Portugal does not come first to mind in conversations about reproductive tourism. Spain, with its large egg banks and liberal legislation, overshadows its neighbour. But for those who look carefully, the picture is more interesting. Over the past decade Portugal has gone through a series of legislative reforms that have made it one of the most inclusive destinations for fertility treatment in Europe — particularly for single women, same-sex couples, and people who value transparency in donor medicine.
The Portuguese reproductive medicine law (Lei n.º 32/2006) was adopted in 2006 and has been amended several times since. The key moments: 2016 — access opened to female same-sex couples and single women regardless of marital or partnership status; 2021 — further reforms on donor information policy. Portugal today is a country with a modern legal framework, a strong private clinic sector, and a trajectory toward non-anonymous donation that sets it apart from most of its Southern European neighbours.
What Portuguese law permits.
Surrogacy in Portugal: legally suspended.
Portugal made several legislative attempts to legalise altruistic surrogacy (Law 25/2016 and subsequent versions). Each time, the Constitutional Court found elements of the law incompatible with the constitution. As of 2024–2025, surrogacy in Portugal is legally blocked. Couples or individuals seeking surrogacy must look to other jurisdictions.
Key parameters of donor IVF in Portugal.
| Factor | Portugal | Spain | Greece | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surrogacy | Legally blocked | Prohibited | Legal (altruistic) | Prohibited |
| IVF donor eggs | €3,000–5,500 | €5,000–8,000 | €4,500–7,000 | Less common |
| Donor anonymity | Moving to open-ID | Mandatory | Mandatory | Both options |
| Egg donor wait | 2–4 months | 1–3 months | 1–3 months | 3–6 months |
| Single women | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Same-sex female couples | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The main patient categories: single women needing donor sperm or donor eggs; female same-sex couples needing donor sperm (and sometimes donor eggs too); heterosexual couples with egg reserve issues; Brazilian and African Portuguese-speaking patients for whom language and cultural familiarity matter; patients specifically seeking the open-identity donor path that Portugal is moving toward.
For co-parents: Portugal is a solid option when one partner needs donor eggs or donor sperm. Co-parenting as a family structure is not specifically regulated in Portuguese reproductive medicine law — the legal relationship between co-parents and their respective parental rights is governed by Portuguese family law and, where relevant, by the family law of the country where the child will live. Plan this before starting treatment.
Logistics: Lisbon and Porto are the main centres for private fertility clinics. Both cities are well-connected from across Europe, typically 2–3 hours by air. Most major private clinics have English-language patient services. First investigations can usually be done locally; key procedures require 1–2 visits. Frozen embryo cycles make it possible to space out visits considerably.
Open-identity donation: what it means for you.
Portugal's move toward non-anonymous donation means that children born from donated eggs or sperm in Portugal may have legal rights to access the donor's identity when they turn 18. This is a significant decision for intended parents. It aligns with a trend in UK and Scandinavian countries, but differs sharply from Spain and Greece. If anonymity is important to your family, Portugal may not be the right match for you. If transparency and openness matter, it may be exactly right.
For foreign patients: parental rights are established at birth and registration in Portugal, but how those rights translate in your home country depends on your national law. If you are using donor sperm in a female same-sex couple, for example, the non-birth parent's rights may need to be established through adoption or recognition proceedings in your country. This is not unusual across Europe, but it must be planned.
Find co-parenting partners and connect with others planning reproductive treatment in Southern Europe.
Browse Profiles