Single women allowed to have IVF from October 1, 2025

For the first time, single women in Vietnam will have access to assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization, if they have a legitimate need and desire.

Illustration: AI - TRAM ANH

Expanding access

From October 1, 2025, women who are not legally married but wish to become mothers will be allowed to undergo assisted reproductive techniques, including in vitro fertilization, without a medical prescription from a specialist as previously prescribed.

This content is stipulated in Decree No. 207/2025/ND-CP dated July 15, 2025 of the Government on giving birth using assisted reproductive techniques and conditions for surrogacy for humanitarian purposes.

This is considered an important step forward, expanding access to modern medical technology for single women, and reflecting a change in policy approaches to citizens' reproductive rights in the context of an increasingly diverse society in terms of family models and individual needs.

Accordingly, the implementation of assisted reproductive techniques and surrogacy for humanitarian purposes must strictly comply with principles to ensure safety, legality and the rights of relevant parties.

Assisted reproductive technology is only applied to infertile couples with clear medical indications or women who are not legally married but wish to become mothers.

Donation of sperm, eggs, and embryos in assisted reproductive technology can only be performed at medical facilities licensed to store sperm, eggs, and embryos.

Donated sperm, eggs, and embryos can only be used for one woman or couple for the purpose of having children, and cannot be used for multiple people.

The process of donating and receiving sperm or embryos is carried out anonymously, meaning the identity of the donor and recipient is not disclosed, to ensure the privacy and information security of the parties involved.

The Decree clearly stipulates the conditions for medical facilities to be allowed to perform surrogacy techniques for humanitarian purposes. Graphics: TRAM ANH

Decree 207/2025/ND-CP also clearly stipulates the conditions for medical facilities to be allowed to perform surrogacy techniques for humanitarian purposes. Specifically:

The medical examination and treatment facility must be a facility that has been granted a license to perform in vitro fertilization techniques, has at least 2 years of experience performing in vitro fertilization techniques, of which the 2 most recent years up to the time of application submission must have performed at least 500 in vitro fertilization cycles per year.

At the same time, there must be a medical consultant who is an obstetrician, a psychological consultant with a university degree in psychology or higher or a doctor with a certificate of training in the field of psychology, and a legal consultant with a bachelor's degree in law or higher. The medical consultant must be a staff member of the medical examination and treatment facility.

The authority to decide to allow medical facilities to perform surrogacy techniques for humanitarian purposes belongs to the Minister of Health, the Minister of National Defense or the Minister of Public Security for medical facilities under their management.

Surrogacy profile and process

Infertile couples who wish to use surrogacy for humanitarian purposes must submit their application to a medical examination and treatment facility licensed to perform this technique according to the provisions of Decree No. 207/2025/ND-CP.

The dossier includes: an application for surrogacy according to the prescribed form; a confirmation from the People's Committee of the commune where the surrogate mother or the person requesting the surrogacy resides; documents proving the kinship relationship between the two parties if there is no confirmation from the authorities; documents proving that the surrogate mother has given birth; an agreement on surrogacy made in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Marriage and Family, with valid notarization and certification.

Infertile couples who want to use surrogacy for humanitarian purposes must submit their application to a medical examination and treatment facility licensed to perform the technique. Graphics: TRAM ANH

After receiving all documents as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article, the facility must examine the health of the surrogate mother and the couple requesting the surrogacy; confirm that the wife requesting the surrogate mother cannot become pregnant and give birth even when using assisted reproductive techniques; confirm the surrogate mother's ability to become a surrogate mother.

If qualified, the medical facility is responsible for providing full medical, psychological and legal advice to the parties before performing the technique.

In case the conditions are not met, within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the application, the facility must have a written response and clearly state the reason for refusal to implement.

The Decree emphasizes the need to ensure the safety of private life, personal secrets, family secrets and to be respected and protected by law for couples who use surrogacy, the surrogate mother, and children born through surrogacy for humanitarian purposes. Children born in this way are also recognized by law and have their rights protected like any other children.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/phu-nu-doc-than-duoc-phep-thu-tinh-trong-ong-nghiem-tu-ngay-1-10-2025-3298279.html