Start with the factor that can rule countries out fastest
Over 45? Start with age limits. Some countries become unavailable or harder to access from 46, 49, or 50+.
Need an anonymous or identifiable donation? Compare donor rules first. Donor identity laws can remove countries before clinic quality matters.
Going alone? Check eligibility before cost. Czech Republic is ruled out for single women, regardless of price or clinic quality.
Working with a fixed budget? Look beyond headline prices. Medication, travel, accommodation, embryo freezing, and add-ons can change the real total.
Limited travel time? Check the cycle model. Most preparation can happen remotely, but fresh donor egg cycles may require more coordination than frozen routes.
Age limits close countries early
Age limits vary more than most people expect, and this is the first filter to apply. There is no point comparing cost or donor type in a country that will not treat you.
Denmark closes. Seven countries may remain possible on age alone.
Czech Republic closes. Six countries may remain possible.
Portugal effectively closes. Spain, the UK, and South Africa often depend on clinic-level assessment. Greece and North Cyprus become the main higher-age options.
Greece closes. North Cyprus becomes the only covered country likely to assess patients above this age, subject to approval and medical review.
Age is measured at embryo transfer. Limits for Spain, the UK, and South Africa are approximate because clinic-level medical assessment may vary. Czech Republic does not accept single women. Allow time for donor matching and cycle preparation before your age limit.
Eligibility: single women and couples
Most covered countries accept single women. Czech Republic does not. This is a legal restriction, not a clinic choice, and it applies across the country.
Czech Republic: single women are not eligible under national law. This is the only covered country with this restriction.
Donor type: anonymous or identifiable
Some countries require anonymous donation by law. Others require identifiable donation. Denmark and Greece offer a choice, though Greece's identifiable option is rarely available at most clinics.
| Donor type | Countries |
|---|---|
| Anonymous only | Spain, Czech Republic, North Cyprus, South Africa |
| Identifiable only | Portugal, United Kingdom |
| Choice (anonymous or identifiable) | Denmark, Greece (identifiable option rarely available)2 |
If identifiable donation matters to you, Spain, Czech Republic, North Cyprus, and South Africa drop out immediately.
Cost: what you're actually comparing
Headline clinic prices rarely reflect total treatment cost. The ranges below are base clinic package costs only, as typically published. Recipient medication is billed separately and typically adds €150–€1,050 depending on the country and protocol. Travel, accommodation, and add-ons are on top.
| Country | Est. base range3 | Decision meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic | €4,900–€6,500 | Lowest-cost European option for eligible couples under 49, but ruled out for single women. |
| North Cyprus | €5,000–€7,000 | Lower-cost option with higher age access, but outside the EU regulatory framework. |
| Spain | €5,500–€8,000 | Middle-range option with a large donor pool, but anonymous-only. |
| Greece | €5,500–€8,000 | Middle-range option that stays relevant for older patients, especially 50+. |
| South Africa | €5,500–€8,500 | Relevant when donor choice or donor diversity matters, but pricing may be less directly comparable. |
| Denmark | €5,500–€9,000 | Useful for donor identity choice, but not available above 46. |
| Portugal | €6,000–€9,000 | Identifiable-donor option at a lower cost than the UK. |
| United Kingdom | €9,500–€13,500 | Strong regulatory environment and identifiable donors, but highest base cost. |
- Cost should narrow your shortlist, not decide it alone.
- Read the cost guide for a fuller breakdown of what is included, what is not, and how to build a realistic total budget.
- For the full view across age, donor rules, eligibility, and regulation, compare the 8 countries side by side.
Donor ethnicity and availability
Most covered European destinations draw from predominantly Caucasian donor pools. If you need a donor from a specific ethnic background, this filter can narrow your shortlist early and is worth checking before going further.
| Ethnicity | Strongest options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caucasian | Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, North Cyprus, Denmark | Generally the strongest availability across the covered European options |
| Black / African | South Africa, Spain | South Africa is the strongest practical option in the covered set |
| South Asian | UK | Often limited in European clinics; UK may offer better access |
| East / Southeast Asian | UK (limited) | Very limited across all covered countries; check with clinics directly |
| Hispanic / Latino | Spain | Spain may have relatively stronger availability given its donor pool composition |
Availability is clinic-dependent and can change over time. Confirm with individual clinics rather than relying on country-level assumptions.
Read the donor ethnicity guide
Most preparation happens before you travel
Most preparation happens remotely. In most cases, the only essential in-person step is the transfer.
Remote consultation From home
Review your history, confirm eligibility, and agree on the treatment plan.
Medical tests at home From home
Blood tests, scans, and any required checks are usually done locally and shared with the clinic.
Donor matching From home
The clinic matches you based on legal rules, profile fit, and donor availability.
Uterine lining preparation From home
You take medication at home to prepare the uterus for transfer.
Travel to the clinic At the clinic
You travel for the transfer window. Timing and length of stay vary by clinic and situation.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy test At the clinic / from home
The transfer happens at the clinic, then the pregnancy test is done at home after the wait.
Most patients travel once for transfer, but some clinics or situations require more coordination.
Success rates
Live birth rates across the covered countries typically fall between 35% and 50% per transfer.4 Because donor egg quality is a major driver of outcome, recipient age usually matters less than it does in IVF with your own eggs.
Rates vary by clinic, donor age, and individual medical profile. Clinic-reported figures and national statistics are not always directly comparable.
Is donor egg IVF abroad the right route for you?
For a more detailed self-check, use the is this right for me guide. If the route still seems right but you want to understand the situations where it may be better to pause, read when not to do this.
Narrow the eight countries to two or three realistic options, then check the clinic-level questions before you contact anyone.
- Age is measured at embryo transfer. Allow time for donor matching and cycle preparation.
- Greek law allows anonymous and identity-release donors, but most clinics still primarily operate with anonymous donor pools.
- These are editorial estimates of the base clinic package as typically published. They do not include recipient medication, which is billed separately at most clinics, nor travel, accommodation, optional add-ons, or extra procedures.
- Success rates are per embryo transfer, not per cycle started. Individual results vary.