,500–€6,000 | Up to 54 years and 0 days. EAIYA authorisation is required after age 50. | Different donor-identity categories may be possible following Law 4958/2022. The third-party donor rules extend to gametes and fertilised eggs. | Patients should ask which identity arrangement applies to the particular embryo, as it should not be assumed that every donation is permanently anonymous. |
| Czech Republic | Yes. Donated-embryo treatment is available through Czech fertility clinics. | A woman and a man must submit a written request and undergo treatment together. Single women and female couples cannot access embryo donation under the current framework. | €2,000–€3,500 | The woman must not be older than 49. | Anonymous. Czech assisted-reproduction law protects donor anonymity. | Czechia can be a comparatively affordable option, but its applicant requirements are substantially more restrictive than those of Spain, Portugal or the UK. |
| Portugal | Yes. Surplus viable embryos from previous assisted-reproduction treatment can be donated after the people holding rights over them provide express consent. | Embryo donation is recognised as an option when combined egg and sperm factors prevent treatment using the intended parent or parents’ own reproductive cells. Eligibility must also satisfy Portugal’s general PMA rules. | €2,000–€3,000 | 50 | Identity release. People born through donated gametes or embryos can request identifying donor information from CNPMA from age 18, subject to transitional rules for older donations. | Portugal differs significantly from anonymous-donation destinations such as Spain and Czechia. Patients should confirm whether the clinic has suitable donated embryos available. |
| United Kingdom | Yes. Embryo donation is available through clinics licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. | Access is determined through the clinic’s medical and welfare assessment rather than a general requirement for a male–female couple. Single women and same-sex couples may receive treatment. | £3,400–£5,500 | No single national statutory upper IVF age. Individual clinics set their own treatment policies. | Identity release for modern donations. A donor-conceived person can obtain identifying information about the donor at age 18 under the applicable UK framework. | Treatment may cost more than in several European destinations. Clinic eligibility rules, waiting times and embryo availability vary. |
Is embryo donation available in Denmark?
Not for reproductive treatment under the current Danish regulation. The December 2025 assisted-reproduction regulation states that donation of fertilised human eggs is permitted only for research purposes.
Denmark does permit egg donation and sperm donation, and therefore other donor-treatment routes may be available. However, that should not be confused with reproductive donation of an already-created embryo.
Embryo donation abroad in Europe – FAQ
What is embryo donation?
Embryo donation uses an embryo previously created during IVF and subsequently donated for another person’s reproductive treatment.
Is embryo donation the same as double donation?
No. Double donation creates a new embryo using donor eggs and donor sperm. Embryo donation uses an embryo that already exists.
Which European countries offer embryo donation?
Spain, Greece, Czech Republic, Portugal and the UK are among the countries where embryo-donation treatment is available.
Can single women have embryo donation?
Yes in countries including Spain, Greece, Portugal and the UK, subject to local rules and medical eligibility. Not in Czechia under the current male-female couple requirement.
Is embryo donation available in Denmark?
Not for reproductive treatment. Current Danish regulation permits donation of fertilised human eggs only for research.
Is embryo donation anonymous?
It depends on the country. Spain and Czechia operate anonymous frameworks. Portugal permits donor-conceived adults to obtain donor identity. Greece has several donor-identity categories.
Sources:
- Spain: Law 14/2006 — reproductive donation of cryopreserved embryos, access and donor confidentiality.
- Greece: EAIYA — donation of surplus fertilised eggs and current donor framework.
- Portugal: CNPMA — embryo donation, recipient age and donor-conceived people’s access to information.
- Czech Republic: Act No. 373/2011 — eligibility and assisted-reproduction framework.
- Denmark: Assisted Reproduction Regulation No. 1452/2025 — donation of fertilised eggs restricted to research.
Price note: Costs are indicative private-clinic ranges, not national tariffs. Package contents and embryo availability vary between clinics.
