IVF abroad: which country to choose in 2026?

I work in Greece, and I’m not going to claim that Greece is suitable for everyone. A 47-year-old patient planning to use egg donation and a female couple wishing to undergo ROPA treatment do not need the same country. Here’s how I would prioritise the options, in order.

1. Is your situation permitted?

This is the first filter, and it often rules out half the options. The table below summarises the main rules for 2026. Laws change: always check with the clinic before committing.

Some direct consequences. After the age of 49, in practice only Spain and Greece remain as options, and only Greece has this enshrined in law. For a single woman, the Czech Republic is excluded. For a female couple wishing to be recognised as a couple during the treatment process, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Denmark are suitable; in Greece, one of the two women undergoes the treatment as a single woman (see female couples and assisted reproduction in Greece).

2. Is donor anonymity important to you?

This is a personal, not a technical, question. Some parents want their child to be able to find out the donor’s identity one day; others prefer anonymity. Portugal has abolished anonymity; Denmark leaves the choice to the donor; Belgium is preparing to abolish it. In Greece, donation is anonymous by default; since 2022, the law has also provided for non-anonymous forms of donation, but these remain rare in practice. If you live in a country where the child has access to information about their origins, discussing this early on with a psychologist can help you make a decision (see telling your child that they were born through donation).

3. Waiting times

For egg donation, Spain, Greece and the Czech Republic generally do not have waiting lists: a donor is matched within a few weeks. Countries where donation is not anonymous or is highly regulated often have longer waiting times. Details for Greece can be found in the article on waiting times for egg donation.

4. The cost — but the true cost

Simply comparing advertised package prices is not enough: a Spanish ‘all-inclusive’ package and a Greek à la carte rate do not cover the same things. You must add the cost of medication, tests, any PGT-A, freezing and storage, travel and accommodation. For Greece, the approximate costs are detailed in the cost of IVF in Greece and the comparison Spain or Greece. As a general rule, Greece and the Czech Republic are cheaper than Spain, Denmark and Belgium.

5. Logistics

Think about the number of trips you’ll need to make, not just the first one. IVF using your own eggs generally requires a stay of eight to twelve days; egg donation often takes four to six days. Check for direct flights from your home, the language spoken at the clinic, and who you can contact if something goes wrong on a Sunday evening. See how many days to stay in Greece.

6. The quality of the clinic, regardless of the country

A good country does not guarantee a good clinic. Check for official accreditation, ask for pregnancy rates per transfer and by age group, a written quote and the name of the doctor who will be looking after you. The method is set out in choosing an IVF clinic abroad; for Greece, see how to check that a clinic is accredited.

My opinion, in a nutshell

Start with the law, then the timeframes, then the full budget; the country that passes all three filters for your situation is the right one, even if it isn’t Greece.

Frequently asked questions

Triada Baloukoudis
Independent IVF patient coordinator in Thessaloniki, with 24 years of experience supporting patients travelling from abroad. More · Contact · Facebook