For many couples and women facing diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, repeated unsuccessful IVF attempts, or a genetic risk, egg donation opens a realistic path to pregnancy. While it’s a sensitive decision, the process itself is well established today, and the differences between countries — in legislation, donor availability, and cost — often determine where a patient chooses to pursue treatment.
In this article, we explain how the egg donation process works, what donor selection is based on, and how the legal framework and costs differ across the countries patients most commonly choose.
When is egg donation considered?
- Diminished ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency
- A genetic condition the patient does not want to pass on to the child
- Repeated IVF failures using the patient’s own eggs
- Advanced maternal age with poor response to stimulation
- Absence of ovaries (surgical or congenital)
- Recurrent pregnancy loss linked to egg quality
The final indication is always determined by the treating gynecologist based on complete diagnostics — this article is intended as general orientation, not a substitute for medical assessment.
What does the egg donation process look like?
- Consultation and diagnostics – reviewing test results and assessing whether donation is a suitable option
- Donor selection – the clinic proposes donors based on phenotypic matching (appearance, blood type, and in some countries education/interests)
- Cycle synchronization – the recipient’s hormonal endometrial preparation is coordinated with the donor’s cycle or with pre-frozen eggs from a bank
- Donor stimulation and retrieval – the donor undergoes controlled ovarian stimulation and follicle retrieval
- Fertilization – the eggs are fertilized with the partner’s or a donor’s sperm, most commonly via ICSI
- Embryo culture – the embryology team monitors development to day 3 or day 5 (blastocyst stage)
- Embryo transfer – one, rarely two, embryos are transferred into the recipient’s prepared uterus
- Luteal phase support and pregnancy test
How is the donor selected?
Donor criteria are similar across most EU countries: age between 18 and 35, no hereditary genetic conditions in the family history, negative infectious disease screening, and hormonal and genetic screening (karyotype, carrier status for common recessive mutations). Phenotypic matching (hair color, eye color, height, blood type) is standard in countries with an anonymous donation model.
There are two basic models:
- Anonymous donation – the donor’s identity is not disclosed; used in Spain, Greece, Czechia, North Cyprus and Georgia
- Non-anonymous / identity-release donation – a child conceived through donation can request information about the donor upon reaching adulthood; this model applies in, for example, Austria and the UK
Legal framework and approximate prices by country
Spain
Anonymous donation, the largest donor pool in Europe, a legal limit of a maximum of six children per donor (including her own biological children). Approximate price: €6,000–€9,500 per cycle.
Greece
Anonymous donation with the option for the recipient to receive basic, non-identifying information about the donor. Upper age limit for recipients generally up to 54, with additional testing required after 50. Approximate price: €5,000–€7,000.
Czechia
Strictly anonymous donation, phenotypic matching required by law. As of January 1, 2026, a new law limits donor compensation to actual expenses and caps donations at six per donor’s lifetime — this may affect donor availability going forward. Approximate price: €4,200–€5,500.
North Cyprus (TRNC)
Anonymous donation, one of the most flexible regulatory environments in the region — higher age limits for recipients, and in certain cases the option to choose the child’s sex. Approximate price: €5,000–€6,500.
Georgia
Anonymous donation, legally regulated, also accessible to single women. Regulation is less standardized than in EU countries, so prices vary more widely than in Europe. Approximate price: $5,500–$9,500 (packages are often quoted in USD).
Austria (for comparison)
In Austria, egg donation has been legal since 2015, but only under the non-anonymous model — the donor must consent to her identity being made available to the child once they turn 18, which significantly limits the number of available donors and extends waiting times. The Constitutional Court has also ruled that the restriction on IVF access for single women must be lifted by March 2027 at the latest, which could further change the rules. Because of the limited donor supply, the market is not standardized to the same degree as in the countries above, so prices are set individually by clinic.
Note: All prices listed are approximate, gathered from publicly available sources, and vary by clinic, protocol, and included services (medication, genetic testing, freezing, additional transfers).
What to consider before choosing a country and clinic
- Whether the price is “all-inclusive” or whether medication, testing, and any additional transfer are billed separately
- Number of attempts/transfers included in the package
- Whether the clinic offers guaranteed programs (refund in case of failure) and under what conditions
- Criteria and transparency of donor selection
- Whether the destination is realistically accessible — flights, language, logistics
Conclusion
Egg donation is now a well-established and safe method of assisted reproduction, but choosing a country and clinic depends on several factors, not just price. Legal framework, donation model, donor availability, and clinic transparency matter just as much as the package price itself.
If you’re considering egg donation and aren’t sure which country and clinic best fit your situation, our team can help you compare options, understand what’s included in the price, and prepare for the next step.
Book a free initial consultation with the VivaFert team and find out which option best fits your situation.
