A British couple who spent $107,000 on surrogacy in Cyprus has been unable to return home with their newborn twins for eight weeks due to passport application delays, as their story gains international attention.
According to the New York Post, Damian, 33, and Pasan Fernando, 36, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, welcomed twin boys River and Liko via surrogate on January 3, 2025, but have since faced a series of bureaucratic hurdles preventing their return to the UK.
Their story has gone viral, with the New York Post’s piece on X receiving over one million views.
We spent $107K to have twins with a surrogate in Cyprus — now the country won’t let us leave https://t.co/dUUUtorzih pic.twitter.com/fY9RXGopyP
— New York Post (@nypost) March 3, 2025
“This passport issue is incredibly frustrating. It’s silly human errors. It’s so avoidable,” Damian told the New York Post, who works as a head of mathematics. “The children aren’t able to meet their grandparents.”
The couple, who married in 2017, began exploring surrogacy options six years ago. After unsuccessful attempts to find a surrogate in the UK, where legal requirements stipulate surrogates must initiate contact with intended parents, they looked abroad.
Through a recommendation, they connected with World Center of Baby in Cyprus in October 2023. The organisation relocated its headquarters to Limassol in March 2022 following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, where it was originally based.
“Amidst the chaos of the first months of the war, a decision was made to relocate our headquarters to Limassol, Cyprus. In parallel, Cyprus and Georgia were launched as alternative destinations, and WCOB has transported embryos for all willing intended parents from Ukraine to 3 other destinations free of charge. We wanted to make sure that our intended parents had the opportunity to continue with their journeys without further delays,” states the WCOB website, which offers surrogacy services in Cyprus, Mexico, Colombia, and US states where surrogacy is legal.
The Fernandos used Pasan’s sperm and selected an egg donor who resembled Damian, creating three viable embryos. Their surrogate became pregnant with twins in April 2024.
“It was quite surreal,” Pasan, an assistant headteacher, told the New York Post. “The clinic would send us a scan every three weeks.”
The couple applied for the twins’ passports on January 13 after obtaining birth certificates but have since encountered multiple administrative issues. According to the Fernandos, the UK passport office requested new applications on January 31 due to confusion over where the documents should be sent.
Despite resubmitting applications the same day, they have faced what they describe as a series of miscommunications and misplaced documents, with the couple calling the passport office “every single day.”
The extended stay has forced them to relocate between three different Airbnb accommodations, adding to their expenses after already spending $88,000 on surrogacy services and $19,000 on legal fees and travel.
The couple has been advised there is “no timeline for this complicated process,” raising concerns about financial implications as Damian may need to take unpaid leave if their stay extends further.
Despite their frustrations, the Fernandos hope their experience can inspire others considering surrogacy. “Be vigilant, there are lots of scams. But don’t give up hope. We’re proof it’s possible,” said Pasan.
The New York Post reported that it approached the UK Home Office for comment. Phileleftheros has contacted relevant Cypriot authorities to determine whether any legal issues might exist in Cyprus, though responses are still pending.
The couple reportedly consulted a lawyer before pursuing surrogacy on the island.
