UK to Nigeria Embryos, Sperm, and Eggs Shipping Worldwide : The Complete Guide
Quick answer: Yes, we ship frozen embryos, sperm, and eggs between the UK and Nigeria — in both directions. This is one of our most established and busiest corridors, with strong flight connectivity between the two countries, but that doesn't change our protocol: every shipment travels hand-carry, supervised by our courier from pickup to delivery, exactly as it would on any other route.
Ready to move a shipment between the UK and Nigeria?
Contact us:
Line - Telegram - WeChat - WhatsApp: +44 7585 610211
Phone: +44 20 8150 0059
The UK's Export Framework: What Governs Sending Reproductive Material Abroad
Fertility treatment and storage in the UK is regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), and exporting gametes or embryos overseas has to go through one of two routes:
The General Direction route — the standard, more straightforward path. It requires the receiving clinic to meet appropriate safety and accreditation standards, clear written patient consent, and confirmation that the material isn't being exported within the final six months of lawful UK storage or for any treatment that would be illegal in the UK.
The Special Direction route — used where a case doesn't meet the General Direction criteria, requiring individual prior permission from the HFEA. This route takes longer and the outcome isn't guaranteed in advance.
Export for the purpose of international surrogacy is legal and has been formally clarified as such by the HFEA — export can proceed on the General Direction route regardless of whether the arrangement involves a compensated surrogacy abroad. In every case, only an HFEA-licensed UK clinic can release the material, and the receiving Nigerian clinic or storage facility needs to meet the standards that route requires.
This section is a general overview, not legal advice — requirements depend on your specific clinic, consent forms, and circumstances, and we recommend confirming your case directly with your UK clinic and, where needed, independent legal counsel.
Getting Your Child's UK Passport After Surrogacy in Nigeria
If you're pursuing surrogacy in Nigeria as a UK intended parent, transport is only part of the journey — bringing your child back to the UK typically requires a legal parentage DNA test accepted by the British Embassy or High Commission before a passport application can proceed. We offer this DNA testing alongside our transport service, so it can be arranged as part of the same coordinated process rather than as a separate errand once you're already in Nigeria. Our partners at www.londondiagnosticsclinic.com will arrange your legal dna testing in line with Home Office.
Arranging Collection and Freezing Before Transport
If you don't already have a UK clinic relationship in place, we can arrange the collection and freezing itself, not just the onward transport — coordinating the process through our vetted partner clinic network so you're not left sourcing a clinic independently.
Sperm/semen freezing. We coordinate the full process from deposit through to export-ready cryopreservation:
Component | Fee |
CML coordination fee | £150 |
Partner clinic semen freezing (analysis + cryopreservation) | £600 |
Partner clinic export paperwork | £900 |
Supervised cryogenic transport | From £1500 |
Egg freezing. Because egg freezing involves a medical stimulation cycle and retrieval, this is arranged directly through our vetted partner clinic network and managed clinically by them, with CML coordinating the logistics and handling the onward cryogenic transport once freezing is complete. Because the cycle itself varies by patient, this is quoted separately once your partner clinic has assessed your case — it isn't a fixed fee the way semen freezing is.
Our Transport Protocol
Regardless of how well-connected a route is, we never treat any shipment as suitable for unaccompanied cargo:
−196°C dry shipper transport, validated to hold temperature for the full journey without external power.
Continuous hand-carry supervision. The shipper travels as cabin baggage with our courier from pickup to delivery — never checked, never left unattended.
Do Not X-Ray protocol. We coordinate with airport security in advance to secure manual/visual inspection wherever permitted, protecting the material from radiation exposure.
Full chain-of-custody documentation, covering both UK export paperwork and Nigerian import clearance, carried with the shipment throughout.
Documentation Checklist
HFEA-licensed clinic release authorisation (General or Special Direction, as applicable)
Written patient consent documentation
Receiving clinic or storage facility acceptance confirmation (Nigeria side)
Chain-of-custody and temperature-log documentation for the full journey
DNA testing booking, where a surrogacy-born child's UK passport application will be needed
Any additional documentation specific to your individual case
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export embryos from the UK to Nigeria for surrogacy? Yes. Export for international surrogacy is legal under the HFEA's General Direction route, provided your UK clinic confirms the receiving Nigerian clinic meets the required standards and your consent documentation is in order.
Do I need special HFEA permission to export my embryos? Most cases qualify for the more straightforward General Direction route. Special Direction, which requires individual HFEA permission, only applies where a case doesn't meet the General Direction criteria. Your clinic will confirm which route applies to you.
Do I need a DNA test for my child born through surrogacy in Nigeria? Typically, yes — the British Embassy or High Commission usually requires a legal parentage DNA test before issuing a passport for a child born through surrogacy abroad. We can arrange this alongside your transport booking.
Do I need to already have my sperm or eggs frozen, or can you arrange that too? We can arrange it. If you don't already have a clinic relationship, we coordinate collection and freezing through our vetted partner clinic network — sperm freezing has a set fee structure, while egg freezing is quoted once your partner clinic has assessed your case, since it depends on your specific stimulation and retrieval cycle.
Can you ship in both directions — UK to Nigeria and Nigeria to UK? Yes. We manage this corridor both ways, whether that's UK-frozen material moving to a Nigerian clinic or material from Nigeria moving to a UK clinic.
How long does UK to Nigeria shipping take? This is one of our faster corridors given the strong flight connectivity, though exact timing depends on the specific city pair and routing available. We'll confirm timing once we have your details.
Ready to move a shipment between the UK and Nigeria?
Contact us:
Line - Telegram - WeChat - WhatsApp: +44 7585 610211
Phone: +44 20 8150 0059
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