Introduction <p>Surrogacy is an increasingly viable path to parenthood for same-gender male couples, yet little research has explored their emotional and social experiences. This study qualitatively examined gay fathers’ transition to parenthood via cross-border surrogacy, by focusing on emotional processes, boundary ambiguity, and relationships with “reproductive third others” (i.e., egg donors and surrogates), from conception decision-making to childbirth.</p> Methods <p>A total of 30 gay fathers (comprising 15 couples; <i>M</i>_<i>age</i> = 40.47, <i>SD</i> = 2.93) of 22 children (<i>M</i>_<i>age</i> = 5.36, <i>SD</i> = 1.89; 50% assigned female at birth), residing in Belgium and France, participated in a joint semi-structured interview.</p> Results <p>Reflexive thematic analysis identified four overarching themes: (1) “Fostering the desire to become a parent: from mourning to hope”; (2) “Surrogacy as a roller-coaster: long-distance pregnancy, practical complexities, and emotional ambivalence”; (3) “Disclosing surrogacy origins to the child: transparency in evolving narratives”; and (4) “‘Third others’ in procreation and the recognition of double fatherhood.”</p> Conclusions <p>This study confirms that surrogacy for gay fathers is not merely a reproductive method but a complex emotional and relational experience, marked by unique stressors such as emotional ambivalence, legal uncertainty, and the challenges of maintaining cross-border relationships with surrogates.</p> Policy Implications <p>To support gay father families, policies must ensure inclusive, harmonized legal recognition of intended parents, provide equitable access to surrogacy regardless of sexual orientation, and establish cross-border support systems—alongside comprehensive training for professionals to address the nuanced realities of LGBTQ+ family formation.</p>