IVF and Fertility Treatment in Malta: What to Know Before You Transport Embryos, Sperm, and Oocytes
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IVF is legal and available in Malta, but the rules are among the strictest in Europe, so planning matters before you treat or move samples.
We recently hand-carried reproductive samples from Cyprus to a fertility clinic in Malta. This guide is for patients planning IVF in Malta, and for anyone who needs to move eggs, sperm or embryos into or out of the country. It covers what the law allows, what it does not, and how Cryo Medical Logistics supports you from collection to delivery.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today.
📧 Email: transports@cryomedicallogistics.com
📱 WhatsApp - Telegram - Line - Wechat +44 7585 610211
📞 Phone: +44 2081500059
IVF in Malta today
IVF in Malta is governed by the Embryo Protection Act 2012, which was significantly widened by an amendment that took effect on 1 October 2018 (source).
Before 2018, only heterosexual couples could access treatment, only two eggs could be fertilised per cycle, and both embryos had to be transferred. Donation and surrogacy were not allowed.
The 2018 changes opened treatment to more people and made embryo freezing and donation part of normal practice. Malta still protects embryos strongly, which shapes what clinics can and cannot do.
What is allowed
Since 2018, more people can access IVF in Malta, and embryo freezing and donation are permitted under strict rules (source).
Area | What the law allows |
Who can be treated | Anyone over 18, including single women and female couples |
Age limit for women | Up to 48 (raised from 43) |
Eggs fertilised per cycle | Up to 5 for women under 39; up to 8 for women aged 39 to 45 |
Embryos transferred | A maximum of two at a time |
Embryo freezing | Allowed; extra embryos must be frozen and used to try for a pregnancy |
Egg and sperm donation | Allowed, but each donor may donate once, for one family only |
Leftover embryos | Made available for embryo "adoption" once the family is complete or the woman reaches 48 |
Public funding | Up to five free IVF cycles, regardless of sexual orientation or gender |
Fertilisation limits and public funding as reported in July 2026 (source). Further changes to the IVF law have been proposed, so check the current rules with your clinic.
Because embryos cannot be discarded, plan carefully with your clinic how many eggs to fertilise and what happens to any embryos you do not use.
What is not allowed
Surrogacy, embryo destruction and embryo research remain illegal in Malta, and embryo testing is tightly limited.
Surrogacy: illegal in all forms. A move to allow non-commercial surrogacy was removed from the 2018 bill, to be considered separately in future (source). This means single men and male couples cannot in practice have a child through treatment in Malta.
Embryo destruction and research: not permitted, even for embryos with serious defects.
Embryo testing (PGT): allowed only in limited cases. Since 2022, testing for listed inherited conditions (PGT-M) has been permitted, and specialists can apply to Malta's Embryo Protection Authority, case by case, for approval in exceptional circumstances (source).
If you are considering surrogacy abroad, take legal advice in Malta and in the destination country before you move any embryos.
Moving eggs, sperm or embryos in or out of Malta
Every transfer needs agreement from both clinics, the right paperwork, and samples kept at −196°C from start to finish.
Patients move samples for many reasons: eggs frozen abroad before moving home, embryos created in another country, or donor gametes from an overseas bank. Before anything travels, arrange:
Written consent and release forms from the clinic currently storing your samples.
Written acceptance from the receiving clinic, confirming it can legally receive and use them under its local rules.
Any approvals the authorities in either country require.
A specialist courier who hand-carries the samples in a liquid-nitrogen dry shipper, with full chain-of-custody records.
Because Malta's rules differ from many other countries, confirm with your receiving clinic that your samples can be used as you plan before you book transport.
How Cryo Medical Logistics supports you
We provide supervised hand-carry transport of eggs, sperm, embryos and stem cells to and from Malta, across Europe, the Mediterranean and worldwide.
Supervised hand-carry: a trained specialist carries your samples in person, door to door. They are never checked in as cargo or left unattended.
−196°C dry shippers: samples stay in liquid-nitrogen dry shippers for the whole journey.
Do Not X-Ray protocol: applied at every airport checkpoint.
Chain of custody: every handover is signed and documented.
Clinic coordination: we work with your sending and receiving clinics on timing and paperwork.
We are ISO 9001:2015 compliant and carry FCA-regulated insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is IVF legal in Malta? Yes. IVF is legal and publicly funded, with up to five free cycles, under the Embryo Protection Act.
Can I freeze embryos in Malta? Yes. Since 2018, embryo freezing has been allowed, and extra embryos must be frozen and used to try for a pregnancy.
Is surrogacy legal in Malta? No. All forms of surrogacy remain illegal.
Can single women have IVF in Malta? Yes. Anyone over 18 can seek treatment, including single women and female couples.
Can I ship embryos, eggs or sperm to or from Malta? Yes, with consent from both clinics, the required paperwork and a specialist courier who keeps the samples at −196°C throughout.
How long does it take to arrange a transfer? It depends mainly on how quickly both clinics complete their paperwork. Contact us early so your treatment stays on schedule.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today
WhatsApp, Telegram, Line and WeChat: +44 7585 610211
Phone: +44 208 150 0059
Website: cryomedicallogistics.com
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical, legal or financial advice. Laws and clinic policies change, so always confirm your own situation with your clinic or a qualified lawyer.
Sources
Malta reforms law on embryo freezing and gamete donation, Progress Educational Trust, 8 October 2018
Reopen surrogacy debate, IVF expert says, MaltaToday, 12 July 2026
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