Bottom Line Up Front
Frozen embryos can be safely shipped between countries using specialized cryoshippers that maintain liquid nitrogen temperatures for up to 21 days. International embryo transport costs $3,000–$6,000 and requires coordination between both clinics, proper documentation, and (for US imports) FDA compliance. The process is well-established and safe when handled by experienced courier services.
An increasing number of patients are splitting their fertility treatment across countries. You might create embryos in Colombia (where the IVF cycle and PGT-A testing are dramatically more affordable) and transfer them at a clinic near your home for convenience during the early pregnancy weeks. Or you might have embryos stored in the US that you want to ship to Colombia for a more affordable transfer cycle.
Either way, the logistics are manageable. International embryo transport has been routine in reproductive medicine for over a decade, and the technology is reliable.
How Cryoshippers Work
Embryos are stored in liquid nitrogen at approximately −196°C (−321°F). At these temperatures, all biological activity stops completely. An embryo can remain frozen for decades with no degradation in quality. The challenge with shipping is maintaining that extreme cold during transit.
Cryoshippers (also called dry shippers or vapor shippers) are specialized containers that absorb liquid nitrogen into a porous material lining the interior walls. They maintain cryogenic temperatures without containing free-flowing liquid nitrogen, which makes them safe for air transport (classified as non-hazardous goods by IATA). A fully charged cryoshipper holds temperature for 14–21 days, far longer than any international shipping timeline requires.
Safety Record
When handled by experienced reproductive specimen couriers, the risk of embryo damage during transport is extremely low. Published data on cryoshipper transport shows survival rates comparable to embryos that never leave storage. The vitrification process (modern fast-freezing) makes embryos highly resilient to the minor temperature fluctuations that might occur during handling.
Step-by-Step: Shipping Embryos from the US to Colombia
- Initiate the request: Contact both your current US storage facility and your receiving Colombian clinic. Both must agree to the transfer and exchange documentation.
- Legal paperwork: You will sign release forms at the sending facility and intake forms at the receiving facility. Some states have specific consent requirements for interstate or international embryo transport.
- Courier coordination: A reproductive specimen courier service handles the physical logistics. Companies like ARK Cryo, TMRW, Cryoport, and Reprotech specialize in this. They provide the cryoshipper, arrange pickup and delivery, and maintain chain-of-custody documentation.
- Colombian import: Colombia's INVIMA oversees the import of biological specimens. Your receiving clinic typically handles the import paperwork, which includes a health certificate, lab test results, and a declaration of specimen contents.
- Delivery and verification: Upon arrival, the receiving lab verifies the specimens against the manifest, checks the cryoshipper temperature, and transfers the embryos to their own storage tanks. You receive confirmation that your embryos arrived safely.
Shipping Embryos from Colombia to the US
This direction involves FDA oversight. The US Food and Drug Administration requires that reproductive tissue imports meet specific testing and screening requirements under 21 CFR 1271 (human cells, tissues, and cellular/tissue-based products). Your Colombian clinic must provide documentation that the embryos were created using donor gametes (if applicable) that meet FDA donor screening requirements, or that the embryos are for the patient's own reproductive use.
In practice, most US fertility clinics are experienced with receiving international specimens and will guide you through the FDA compliance requirements. The key is to ensure your Colombian clinic performs and documents the required infectious disease screening (HIV, Hepatitis B/C, syphilis, and others) at the time of gamete collection.
Cost Breakdown
| Component | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Cryoshipper rental and preparation | $500–$1,000 |
| Courier service fee | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Export documentation (sending clinic) | $200–$500 |
| Import documentation (receiving clinic) | $200–$500 |
| Customs brokerage (if applicable) | $100–$300 |
| Total | $3,000–$6,000 |
When Shipping Makes Financial Sense
If you can create and test embryos in Colombia for $7,000–$11,000 (IVF + PGT-A), ship them home for $3,000–$6,000, and do a transfer at a local clinic for $3,000–$5,000, your total is $13,000–$22,000. That is still significantly less than a comparable US cycle with PGT-A ($20,000–$35,000) and you get to do the transfer close to home.
Timeline
Door-to-door, international embryo transport typically takes 3–7 business days. The paperwork and coordination leading up to the shipment takes 2–4 weeks. Plan for a total timeline of about 4–6 weeks from initiating the request to confirmed receipt at the receiving clinic.
Planning a Split-Country IVF Approach?
We can connect you with Colombian clinics experienced in international embryo transport and help coordinate the logistics.
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