Quick answer
Yes, you can transfer frozen embryos to another clinic. You sign your current clinic's release and consent forms, the new clinic confirms in writing that it will accept them, and a specialized embryo shipping courier moves them in a liquid-nitrogen dry shipper with continuous temperature logging. Cost depends mainly on the route, urgency, container and clinic fees.
Key takeaways
- Moving embryos between IVF clinics is a routine procedure. Most of the work is paperwork and coordination between the two labs, not the journey itself.
- Both clinics must agree: the sending clinic needs your signed release (and your partner's, if the embryos were created together), and the receiving clinic must confirm it can accept and warm them.
- Published clinic data show that vitrified embryos shipped under controlled conditions survive warming at rates comparable to embryos that never left the lab.
- Price is route-specific. Ask for a written quote and check separately what each clinic charges for release, handling and storage.
- Start early: signatures, acceptance letters and, for international moves, import permits usually take longer than the shipment.
Can you transfer embryos to another clinic?
Yes. Frozen embryos are not tied to the clinic or hospital lab where they were created. Intended parents move them for many reasons:
- you are relocating to another city, state or country;
- you want to continue treatment with a different doctor or fertility clinic;
- the embryo transfer will take place at your gestational carrier's clinic (see our guide to the legal aspects of transporting embryos for surrogacy);
- you want to bring together embryos stored at several facilities, or your clinic is closing or changing its storage policy.
A quick note on terms. In IVF, "embryo transfer" usually means the medical procedure of placing an embryo in the uterus. Moving frozen embryos from one clinic to another is a logistics process, often called embryo shipping or embryo transport. This guide is about the second one.
How to transfer frozen embryos to another clinic: step by step
- Choose the receiving clinic and confirm acceptance. Ask whether it accepts embryos from outside labs, which documents it needs, and whether its embryologists work with the freezing method and storage device your embryos are on.
- Tell your current clinic you plan to move your embryos. Request its release (transfer-out) forms and ask about outstanding storage fees; many clinics will not release specimens until the account is settled.
- Sign the consent and release documents. If the embryos were created with a partner, both of you will normally need to sign, and some clinics require notarized signatures. Embryos created with donor eggs or sperm may need additional donor documentation.
- Book a specialized cryo courier. The courier agrees on dates with both labs, prepares a charged dry shipper and, for international routes, handles customs and import paperwork.
- Exchange embryology records. The sending lab should share the number of embryos, their identifiers, the freezing date, method and device, and the warming instructions. ASRM lists "failure to provide warming instructions" among typical errors with shipped samples (ASRM committee opinion, 2020).
- Pickup, packing and transit. Embryologists at the sending clinic load the devices into the dry shipper, check patient identifiers against the paperwork and seal the container. A data logger records the temperature for the entire trip.
- Receipt and verification. The receiving lab checks documents and labels against your records, reviews the temperature log and places the embryos in its own storage tanks until your transfer cycle.
This is the traceability that ESHRE's good-practice guideline for IVF laboratories requires: a transport must identify both institutions and the material, and the documents and labels must be checked against patient records at both ends (ESHRE, 2015).
What documents do you need to move embryos?
Exact forms differ by clinic and country, so always ask both clinics for their own list. A typical set looks like this:
| Document | Who provides it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Embryo release / transfer-out consent | Sending clinic; signed by you (and your partner, if applicable) | Authorizes the clinic to hand over the embryos |
| Acceptance letter or intake consent | Receiving clinic | Confirms the new lab will take custody |
| Embryology report: number, IDs, freezing date, method, device, warming protocol | Sending lab | Lets the new lab identify and warm the embryos correctly |
| Infectious disease screening results | Your clinic | Many labs require them before storing outside specimens |
| Donor documentation (if donor eggs, sperm or embryos were used) | Sending clinic, bank or agency | May be required by the receiving clinic or local rules |
| Chain-of-custody form and temperature log | Courier | Shows the embryos stayed identified and frozen throughout |
| Import/export permits and customs documents (international only) | Courier together with both clinics | Required by the authorities of some countries |
How much does it cost to transfer embryos to another clinic?
There is no single price, because every shipment is quoted for a specific route and date. The total usually has two parts: the courier's shipping fee and the clinics' own administrative fees.
| Cost factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Distance and route | A local or same-state move costs less than a long domestic or international route with flights and connections |
| Urgency and date | Express delivery or weekend and holiday handling usually costs more than a planned date |
| Container size and number of devices | A larger dry shipper or more straws can change the price |
| International paperwork | Customs clearance and import permits add work and fees |
| Insurance | Optional coverage adds to the price but protects your investment |
| Clinic fees | The sending clinic may charge a release or packing fee; the receiving clinic may charge intake and storage fees |
You can see how ARK.CRYO calculates shipping costs and request an exact figure on our pricing and delivery terms page. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: the container, onboard personnel, temperature logging, customs support and insurance. A cheaper quote that leaves these out can end up costing more.
Is it safe to ship embryos?
Most embryos today are frozen by vitrification, an ultra-fast method that prevents ice crystals from forming. Once vitrified and kept at cryogenic temperatures, embryos are stable; ESHRE advises that storage temperatures should never rise above −130 °C (ESHRE). The real risk in shipping is not travel itself but anything that breaks the cold chain or the identification chain: a warm-up, a damaged container, missing paperwork or a mislabeled device.
