Age limit for IVF in Greece: 54, and what you need to know between 50 and 54

‘Am I still eligible?’ This is often the first question, even before one asks about the chances of success. The Greek answer is clear, provided you read the law through to the end.

What the law says

Law 3305/2005 on medically assisted reproduction sets the age up to which a woman may receive treatment. Law 4958/2022 raised this limit from 50 to 54. This is the highest in Europe: in practice, the limit in Spain is around 50, in the Czech Republic 49, in Belgium 47 for embryo transfer, in Denmark 46, and in France 45.

For men, Greek law does not set an age limit.

The age limit is assessed on the day of the embryo transfer. In practical terms, the transfer must take place no later than the day before your 55^th birthday.

Between 50 and 54 years of age: authorisation from the National Authority

From the day after your 50th birthday, the clinic cannot treat you without authorisation. You require authorisation from the National Authority for Medically Assisted Reproduction (ΕΑΙΥΑ), the public body that accredits and supervises Greek clinics. The application is submitted by the clinic, along with a dossier comprising:

• a report from a gynaecologist confirming that you are fit to undergo hormone treatment and carry a pregnancy;
• a report from a cardiologist or internist;
• a breast examination (mammogram or ultrasound, depending on your age and medical history);
• reports from other specialists if your medical history requires it (diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, etc.);
• the signed application and a copy of your identity card or passport.

The authorisation is valid for one year, and always provided you are under 54 years of age on the day of the transfer. If you are 53 and a half years old, it therefore only gives you six months.

What this means for the organisation

Obtaining authorisation takes time: you need to gather the test results, have them translated if necessary, and then wait for a response. I recommend starting the application process three to four months before the planned transfer date. Test results from your home country are accepted; a report in English makes everything easier.

This is also the time to have a thorough health check-up, not just for administrative purposes. Pregnancy after the age of 50 significantly increases the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and caesarean section. Your cardiologist and gynaecologist will advise you if any conditions need to be treated beforehand.

And what are the chances at this age?

To put it simply: after the age of 45, the chances of becoming pregnant using your own eggs become very low. Between the ages of 50 and 54, treatment almost always involves egg donation, or the use of eggs or embryos that were frozen earlier. In this case, the chances depend mainly on the donor’s age — under 35 in Greece — rather than your own. See also IVF after the age of 43 and pregnancy after the age of 40.

Eggs or embryos frozen at a younger age

If you have frozen your eggs or embryos, you can use them up to the same age limit of 54, subject to the same authorisation after the age of 50. Also check the storage period: it is five years, renewable upon written request (see embryo storage).

What I do in practice

I check your exact deadline from our very first exchange, I draw up the list of tests with you, I arrange for any necessary documents to be translated, and I follow up the case with the clinic until we receive a response from the Authority. The transfer schedule is drawn up based on this response, not the other way round.

Frequently asked questions

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