Govt tightens rules for commissioning surrogacy

Rules for foreign nationals intending to visit India for commissioning surrogacy has been tightened by the government and only those couples who have been duly married for at least two years will be allowed to visit the country for the purpose.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said under the new guidelines, appropriate visa category for foreign nationals coming to India for commissioning surrogacy will be 'medical visa'.
He said it will be necessary in such cases to ensure that the surrogate mother is not cheated and therefore such a visa would be granted if a foreign man and woman are duly married and the marriage is sustained at least for two years.

A letter from the embassy of the foreign country in India or the foreign ministry of the country should be enclosed with the visa application stating clearly that the country recognises surrogacy and the child to be born to the commissioning couple through the Indian surrogate mother will be permitted entry into their country as a biological child of the couple commissioning surrogacy.
"The couple will furnish an undertaking that they would take care of the child born through surrogacy. The couple should produce a duly notarised agreement between the applicant couple and the prospective Indian surrogate mother," Rijiju said.