When those risks are controlled, the data are reassuring. In a retrospective analysis from IVI Rome, 168 vitrified blastocysts shipped from IVI clinics in Spain had a 98.2% survival rate after warming, compared with 97.7% for 440 embryos created on site, and pregnancy rates did not differ significantly (Human Reproduction, 2023). It is a single-center conference abstract, so it shows feasibility rather than a guarantee.
A 2021 review in Fertility and Sterility recommends written informed consent that covers the transport method and its risks, and compliance with the rules of every jurisdiction involved (Rinehart, 2021).
How embryos stay frozen during transport
Embryos travel in a dry shipper: a vacuum-insulated container with an absorbent core charged with liquid nitrogen, so the embryos sit in very cold nitrogen vapor with no free liquid. Because nothing can spill, a correctly prepared dry shipper can travel as non-restricted cargo under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (Special Provision A152; see IATA). For the technical side, read how a dry shipper maintains −196 °C the whole way, or see the cryoshipping containers we use.
Good practice in transit includes:
- a data logger that records the temperature continuously, so the receiving lab can review the whole journey;
- keeping the container upright and out of X-ray screening (ARK.CRYO never lets reproductive cells go through X-ray);
- a hold time well beyond the planned trip, to cover possible delays;
- a clear chain of custody, with a signature at every hand-off.
Moving embryos to another state or country
Inside the United States, moving embryos between clinics usually requires the clinic paperwork described above and a domestic courier; see our USA domestic shipping service. Clinic policies and some state laws add their own consent requirements, so confirm them with both clinics.
International moves add import and export rules. In the UK, for example, the fertility regulator HFEA requires clinics to confirm that the overseas facility is licensed or accredited and that strict conditions are met; patients cannot apply directly and must go through a licensed clinic (HFEA). Other countries have their own permits, and some restrict certain imports. An experienced courier checks the destination's requirements before you book.
Can you transport embryos yourself?
Some clinics allow patients to hand-carry embryos in a charged dry shipper, usually over short distances. Many do not, and a receiving lab may refuse specimens without a documented chain of custody. If you are considering it, ask both clinics first and weigh the practical risks: airline rules for dry shippers, security screening, delays and the lack of a continuous temperature record.
Checklist: questions to ask before you book
- Has the receiving clinic confirmed in writing that it will accept and can warm my embryos?
- Has everyone who needs to sign the consent forms signed them, with notarization if required?
- Is the temperature logged for the whole route, and will I receive a copy of the log?
- Who accompanies the shipment, and how is each hand-off documented?
- What exactly is included in the quote, and is insurance available?
- For international routes: who obtains import permits and handles customs?
For a fuller comparison, see our guide on how to choose a cryo shipping company.
Why families and clinics trust ARK.CRYO
ARK.CRYO is an international cryo shipping company specializing in reproductive cells, embryos and stem cells.
- 10 years of experience in international cryo logistics
- 4,500+ successful shipments to 80+ countries on 5 continents
- Full compliance with IATA standards
- Reproductive cells never go through X-ray
- Liquid-nitrogen dewars and dry shippers with temperature data loggers on all equipment, and onboard personnel accompanying the dewar
- 24/7 legal and customs support
We work with partners including Men Having Babies, Ovogene, International Fertility Group, California Cryobank and Shady Grove Fertility, among 20+ partners. ARK.CRYO was featured in Jessel Taank's IVF journey on The Tamron Hall Show, Peter Hura was shortlisted at the Fertility Care Awards 2025, and ARK.CRYO took part in ASRM 2025. Read what families say in our reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Can you transfer embryos to another clinic?
Yes. Frozen embryos can be moved to another clinic in the same city, another state or another country. You sign your current clinic's release forms, get written acceptance from the new clinic and use a qualified cryo courier that ships the embryos in a liquid-nitrogen dry shipper with continuous temperature monitoring.
How much does it cost to transfer embryos to another clinic?
The price depends on distance and route, urgency, container size, international paperwork and optional insurance, plus any release or intake fees charged by the clinics. Because every route is different, ask for a written quote. ARK.CRYO's pricing page explains how shipping costs are calculated.
How long does it take to move embryos between clinics?
The shipment itself is usually the shortest part. Most of the time goes into signed consents, the receiving clinic's acceptance and, for international routes, import permits. Ask both clinics about their processing times and plan the move well before your intended transfer cycle.
Is it safe to ship frozen embryos?
When embryos stay at cryogenic temperatures and are correctly identified at both ends, shipping is considered safe. A clinic study of vitrified blastocysts shipped between countries found survival after warming comparable to embryos that were not shipped. The main risks are temperature breaks and paperwork errors, which a qualified courier controls.
Can I move my embryos myself?
Some clinics allow patients to hand-carry embryos in a charged dry shipper; many do not. Ask both clinics before planning it. Self-transport usually lacks a continuous temperature record and a documented chain of custody, and you have to deal with airline and security rules on your own.
Do both partners need to sign to transfer embryos?
Usually yes. If the embryos were created with both partners' gametes, clinics generally require both people to sign the release, sometimes with notarized signatures. Requirements differ by clinic and jurisdiction, so check your original consent forms and ask your clinic.
Can I transfer frozen embryos to another country?
Yes, in many cases. International shipments need the same clinic paperwork plus import and export documents that vary by country, and some countries restrict imports. A courier experienced in reproductive shipments checks the destination's rules and handles customs clearance for you.
Ready to move your embryos?
Tell us where your embryos are and where they need to go, and we will coordinate the paperwork, the container and the route with both clinics. Request delivery or call us: USA +1 888 761 5820, Europe +421 233 215 889.
