Adopt a child in a convention country

About
What you should do
How long does it take
How much does it cost
Forms to complete
Who to contact

 

 

Hague convention adoptions

If you are a foreigner interested in adopting a South African child, you must first find out if your country is a signatory to the Hague Convention. The convention dictates best inter-country adoption practice between participating countries.  

You can only use this type of adoption if your country, like South Africa, has signed the Hague Convention.

The Convention considers the best interest of the child and seeks to prevent the abduction, exploitation, sale and trafficking of children.

The Central Authority in the country where you live should refer you to an accredited child protection organisation for screening. The organisation will also liaise with an accredited child protection organisation in South Africa to help look for a child available for adoption.

What you should do

  1. Contact the Central Authority in the country where you live.
  2. The Central Authority will refer you to an adoption organisation in your country for assessment and screening to determine if you are suitable to adopt a child.
  3. If the protection organisation finds you to be fit and proper to adopt, it will compile a comprehensive home study report and forward it to the South African Central Authority (Saca).
  4. The Saca will forward the report to the child protection organisation which has an adoption working agreement with the foreign organisation to look for a child who is available for adoption.
  5. If there is a child who is available for adoption, the child protection organisation will compile a child study report and forward it to the Saca for approval for inter-country adoption (Article 17).
  6. The child protection organisation in South Africa will forward the report to the foreign organisation to match the child with the prospective parents.  
  7. If you are still interested in the adoption, the Central Authority in your country of residence, grant you permission to adopt in terms of Article 17.
  8. The permission from your country’s Central Authority will be sent to the accredited child protection organisation in South Africa. The child protection organisation will inform you to travel to South Africa for the finalisation of the adoption in the children’s court.
  9. The court will finalise the adoption and court documents will be forwarded to the Saca for verification and registration of the adoption.
  10. The Saca will then issue the Certificate of Conformity.
  11. The adoption organisation the country where you live will provide you with after-care services for five years.

How long does it take

It differs from one case to another.

How much does it cost

You must pay to an accredited child protection organisation in respect of an inter-country adoption.

Forms to complete

Contact the Central Authority in the country where you live.
 

Who to contact

Contact the Central Authority in the country where you live.

Department of Social Development provincial offices contact list

 

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