How to Transport Embryos and Biomaterials to Colombia: From the USA, Israel, and Other Countries
Colombia is becoming part of international reproductive medicine programs, which means patients increasingly need to transport previously frozen embryos, oocytes, or sperm from clinics abroad. Up-to-date information is particularly important for this type of transportation: in 2025, the Colombian Ministry of Health issued new official guidance on the import and export of reproductive material.
For patients, organizing the route usually begins with a reproductive medicine clinic in Colombia. The receiving medical institution participates in the import procedure and is responsible for complying with the applicable requirements.
Cryo Transport specializes in the international transportation of reproductive biomaterials between clinics and organizes customized routes to countries in Latin America.
What Has Changed in Colombia’s Regulations?
On September 4, 2025, Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection issued Circular 00000030 of 2025 concerning the import and export of male and female gametes, pre-embryos, and embryos for assisted reproduction procedures.
The document has practical significance for international transportation.
According to the circular, the import or export of such materials is carried out through medical institutions authorized to perform assisted reproduction procedures. The institution verifies that informed consent has been obtained, that the requirements applicable to the material have been met, and that the transportation conditions are observed.
The document also provides for the submission of the required information to INVIMA after the import or export has taken place.
For patients, the main practical conclusion is simple: the route should be coordinated with a specific receiving clinic in Colombia before the shipment date is scheduled.
Who Is Involved in Preparing the Transportation?
International transportation is based on coordination between the sending and receiving medical institutions.
It is usually necessary to determine:
- the selected clinic in Colombia;
- the type of biomaterial being transported;
- the number of storage units;
- the sample details and identifiers;
- the patient’s consent forms;
- documents from the foreign clinic;
- the conditions for handing over the container;
- the international courier route.
Correct identification is particularly important. The patient and sample details must consistently match across the documentation provided by the sending institution and the information held by the receiving clinic.
General documentation requirements are explained in detail by Cryo Transport in the article “Documents for Transporting Embryos, Sperm, and Eggs”.
How Are Embryos Transported to Colombia?
Once the clinics have coordinated the transfer, the logistics plan is developed.
Cryopreserved embryos are transported in a specialized Dry Shipper container designed to maintain cryogenic conditions during transit.
Detailed information about this type of transportation is available on the Cryo Transport embryo transportation page.
If other types of reproductive material need to be shipped to Colombia, the following sections may also be useful:
The logistics plan includes the time when the clinic releases the material, the flight, completion of the required formalities, and delivery to the receiving laboratory.
Transporting Embryos from the USA to Colombia
The USA → Colombia route requires coordination between the two clinics before transportation begins.
First, the US clinic or cryobank confirms that the material can be released. The Colombian clinic confirms that it can receive the material and provides the information required to organize delivery.
The sample identifiers, number of storage units, patient information, and details of the medical institutions are then checked.
For the US part of the route, the website has a dedicated section on “Transportation of Biomaterials to and from the USA”.
Once the preparation stage is complete, Cryo Transport plans the international route and organizes the transfer of the container to the destination clinic.
Transportation from Israel to Colombia
For the Israel → Colombia route, preparation also begins with the medical institutions involved.
The clinic in Israel confirms the conditions for releasing the embryos, oocytes, or sperm and prepares the accompanying information. The Colombian clinic confirms that it can accept the material and provides its delivery requirements.
Particular attention is paid to scheduling. The arrival time must be coordinated with the working hours of the department that will actually receive the cryogenic container.
The official Cryo Transport website features customer reviews of the company’s international transportation services, including a completed Tbilisi → Bogotá route.
What Documents May Be Required?
The set of documents depends on the type of material, the clinics involved, and the route.
The process may require:
- consent forms from the owner of the biomaterial;
- documents from the sending institution;
- information about the origin and identification of the samples;
- confirmation from the receiving clinic;
- transportation documents;
- documents required to complete the applicable import procedures.
It is difficult to define a single universal set of documents in advance because medical institutions may use their own forms.
A convenient starting point is therefore the detailed Cryo Transport guide to documents for international biomaterial transportation, after which the exact document package can be clarified for the specific route.
When Should You Start Preparing?
It is advisable to begin preparations before the date of the next stage of treatment is finalized.
Clinics need time to review documents, prepare consent forms, and complete administrative procedures. Additional time is also required to plan the international route.
Cryo Transport organizes worldwide transportation of biomaterials in cryogenic containers and develops logistics based on the point of departure, the destination clinic, and available air connections.
How Much Does Transportation to Colombia Cost?
The price is calculated individually.
It depends on the departure city, route complexity, flight availability, journey duration, timeframe, and the organizational requirements of the clinics involved.
The pricing principle is explained in detail in the article “How Much Does It Cost to Transport Embryos and Biomaterials Between Clinics and Countries?”.
To calculate the cost of a specific USA → Colombia or Israel → Colombia route, it is necessary to provide the clinics, cities, and type of material being transported.
What Should Be Checked Before Shipment?
Before the container is actually handed over, it is advisable to obtain final confirmation from both sides: the sending clinic must be ready to release the material, and the receiving clinic must be ready to accept it on the agreed date.
The following details should also be checked:
- sample identifiers;
- the patient’s full name;
- the number of storage units;
- accompanying documents;
- the date and time of the handover;
- the courier route.
A consistent preparation process is particularly important following the update to Colombian regulations in 2025.
Can Embryos Be Transported from the USA to Colombia?
Such international transportation is possible provided that the requirements of the specific route are met and the US and Colombian clinics coordinate the transfer. For the US part of the route, you can review the Cryo Transport page on transporting biomaterials from the USA in advance.
How Are Frozen Embryos Transported?
Specialized cryogenic containers are used for transportation. The technology is described in more detail on the page about international embryo transportation.
What Documents Are Required?
The exact set depends on the countries, clinics, and type of material involved. The basic categories of documents are explained in a separate Cryo Transport article.
How Do You Start Organizing Transportation to Colombia?
Obtain confirmation from the receiving clinic and clarify the conditions for releasing the material with the storage clinic. You can then provide this information to Cryo Transport specialists so they can plan the international route.
