Become a Surrogate as a Military Spouse: What to Know Before You Apply

TL;DR: You can pursue surrogacy as a military spouse — but success often comes down to planning: timing around PCS moves, deployment cycles, childcare support, and access to the right clinic for screening and monitoring.

If you’re considering becoming a surrogate, you’re already someone who understands commitment and resilience. Military life adds unique variables — but with a realistic plan, the journey can be manageable.

Start here: basic surrogate requirements

Every program has requirements, but most include health history, pregnancy history, and screening steps.

See the full list:

• Surrogate requirements: /surrogacy/requirements

How military life impacts surrogacy (and how to plan for it)

PCS moves and travel

Moves can affect:

• which clinic you can visit for monitoring,
• state-specific legal steps,
• appointment scheduling and childcare logistics.

Practical tip: If a PCS move is likely within the next 6–12 months, ask your coordinator how your monitoring plan would work if you relocate mid-journey.

Deployments and schedule volatility

Surrogacy requires consistent medical check-ins during certain phases. If your household is juggling a deployment or training cycle, make sure you have a clear support plan for:

• transportation,
• childcare,
• backup help when plans shift.

Clinic logistics: monitoring + retrieval/transfer travel

Depending on the clinic, you may be able to do local monitoring with a nearby provider. Transfer travel may still be required.

Compensation and financial planning

Compensation varies by experience, location, and program structure.

Related pages:

• Surrogate compensation: /surrogacy/compensation
• Surrogate application: /surrogacy/application

Tax note: compensation may be taxable depending on your situation. If you want a plain-language overview, start here:

• Are surrogate payments taxable? /resources/are-surrogate-payments-taxable

Legal planning (especially if you might move states)

Surrogacy law is state-based. If your family relocates, legal planning should account for that.

Explore state context:

• Laws and policies hub: /surrogacy/laws-and-policies

Is the timing right? a quick self-check

Consider waiting if you’re currently:

• within the postpartum window,
• actively breastfeeding,
• anticipating a near-term move with limited support,
• in a period of major medical uncertainty.

Next steps

If you’re ready to see if you qualify, start with the application — and we’ll guide you through the next steps:

• Apply to be a surrogate: /surrogacy/application
• Talk to our team: contact us