Inter-country adoption
Can I adopt from any country?
Legal and practical arrangements for inter-country adoption are complicated and much depends on the country from which you wish to adopt. There are no restrictions in the UK on which country you may adopt from. However, not all overseas governments allow inter-country adoption.
Is adopting from overseas expensive?
The following is a guide to the costs you may have to pay if you adopt from overseas.
In England:
- home study assessment
- notarisation of documents
- legalisation of documents by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- legalisation of documents by the embassy of the child's country of origin
- travel to the child's country
- court fees to adopt the child in England (in non-designated cases)
- nationality fees for the child to become a British citizen (in designated country cases).
In the child's country of origin:
- fees of the adoption agency or lawyer
- hotel and food costs
- notarisation of documents
- court fees
- fees for entry clearance.
The fee charged by Croydon for the home study assessment is purely to cover costs and not for profit.
You may have to pay other costs depending on which country the child comes from. For example, in China you are expected to make a donation to the child's orphanage.
Where can I get information on overseas procedures?
You can find advice and information about adoption requirements and procedures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). See our information pack for contact details. If your country of interest is not on the list of countries, you can get information by contacting the country's embassy or consulate in Britain.
You are strongly advised to only adopt through approved adoption agencies or recognised charitable organisations abroad. We advise that you do not go through intermediaries who are not properly authorised, or agencies in a third country.
Is there an age limit for adopters?
There is no age limit for adopters in England. However, some countries do operate upper age limits and also specify an age difference between the adopters and the child (the older the adopters, the older the child). See the DCSF website for further information.
Can I adopt if I am single?
Some countries will allow single applicants to adopt, but this varies from country to country.
How many children can I adopt?
You are likely to be recommended for one child, twins or brothers and sisters.
Should I find a child before I go to my adoption agency or afterwards?
It is strongly advised that you wait until the DCSF has approved you as an adoptive parent and processed your application before you identify a child. If you identify a child first, you may find yourself in a situation where you have to return to the UK and leave the child for several months while the home study report is carried out and your application is processed. It is also possible that you may not be recommended as suitable to adopt.
What initial enquiries should I make?
It is essential that you determine your domicile and habitual residence status (your legal home) as early as possible in the adoption process.
Only people living (domiciled) in the UK can adopt in a UK court. Being classed as domiciled or habitually resident in the UK will depend upon the individual facts and circumstances of your case. You must get independent legal advice.
If you are not domiciled in the UK you should only consider adopting from a Hague Convention country or a designated country where you can adopt in the child's country of origin and will not need to adopt in a UK court.
The restrictions in inter-country adoption apply to anyone habitually resident in the UK. You must be habitually resident in the UK to apply for an assessment of your eligibility and suitability to adopt.
What can you do?
We offer advice and information to inter-country adoptive parents and children who live in Croydon. We can also put you in touch with other agencies that may be able to assist you.
All adopters living in Croydon are entitled to attend training workshops for adopters and foster carers. If you would like your name to be put on the mailing list for information about workshops, advise your assessing social worker.
You may also request an assessment of your needs for adoption support. We can provide:
- services to ensure the continuation of the adoptive relationship
- services to assist in cases of disruption
- help to access therapeutic services for the adopted child, if appropriate.
Please note that we do not offer financial support.
If you want to find out more about inter-country adoption, look at the DCSF website's inter-country adoption factsheets, see our information pack or contact the Adoption Team via Fostering and Adoption Service.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Home Office (Immigration Directorate)
- Telephone
- 0870 606 7766
- Address
- Apollo House
Block C, Whitgift Centre
36 Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 3RR - Website
- www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
- Contact name
- DCSF Inter-country Adoption Team
- Department
- Department for Children, Schools and Families
- ica.darlington@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
- Address
- Intercountry Adoption Casework Team
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Room 11, Lower Ground Floor
Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington
DL3 9BG - Website
- www.dcsf.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/
- Contact name
- Fostering and Adoption Service
- Telephone
- Freephone 0800 389 0129
- Fax
- 020 8760 5665
- Address
- 4-06 Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 2BA
