Coram IAC run an accredited Country Programme with South Africa, meaning that we can liaise directly with authorities there.
South Africa is a signatory to the 1993 Hague Convention, which ensures that the intercountry adoption process is ethical, transparent and child-first. All adoptions from South Africa are regulated through the South African Central Authority. Coram IAC is the only adoption agency in the UK able to offer a service to prospective adopters seeking to adopt from South Africa, including those looking to adopt unrelated children and those who have already identified a child in South Africa.
The programme allows Coram IAC and our partner agency in South Africa, Child Welfare Durban and District (CWDD), to work closely together to match waiting families in the UK with children waiting for placements in South Africa and to support the families through the time of introductions and the Court process in South Africa.
The children needing homes
The children requiring homes in South Africa have a range of needs. It is important to note that:
- Most children will have suffered some form of neglect or abuse prior to coming into care and therefore have health, emotional, or behavioural legacies as a result
- Most of the children will usually be of Black heritage, with a smaller number of mixed heritage
- Children living with HIV are a high priority group and are likely to be placed at a younger age
- Children will usually be placed individually. Sibling groups are placed only very rarely.
CWDD will prioritise prospective adoptive parents who are able to take children with the following backgrounds:
- HIV positive
- Operable and inoperable medical special needs
- Children with socially vulnerable backgrounds such as domestic violence, sexual or physical abuse, loss of parents etc.
- Children who are over the age of 3 years
Adoption process – South Africa
Children are matched by CWDD with the prospective adopters who are considered to be the best match for that specific child’s needs, rather than in order of waiting time.
The waiting time to be matched with a child varies, but on average is between 18 months and two years. Coram IAC will support you during this time to continue your preparation to become parents, including carrying out your Annual Review, which is a requirement to continue being registered with DfE. There are virtual coffee morning and workshops where you can meet other families who are also waiting.
Some prospective adopters also consider Parallel Planning with our UK Domestic programme during this time.
Eligibility for South Africa
- Single adopters and couples, including couples of the same sex are eligible to adopt, making South Africa one of the few current options for LGBTQ applicants
- Prospective adopters under the age of 45 are eligible to adopt a child under 2 years of age, between 45 and 50 years a child of 2-3 years and between 50 and 55 years a child over the age of 3
Please see the Information Pack for details of further eligibility criteria, which is sent to you by the Advice Line team.
Who can use the Country Programme?
Prospective adopters who wish to use the South Africa Country Programme must be:
- Eligible to adopt from South Africa – The Coram IAC Information Pack (South Africa Country Programme) provides full details of eligibility criteria
- Approved to adopt from South Africa
- Resident in the United Kingdom
Prospective Adopters living outside of the Local Authorities who contract Coram IAC to undertake their assessments may need to request an assessment via their Local Authority before joining the South Africa Country Programme but please speak to Coram IAC before you make an enquiry about becoming an approved adopter.
There is a charge for this service and further details concerning the service and the costs can be found in the Information Pack, which is sent to you by the Advice Line team.
Get in touch
If you’d like to hear more about the South Africa Country Programme and access our Information Pack, please contact the Coram IAC Advice Line using the button below. We are here to help.