Intercountry FAQs

You must first be sure that you would be eligible to adopt in the UK which means that you must be:

• Over 21 years of age
• Habitually resident in the UK
• Not been found guilty of or cautioned for a prescribed offence. These are generally offences against or involving children.

Other countries have their own eligibility criteria which are often more extensive than the UK eligibility criteria, and which you must also meet. Some countries have upper age limits, or restrict applications to married couples, some specify which health conditions will exclude an application and some countries prioritise applications where adopters are originally from that country or have other proven links with it.

If your Local Authority subscribes to Coram IAC you can contact the Coram IAC Advice Line to discuss individual countries.

Get in touch

Coram IAC welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. While many countries will not accept applications from same sex couples, there are a small number of countries that are open to same sex couples and from which there have been successful adoption placements into the UK.

Contact our Advice Line to discuss what your options are.

Get in touch

You can adopt from overseas if you are not a British Citizen but single applicants or at least one of a couple must have indefinite leave to remain (settled status) in the UK, or permanent residence. If not, then you should seek legal advice on whether you are eligible to sponsor a child to enter the UK.

If you are habitually resident in the UK then you must comply with UK Adoption Regulations and undergo an assessment of your suitability to adopt. If you are unsure whether or not you are habitually resident you should take legal advice.

If you are living overseas on a temporary basis, or have employment where you are posted overseas, you may potentially continue to be deemed habitually resident in the UK as well, and may therefore need to comply with the Regulations. It may be possible to arrange an assessment for overseas residents, subject to certain conditions.

For UK citizens who are living long term or permanently overseas, it may be possible to adopt via the authorities of your country of residence.

If you are resident in the UK, there are steps you must take here before you adopt a child in an overseas country, including becoming approved by a UK registered adoption agency. Intercountry adoption is governed by UK legislation and regulations in order to safeguard children, birth families and prospective adopters. If you circumvent the intercountry adoption procedures you may commit an offence. The process is set out briefly in our adoption process page or the Coram IAC First Time Adopters Information Pack. Enquirers from subscribing Local Authorities can contact the Coram IAC Advice Line to request the pack, or to raise questions.

The Coram IAC Information Sessions provide a more detailed introduction to the process and to some of the issues which arise for families adopting from overseas and these are open to anyone wishing to find out more about the intercountry adoption process.

The approval process takes 6-8 months from the time IAC accepts your Registration of Interest to your being approved as suitable adopters, but can take longer due to the statutory checks which must be obtained.

How long you wait for a match with a child varies from country to country and on a case by case basis. For some countries the wait can be several years.

For some countries, you will need to make a UK court application after you return to the UK after having completed the procedures in the overseas country. In those cases, the child must have lived with you for 6 months for adoption from non-Convention countries (or 12 months if the proper procedures have not been followed) before you can apply to the Court in the UK. A final UK adoption order will usually be granted in 9-10 months.

Adopting a child from overseas is a long and complex process and it is important to understand that before you start on the journey.

The adoption process

Under UK law it is possible to adopt from any country that permits intercountry adoption and that is not a country restricted for adoption under UK law. Currently Guatemala, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Nepal, Haiti and Nigeria are restricted, and UK residents cannot adopt from those countries unless there are exceptional circumstances, in which case an exception can be applied for.

The UK’s population is diverse and adopters may therefore have close links with an overseas country. However, not all countries choose to place children overseas for adoption. The Advice Line can offer information as to which countries might be a possibility for you. Whichever country you choose, it is important to only make arrangements through an accredited agency or body in that country.

Where can I adopt from?

It is not usually possible to adopt children who have been displaced due to conflict or natural disasters.

The best way to help those affected by war is through recognised organisations where donations will go directly to those in need.

There are a number of reasons why it’s not appropriate for displaced children to be adopted overseas:

1. Ethical and Legal Concerns: In times of armed conflict, the legal systems and infrastructure of the affected countries are often disrupted or weakened. This can lead to difficulties in verifying the identity and background of children, which is crucial in ensuring their well-being and safety. It also makes it harder to obtain informed consent from the biological parents or guardians, which is a fundamental requirement for adoption.

