Surrogate Application Process
Deciding to help others build a family through surrogacy is one of life's most meaningful choices. Over 3,000 moms have been surrogates with Circle, and we're here for each stage of your journey.
Our surrogate application process is designed to ensure that women who are applying to become surrogates feel informed and supported, just as they will be throughout the journey.
Our Three-Step Surrogate Application Process
We’ve broken down each step to provide you with all of the information you will need.
1
Initial Application
Our initial application is designed for us to learn the basics about who you are — where you live, some details about your previous pregnancies, and your medical history. This portion takes just 10 minutes to complete.
We suggest reading through our surrogate requirements before going through the process of filling out this application. Requirements for surrogacy are put in place to ensure you are a good fit for the process emotionally, medically, and physically. If your answers do not match the qualifying requirements, you’ll know right away. Not meeting the requirements to be a surrogate is not a reflection of your health or ability to carry a pregnancy, but simply means that you do not match our specific qualifications for surrogacy, which include criteria for successful IVF.
After completing the initial application, our Surrogate team will connect with you to continue the application process in our Surrogate Portal.
2
The Surrogate Portal
After our Surrogate team reviews your application, has gathered any additional or clarifying information, and determines you meet all requirements, you will be welcomed to our Surrogate Portal. Our Surrogate Portal will guide you through simple tasks that take you one step closer to being accepted and ready for matching with intended parents.
You’ll be asked in-depth questions about your health history and matching preferences, complete medical release forms, and more. This is part of our prescreening process, which also includes background checks. Once we collect your medical history and records, we securely share this information with the clinic of your intended parents to review as part of your medical screening.
3
Surrogacy Consultation
Once you complete all of your portal tasks, and both you and the surrogate team feel you are a strong candidate for surrogacy, you’ll advance to the next phase of the process, the Surrogacy Consultation. This meeting with a licensed mental health professional will be a video call to talk more in-depth about your motivations for becoming a surrogate, what your support system will look like, what your interests are, and more. This video call is also a great opportunity for you to ask any questions you might still have.
Once you complete the surrogate consultation and the team feels you’d be a great fit for surrogacy, you will officially be ready to match with intended parents.
Why Apply to Be a Surrogate With Circle?
Over 3,000 moms have been surrogates with us across more than 30 years. Here's what they can count on.
Compensation You Can Rely On
We’ve built our surrogacy compensation package by drawing on a deep understanding of what you need at every step. Each journey provides you and your family $50,000 - $75,000+ in total compensation and benefits, with experienced carriers earning more.
With us, you’re covered — your intended parents, backed by Circle's Journey Protection™ Program, cover all expenses related to pregnancy and delivery, including co-payments, deductibles, co-insurance, and denied claims. Your payment is also always secure — you’ll receive every penny you’ve earned based on the milestones you reach. Plus, the intended parents you match with deposit the money up-front with our in-house escrow service, so your payments stay protected.
Support From People Who've Been There
Firsthand experience makes all the difference when it comes to support throughout your surrogacy journey. Nearly 50% of our staff have been a surrogate, intended parent, or egg donor, or have grown their families through surrogacy, IVF, or adoption.
Because so many of us have lived this process ourselves, we know how to show up for you with real understanding, not just information. You’ll have a team of dedicated people available to fully support you, from mental health professionals to former and current surrogates.
A Commitment to Inclusivity
Our founder, John Weltman, grew his own family through surrogacy, and we remain committed to his vision of helping intended parents do the same, including LGBTQIA+ intended parents and international intended parents. Completing a surrogacy application and journey with us can also provide you with a meaningful opportunity to make parenthood possible for those who’ve survived cancer or are living with HIV.
Fertility clinics and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) have established guidelines we follow to help ensure a safe, healthy pregnancy. These guidelines include physical, legal, financial, support, and lifestyle requirements, and our team will happily talk them through with you if you’re unsure whether you meet our requirements. You must also live in a surrogacy-friendly U.S. state, so we cannot accept applicants from Louisiana or Nebraska at this time.
No. Applying to become a surrogate with Circle is completely free. Your intended parents cover the costs of your journey, including your own independent legal counsel.
Generally speaking, your surrogacy journey, from application to postpartum, will take about 16 to 18 months. The surrogacy application process is approximately two to four weeks long, followed by matching with intended parents, which varies in length. Medical screening and legal contract span about two to three months, then you take medications and undergo the embryo transfer, which is another three to four weeks. Pregnancy follows, then about two months of postpartum recovery.
We have a proprietary MatchMade™ process designed to help ensure alignment between you and your intended parents. Our approach includes getting to know your preferences and priorities before we ever propose a match, including where you and your intended parents stand on the decisions that matter most, and support for a healthy relationship.
Your fertility clinic sets your protocol, so the exact medications vary. You’ll likely take the hormones estrogen to prepare your uterine lining and progesterone to help make your uterus more receptive before the embryo transfer. Some clinics may also prescribe Lupron to align your cycle with the transfer timeline.
You’ll typically continue hormone treatments until around the eighth or ninth week of pregnancy, and you’ll take any additional medications your OB/GYN recommends, such as prenatal vitamins, throughout your journey.
We know medication schedules can feel like a lot to manage. The clinic you're working with will walk you through each one and answer any questions along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions you may have.
Testimonials
"I applied and heard back within 24 hours! From there, every step was so timely and smooth. Everyone who was part of my team just worked so well together, and communicating with each other was wonderful! Everyone was helpful and answered all my questions.”
Angelina,
Circle Surrogate
"After a lot of research on different agencies, I decided to apply with Circle. From the very beginning, when I spoke with my outreach coordinator, who answered all of my questions, to being introduced to my amazing Social Worker and Coordinator, I felt that I had made the right decision.”
Mandi,
Circle Surrogate
"The process was absolutely seamless from beginning to end and the staff are always willing to go the extra mile to make sure your experience is top notch.”
Lyndsey,
Circle Surrogate