Moving frozen embryos to or from Europe
Did IVF in Spain and now want your embryos at home? Moving to the US from the UK or the Netherlands? Frozen embryos can cross the Atlantic with a courier who carries the shipper in the cabin and hands it to the receiving lab. Here is how it works, what it costs and who does the paperwork.
Can you transfer frozen embryos to another country?
Yes. Frozen embryos move between countries every week, but never in a parcel. The clinic that stores them releases them, a courier carries them in a charged dry shipper, and the clinic at the other end accepts them. Eggs and sperm travel the same way.
Each country has its own rules and each clinic its own forms. In the UK the clinic works under the HFEA's rules on import and export. In the Netherlands and Spain the clinic tells you what it needs. The clinics hold the embryos and handle that side. We plan the trip around their paperwork and handle the transport and the handover.
How much does it cost to ship frozen embryos between the US and Europe?
It depends on the two cities, the flight and what the two labs ask for. This is the range we work from. Your exact price comes back within 24 hours of your request.
| Route | Examples | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| US and Europe, either direction | Houston to London, Madrid to New York, Amsterdam to Los Angeles | From $4,500 |
| Inside Europe | Barcelona to Amsterdam, London to Dublin | Quoted per route |
Prices are in US dollars and cover the courier, travel, a charged dry vapour shipper and the chain of custody paperwork. Clinic fees and any permit fees are separate and are set by the clinics and the authorities.
Shipping from the US? Our US to Europe route page covers the flight, the timeline and the paperwork country by country.
How embryos travel overseas, step by step
- Step 1
Paperwork
Both clinics agree the move. The sending clinic prepares the release and the receiving clinic confirms it will accept the embryos.
- Step 2
Pickup
Our courier collects the embryos at the agreed time, checks the identification list and signs the chain of custody form with the lab.
- Step 3
Seal
The charged dry vapour shipper is sealed and the seal number is written down. A data logger records the temperature.
- Step 4
Flight
The courier flies with the shipper in the cabin, asks for a hand search instead of the X-ray machine and clears customs with the paperwork.
- Step 5
Handover
The receiving lab checks the seal and the contents, both sides sign, and you get the temperature record.
Questions people ask about moving embryos to another country
Can frozen embryos be shipped internationally?
Yes, when both clinics agree and the paperwork is in place. A courier hand-carries the shipper so it never goes into a cargo hold or a parcel network. Tell us the two clinics and your dates and we will tell you whether we can take it.
Can you transfer embryos overseas?
Yes. Most of the time goes on the paperwork between the two clinics, not the flight. The flight itself is one day plus the drive at each end.
How much does it cost to ship frozen embryos?
Between the US and Europe, the table above shows our range. The exact price depends on the cities, the dates and what the labs need. We reply within 24 hours.
Can frozen eggs be shipped to another country?
Yes. Frozen eggs and sperm travel the same way as embryos, in the same kind of shipper and with the same paperwork. Tell us which you are moving.
Who applies for the import or export permission?
The clinics. In the UK the clinic works under the HFEA's rules. Elsewhere the clinic tells you what it needs. We coordinate with both clinics and plan the trip around their answer. We do not file permits on behalf of clinics.
Do airport X-rays damage frozen embryos?
We ask for a hand search instead of the X-ray machine and carry a letter that explains why. The courier never hands the shipper to anyone else.
Can I bring my embryos home from a clinic in Spain?
Yes, if the Spanish clinic agrees to release them and your clinic at home agrees to accept them. Ask both clinics early, then send us the two cities and your dates.
More on shipping to and from Europe
We fly between the US and Europe ourselves from Houston. For a route inside Europe, we tell you before you agree whether we can carry it or who would, and we never pass on your name without your yes.