IVF in Greece vs Spain: Which Is Better for IVF Abroad?

Greece and Spain are two of the main European destinations considered by international patients for IVF and egg donation, but there are important differences between them.

Greece generally has lower treatment prices and has a statutory IVF age limit of 54, although women over 50 require approval from the Greek National Authority. Spain usually costs more, but its reproductive law does not establish a numerical statutory maximum age and it offers broader options for female couples, including ROPA.

The countries also now differ significantly in donor identity rules. Spain requires anonymous gamete donation, while Greece no longer operates an anonymous-only system: Greek donors can choose between anonymity, identifiable donation or identity disclosure to the child after adulthood.

Greece vs Spain IVF: quick comparison

The price ranges above are indicative rather than guaranteed clinic prices.

Greece vs Spain for IVF over 50

Greek law sets the maximum age for medically assisted reproduction at 54 years. Women from 50 years and one day through age 54 need authorization from the National Authority for Medically Assisted Reproduction before treatment can proceed.

Spain’s Law 14/2006 does not specify a numerical maximum age for women receiving assisted reproduction. It instead requires patients to be informed of risks associated with treatment and pregnancy at an age considered clinically inappropriate. Individual clinics therefore apply their own medical eligibility policies.

What this means for patients

Greece vs Spain for single women

Both destinations permit fertility treatment for single women. In Greece, consent rules apply and an unmarried patient may require formal/notarial documentation depending on the circumstances. Greek assisted-reproduction rules explicitly provide for consent procedures for unmarried patients.

Spain’s Law 14/2006 states that any woman over 18 with full legal capacity may use assisted reproduction regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.

So for a single woman, both countries can be considered.

The stronger differences are price, age policy and donor system.

Greece vs Spain for lesbian couples

In 2024, the Greek National Authority issued specific guidance confirming that a female couple who are married or in a civil partnership may access medically assisted reproduction.

However, there are important limitations:

• only the woman who carries and gives birth establishes maternity through the ART procedure
• both partners must consent
• an embryo created using the other female partner’s egg cannot be transferred to the gestational partner

In other words, ROPA is not permitted in Greece under the current rules.

In Spain, female couples can access assisted reproduction, and reciprocal IVF/ROPA is available. Spanish law expressly allows treatment regardless of sexual orientation.

Egg donation in Greece vs Spain

Both countries permit egg donation, but their donor-identity systems are now very different.

Spain

Spanish Law 14/2006 requires gamete donation to be anonymous. Recipients and donor-conceived children may receive general donor information that does not reveal identity.

Donor identity may be revealed only in exceptional circumstances involving serious danger to the child’s life or health or certain criminal-law situations.

Greece

A donor may now choose for their identity to be:

• anonymous
• identifiable
• or disclosed to the donor-conceived person after adulthood if the child requests it

The assisted person or couple can then choose according to the available donor category.

Donor identity: Greece vs Spain

Greece or Spain: Which should you choose?

There is no universal winner between Greece and Spain.

Greece may be the stronger first option for patients prioritising lower treatment costs, treatment after age 50 or a choice between donor-identity models.

Spain may be the stronger fit for female couples considering ROPA, patients who specifically prefer an anonymous-only donor framework, or those who value detailed national reporting of treatment outcomes.

In both countries, individual clinic eligibility, package contents and treatment recommendations should be confirmed before making travel plans.

Greece vs Spain IVF – FAQ

Is IVF cheaper in Greece or Spain?

Greece generally has lower typical treatment ranges. Own-egg IVF is approximately €3,200–€6,200 in Greece versus €4,100–€7,100 in Spain, while donor-egg IVF is approximately €5,000–€8,000 versus €6,000–€9,000.

Which is better for IVF over 50: Greece or Spain?

Greece has a clearly defined legal route up to age 54, with authority approval required after age 50. Spain does not set a numerical maximum in Law 14/2006, but clinics apply their own medical policies.

Is egg donation anonymous in Greece?

Not necessarily. Since reforms introduced in 2022, Greek donors can choose anonymous, identifiable or adulthood-disclosure status.

Is egg donation anonymous in Spain?

Yes. Spanish law requires donor anonymity, apart from narrowly defined exceptional circumstances.

Can lesbian couples have IVF in Greece?

Yes, female couples may access ART, but Greek rules do not currently permit ROPA and establish maternity only with the woman who gives birth through the procedure.

Is ROPA available in Spain?

Yes. Spain is one of the European destinations where reciprocal IVF is available to female couples.

Which country has better IVF success rates?

Available national statistics are not sufficiently comparable to declare one country “better.” Spain publishes detailed national per-transfer data, whereas recent Greek national reporting provides cycle and birth totals without the equivalent per-transfer denominator.