Who audits surrogacy companies?

To understand the role of auditing in surrogacy, a simple comparison may be helpful: just as with restaurants, where it is essential to guarantee standards of hygiene, quality, and service, agencies also require a system that ensures transparency and good practices. In this context, auditors perform the function of reviewing every detail with strict and verifiable criteria.

And who certifies?

The audit is not carried out by a public entity, but by a specialized body: the Association of Parents for Surrogacy (APGS). This process is led by the Association’s President and supported by a team of external professionals, selected to guarantee impartiality. Their job is to verify and certify that all information submitted by an agency is authentic, transparent, and reliable.

What tests must agencies pass?

The audit of surrogacy agencies is not a mere administrative formality or a superficial checklist. The APGS applies a comprehensive examination that includes, at a minimum:

• Legal documentation:
  company incorporation deed, ID card of the owner and, where applicable, the administrator, and tax identification number.
• Solvency and compliance:
  annual accounts or balance sheets and up-to-date certificates from the Tax Agency and Social Security.
• Structure and team:
  list of current staff with a description of their duties.
• Evidence of actual activity:
  handwritten letters from at least 10 satisfied families; and letters from collaborating foreign clinics or agencies indicating how long they have been collaborating and how many processes they have completed.
• Operations and communication:
  lease agreement and advertising materials (physical and digital brochures).
• Bank accreditation:
  certificate proving ownership of the account in which payments are received or managed.
• Risk coverage:
  professional liability insurance policy accompanied by the latest receipt.

What happens if an agency complies with everything?

When an agency passes the audit, it obtains a seal that makes a difference: the “APGS CERTIFIED COMPANY OR AGENCY” certificate. This distinction authorizes the agency to display the Association’s official logo on its website and link directly to padresporgestacion.org, a gesture that becomes tangible proof of transparency and rigor.

But beyond the logo, what matters is what it represents. The certificate has three clear objectives:

1. Real and verifiable trust.
   In a sector where prejudice and misinformation abound, certification provides certainty: intended parents, surrogates, and professionals know who they are dealing with.
2. Visibility with institutional backing.
   Being included in the dossier that the APGS shares with interested families is not a mere detail, but an endorsement that reinforces the agency’s credibility.
3. Joint pressure for legal change.
   Joining the Association not only opens the door to auditing, but also strengthens a collective voice calling for clear and fair regulation of surrogacy in Spain.

In other words, the APGS seal is not just a decorative medal, but a passport to trust and legitimacy.

Tones and conclusions (with a light touch)

If this were a movie, the APGS auditor would be that demanding critic who not only reviews the script, but every scene, every shot, and even the performance of the extras. There are no shortcuts or concessions: it is a thorough analysis, or, to put it bluntly, “brutally detailed.” And precisely because of this rigor, agencies that pass the process have a legitimate reason to stand out.

It should be clarified that certification does not make surrogacy legal in Spain—it is prohibited by Law 14/2006—but it does lend legitimacy to agencies operating in countries where the practice is regulated and permitted. It is, in a way, like obtaining a premium license: it does not change the rules of the game, but it does place the agency on a higher level of trust and prestige.

In short, if anyone asks who audits these companies, the answer is unequivocal: the Association of Parents for Surrogacy (APGS), through an evaluation led by its President and supported by a team of external professionals. This process reviews everything from legal documentation to real testimonials from families before awarding the valuable APGS certification seal. It is a rigorous, serious procedure… and difficult to pass, which makes it a true seal of guarantee.