IVF and egg donation in Greece: the complete guide for international patients

Every week, I receive messages that all start in much the same way: ‘We’ve heard about Greece, but we don’t know where to start.’ This article is the detailed answer I usually give over the phone, laid out clearly and in order.

Why so many French patients are looking to Greece

The main reason can be summed up in one word: waiting times. Since assisted reproductive technology (ART) was made available to single women and female couples in 2021, demand has risen sharply in France, whilst the end of donor anonymity, which came into force in September 2022, has reduced the number of donors. CECOS clinics commonly report waiting times of between seventeen and twenty-four months for an egg donation, sometimes longer depending on the region.

Yet the wait is not without consequences for fertility: it precisely depletes the very resource that is lacking. A forty-year-old woman told she faces a two-year wait will not wait two years; she will change her plans. This is why countries such as Greece, Spain, the Czech Republic and Portugal are entering the conversation.

Greece offers a unique combination: no waiting list for egg donation, anonymous donation, an age limit of fifty-four – one of the highest in Europe – costs lower than those in Spain, and extensive experience in treating foreign patients.

The legal framework, in simple terms

Assisted reproductive technology in Greece is governed by Law 3089/2002 and Law 3305/2005, under the supervision of an independent national authority which issues licences, inspects clinics and maintains the national register. It is neither a grey area nor a legal vacuum.

Key points for a French patient:

• Donation is anonymous. The donor and the recipients do not know each other’s identities. The donor’s medical records are held by the clinic.
• Donation is compensated, not paid. A lump-sum compensation set by the national authority covers time, travel and inconvenience. It is not a commercial transaction.
• Donors are aged between 18 and 35 and undergo medical, genetic and psychological screening. There is a cap on the number of births per donor.
• The service is open to couples and single women, with the woman being up to fifty-four years old.
• Written consent is mandatory, and a notarised document is required in certain circumstances.

Receiving treatment in another EU country is, moreover, a right recognised by Directive 2011/24/EU on cross-border healthcare. You are not acting illegally: you are exercising a freedom provided for under European law.

Who is eligible for treatment

In practice, Greek clinics accept:

• heterosexual couples, with or without a sperm donor;
• single women, using donor sperm;
• lesbian couples, including for the ROPA method, where one woman carries the embryo derived from the other’s egg — a method that is not authorised in France;
• people requiring a double donation or an embryo donation.

The legal age limit for women is fifty-four. Some clinics apply a lower internal limit depending on the medical profile: this is something to check at the very first point of contact, not when you receive a quote.

What it actually costs

I do not publish clinic price lists, because they vary from one clinic to another and change over time, and because a single figure is always misleading. However, here is the breakdown of the costs, which does not change:

• The clinic’s fees, which cover the treatment protocol, laboratory tests, egg retrieval or embryo transfer, and follow-up care.
• Donation, where applicable, including the donor’s compensation and screening.
• Medicines, which are often underestimated: depending on the protocol, several hundred euros, sometimes more.
• Optional extras: pre-implantation genetic testing, freezing of surplus embryos, annual storage.
• Travel: flights, accommodation, transfers, meals and days off work.
• Additional costs in France: consultations, follow-up ultrasound scans, blood tests.

Two pieces of advice that make a real difference. Firstly, always ask for a detailed written quote before committing, and insist that anything not included is specified. Secondly, ask what happens if the cycle is cancelled: the policy on partial refunds varies enormously from one clinic to another, and this is exactly the sort of clause you only read once it’s too late.

How long will I be there?

This is the most frequently asked question after the cost, and the answer is often reassuring:

• Embryo transfer with donated eggs: two to four days, a single trip.
• IVF using your own eggs: around eight to twelve days, or two short stays if the stimulation is carried out in France.
• Frozen embryo transfer: two to three days.

Much of the monitoring — scans, blood tests — can be carried out near your home and sent to the clinic. This is what makes the treatment programme compatible with full-time work.

Reimbursement: what is available

If you are insured in France, you can apply for cover for planned treatment within the European Union using the S2 form, issued by your CPAM following approval. Reimbursement is then made at the Greek social security rate, and therefore covers only part of the actual cost – ranging from several hundred to around 1,600 euros, depending on the procedures.

This is not a trivial amount, but neither is it the full coverage that some intermediaries sometimes promise. The procedure is detailed in the article on the S2 form and the CNSE. The key point is that the application must be submitted before treatment begins, and processing takes weeks. This is the first step you need to take.

Documents required

• Valid identity documents, and a family record book or marriage certificate, depending on your circumstances.
• Medical records: hormone tests, semen analysis where applicable, ultrasound scans, and reports on previous treatment attempts.
• Recent serological tests (these have a limited validity period: this is the most common cause of errors).
• Consent forms from the clinic, translated, and a notarised document if required by your circumstances.
• Form S2 and your completed response, if you have started the process.

The mistakes I see most often

1. Waiting too long to submit the S2 form. The application must be submitted before treatment begins. If submitted too late, it is no longer of any use.
2. Allowing serology test results to expire. A complete application becomes incomplete within a month. You must keep track of the dates, not just the documents.
3. Comparing quotes that do not cover the same services. A lower price often hides options that are charged for separately.
4. Booking flights too early. The treatment schedule almost always shifts by a few days. Book a flexible flight, or wait for the clinic’s go-ahead.
5. Not having a gynaecologist in France for local follow-up care. This needs to be sorted out right from the start, not the day before the first ultrasound scan.
6. Believing the success rates advertised. These are rarely comparable from one clinic to another, due to the lack of a common definition. Instead, ask for results for a profile similar to your own.

Where to start in practical terms

Three things, in this order. Gather your recent medical reports, even if they’re incomplete. Contact your CPAM to find out the S2 procedure. And speak to someone who knows the ins and outs of the process before choosing a clinic, rather than afterwards.

Frequently asked questions