Between 2019 and 2025, single men in England have increasingly turned to international surrogacy arrangements to become legal parents, according to data released by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass). The figures indicate that the majority of single men seeking parental orders for surrogate-born children have relied on surrogate mothers overseas rather than within the UK.

Cafcass data show that during this period, there were 130 applications from single men to become legal parents of babies born through surrogacy abroad, compared to just 23 applications involving UK-based surrogate mothers. Overall, 170 single men made sole applications to the courts for parental orders relating to surrogacy between 2019 and 2025. The numbers have risen sharply since a 2019 law change extended surrogacy rights to single individuals, matching those previously granted only to couples.

The increase in international surrogacy by single men mirrors a broader trend among British citizens seeking surrogacy overseas. Official figures released earlier show that between 2018 and 2024, there were more than 1,500 applications in England for parental orders involving children born to surrogate mothers in other countries. The largest group of applications, numbering 642, concerned babies born in the United States, followed by 258 from Ukraine and 144 from Georgia. Other countries involved include Colombia, Ghana, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, Uganda, and Russia.

While international surrogacy remains legal for UK nationals, provided they obtain a parental order upon returning home, the practice has drawn criticism from some campaign groups. Helen Gibson, founder of Surrogacy Concern, described the trend as “worrying,” contending that single men are effectively “buying babies” from women in poverty in countries such as Eastern Europe, California, South America, and increasingly in parts of Africa. She expressed concern about the high health risks faced by surrogate mothers and their separation from their children after birth.

Gibson and other campaigners argue that these arrangements amount to an exploitation loophole circumventing UK laws that prohibit commercial surrogacy domestically. Her group has called on the government to criminalise surrogacy pursued abroad by British citizens to prevent what they see as the importation of commercial surrogacy through legal parental orders.

However, some family law professionals suggest alternative explanations for the increase in applications. Sarah Williams, a partner at law firm Forsters, said the rise is likely due to greater awareness of surrogacy options combined with the limited availability of surrogate mothers within the UK, rather than a surge in exploitative practices.

Between 2020 and 2024, Cafcass recorded 2,022 total applications for parental orders relating to surrogacy, highlighting ongoing demand for legal recognition of surrogacy arrangements. As the debate over international surrogacy continues, government officials face pressure from advocacy groups seeking reform to address ethical and legal concerns surrounding cross-border surrogacy transactions.