2. Risk of Exploitation and Trafficking: The chaos and instability of conflict zones create an environment where child trafficking, abduction, and exploitation are more likely to occur. Intercountry adoption can inadvertently provide opportunities for unscrupulous individuals or organisations to take advantage of the situation, posing significant risks to the children involved.

3. Cultural and Psychological Considerations: Moving a child from their home country and culture can be a traumatic experience, especially during a time of crisis. The loss of cultural, linguistic, and familial connections can have long-lasting negative effects on a child’s identity and sense of belonging.

4. Disruption of Kinship and Community Ties: Intercountry adoption may result in the separation of siblings, extended families, and communities. This can have profound and lasting emotional, psychological, and social consequences for the child. Maintaining connections to their cultural and social roots is important for a child’s well-being and development.

5. Recovery and Reintegration: In many cases, it is in the best interest of the child to stay within their own country or region, where efforts can be made to locate and reunite them with their biological families or extended relatives. Post-conflict situations often require extensive efforts to rebuild communities and support systems, and keeping children in their own cultural context can facilitate this process.

6. Alternate Care Options: There are often alternative care options available within the country or region, such as foster care, kinship care, or community-based care. These options can provide a more culturally appropriate and temporary solution for children until they can be safely reunited with their families or reintegrated into their communities.

7. International Standards and Guidelines: International guidelines and standards, such as the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, emphasize that intercountry adoption should be considered only after all efforts to place a child in a suitable family environment within their own country have been exhausted.

In summary, while intercountry adoption can be a valid option in certain circumstances, it is generally considered a last resort for children who cannot be cared for within their own country or region. In periods of armed conflict, the priority is to protect the best interests of the child, which often involves efforts to reunite them with their families or extended communities, or to provide alternative care options within their own cultural context.

Links to Appeals

https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
https://www.hopeandhomes.org/
https://www.wearelumos.org/get-involved/ukraine-appeal/

The profile of children varies from country to country.  Their ages vary from under one year old through to 17. They may be male or female, healthy or have special health or other additional needs. They may be single children or part of a sibling group. It is important to understand that even children deemed healthy at placement may have health, developmental, or emotional needs arising from their early life experiences and the impact of trauma.

For this reason, Coram IAC would view all children adopted from overseas as being children with special needs. You will learn more about the children’s needs both short and long term during preparation and assessment.

We would strongly suggest that you do not identify a child before receiving your Certificate of Eligibility as there can be no guarantees that you will be approved as prospective adopters. You should also be aware that some countries do not permit the adoption of a child who has been identified by prospective adopters before all the required procedures in the UK and that country have been followed.

If you are related to a child you wish to adopt you must nevertheless follow the same process as outlined above. You should also be aware that it must be demonstrated that the child is in need of adoption. Immigration rules do apply to children being brought in by relatives from some countries and this can be a complicated matter.

You will need to travel to the country overseas on at least one occasion. For some countries you may need to travel on more than one occasion or be prepared to remain in the country for a longer period of time. You must also accompany the child into the UK on your return and if you are adopting as a couple both of you must accompany the child into the UK. It is not possible for the child to be brought to the UK by a carer or other party.

Local Authorities and Voluntary Adoption Agencies may charge prospective adopters for an assessment of their suitability to adopt from overseas, as there is no public funding available for this purpose. Charges vary and may be in the region of £12,000 – £25,000 but you should contact the local authority or adoption agency you intend to use for more information.

There are many other charges you will have to meet as the adoption progresses, and these should be properly researched from the outset so you understand the financial commitment that this involved.

For those enquirers whose Local Authority has a Service Level Agreement with Coram IAC to undertake intercountry adoption work, Coram IAC’s service charges are laid out in the Schedule of Charges. Please contact the Advice Line to request this.

Coram IAC’s Advice Line is open to all enquirers who are British Nationals living overseas. If you are still deemed to be habitually resident in the UK and wish to adopt a child from overseas, Coram IAC may also be able to assist you with the Approval Process. This is always considered on a case by case basis so please contact the Advice Line to explore if this is possible.

Please note that habitual residence is a legal concept and you may need to seek legal advice to determine if you are still habitually resident in the UK whilst living overseas.