National ART and Surrogacy Portal Registration: Who Must Register and What Couples Need

The National ART and Surrogacy Portal is the official registry run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. IVF clinics, ART banks and surrogacy clinics must register there. Intending parents do not register as clinics do. You apply for certificates through the proper authorities and use the portal to check that your clinic is registered.

What is the National ART and Surrogacy Portal?

It is the official online system for the National Registry under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. The registry keeps a record of ART clinics and banks across the country. It also supports the monitoring of surrogacy clinics under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

You can see the official site on the National ART & Surrogacy Portal. Treat it as the main reference point. Rules and forms can change. The portal and Ministry notices are better than any third-party summary.

Two laws matter here. Only altruistic surrogacy is allowed in India, and commercial surrogacy is banned. If you are new to this, our guide on whether surrogacy is legal in India explains the position.

Who needs to register on the portal?

Registration is a duty of the medical facility, not of the couple. The table below shows the usual position. Check the exact current requirement on the official portal.

So when people search for national art and surrogacy portal registration, they often mean one of two things. Either they want to know whether their clinic is registered, or they want to know which approvals they need. Both are covered below.

Why does clinic registration matter to you as intending parents?

A registered clinic has been accepted by the authorities as meeting the required standards for staff, equipment and records. An unregistered clinic is not allowed to perform these procedures. If something goes wrong there, you and the surrogate can be left with little protection.

Registration also affects your paperwork. Certificates, consent forms and medical records need to come from a facility the law recognises. A problem with the clinic can delay or complicate your case later, including the parentage process after birth.

Both Acts set penalties for violations. The full text is on India Code, the official legislation website. Read the original text, or ask a lawyer, if you need exact details.

How does a clinic get registered?

The clinic, not you, handles this. It helps to know the general path, so you can ask the right questions.

1. The clinic applies online through the national registry system, with details of its premises, qualified staff, equipment and services.
2. The state's appropriate authority reviews the application and may inspect the facility.
3. If the clinic meets the standards, a registration certificate is issued.
4. The clinic must display or share its registration details and renew registration as the rules require.
5. The clinic must report and maintain records as the law requires.

Exact forms, documents and validity periods are set by the Acts and Rules, and they may be updated. Ask the clinic to show you its current certificate rather than relying on a verbal assurance.

What approvals do intending parents need before surrogacy begins?

This is the part that directly concerns you. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act requires certain documents before any embryo transfer. A registered clinic should guide you through them.

Eligibility conditions, such as age and marital status, have been the subject of amendments and court decisions. Confirm the current position before you start. Our guide to surrogacy law in India gives the background. The PRS Legislative Research summary is a helpful neutral overview.

How many attempts are allowed?

Indian rules allow up to three attempts (embryo transfers) on the same surrogate mother. You can verify this in the Surrogacy Rules and on the official portal. Outcomes vary from person to person, and a transfer does not always lead to pregnancy.

How can you check whether a clinic is properly registered?

• Ask for the registration certificate. A genuine clinic will show it without hesitation.
• Match the details. The name, address and registration number should be consistent with the official records.
• Check the portal and the state authority. Look for the clinic in the official registry or ask the state's appropriate authority.
• Confirm the services. Being registered for IVF is not the same as being cleared for surrogacy.
• Ask about the certificates. The clinic should explain how it will help you obtain each approval listed above.

What warning signs should you watch for?

Be cautious if you notice any of the following.

• The clinic offers to pay the surrogate a fee or talks about a "package" for a baby.
• Commercial surrogacy is banned in India.
• It says certificates can be skipped, or that approvals are "managed" for you.
• It cannot or will not show its registration.
• It promises a guaranteed result. No honest clinic can do that.
• It pressures you to decide quickly or pay large amounts in cash.

Altruistic surrogacy has clear rules about who can be a surrogate and what she can receive. Our page on altruistic surrogacy explains this in detail. For the medical steps, see the surrogacy procedure guide.

Does portal registration affect cost?

Clinic registration is a compliance requirement and is not a service you buy. Your costs come from medical treatment, legal work, insurance and the surrogate's medical care. They vary by city and clinic. Our overview of surrogate mother cost in India explains the typical heads of expense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman carries and gives birth to a child for another person or couple. In India, the child is then handed to the intending parents under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. Read the full meaning and process for more.

Is surrogacy banned in India?

Only commercial surrogacy is banned. Altruistic surrogacy is allowed for eligible intending couples, with the required certificates and orders. Paying a surrogate beyond the medical expenses and insurance the law allows is not permitted.

What is meant by a surrogate mother?

A surrogate mother is a woman who agrees to carry a pregnancy for intending parents. In most cases today she carries an embryo created through IVF, so she is not the genetic mother. This is called gestational surrogacy.

What is the surrogacy procedure?

It starts with medical assessment and legal approvals, followed by IVF to create embryos. An embryo is then transferred to the surrogate, and pregnancy care continues until birth. The parentage process follows as the law requires.

Do intending parents have to register on the national portal?

Not in the way a clinic does. Couples apply for the required certificates and court order, usually with the clinic's help. Check the official portal for any current online steps.

Can I verify my clinic's registration online?

Start with the official portal and ask the clinic for its registration certificate. You can also contact your state's appropriate authority to confirm details.

Is an IVF registration enough for surrogacy?

No. Surrogacy procedures need a facility that is registered for them under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act. Ask the clinic to confirm both registrations in writing.

How many embryo transfers can a surrogate have?

Up to three attempts on the same surrogate mother are allowed under Indian rules. Check the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website for current notifications.

Need help understanding the approvals for your case?

Every couple's situation is different, and the rules are updated from time to time. If you would like calm, practical guidance on certificates, clinic checks and next steps, you can talk to the VinsFertility team. There is no pressure, and no outcome can be promised.