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Intercountry adoption
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Information for adoption agencies
This page is intended to provide information and guidance to agencies on the intercountry adoption application process. We realise that not all agencies will regularly submit intercountry adoption applications to the DCSF, so we hope that the information on this page will clarify the requirements.
We also recommend that you read the leaflet on Intercountry Adoption Procedures , which sets out details about the process and the Home Office leaflet on intercountry adoption, which includes information about immigration. For details of the legal and procedural requirements for different countries, please click here.
DCSF casework processing
If intercountry adoption applicants are approved as suitable to adopt, you should send the papers to the DCSF casework team at the following address:
Intercountry Adoption Casework Team
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Room 11, Lower Ground Floor
Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington
DL3 9BG
Please ensure that the application is complete before sending it to the casework team. Any incomplete files submitted will result in delays in the processing time for cases. We recommend that you attach the DCSF checklist to the front of applications, which will help us and you to ensure that all of the papers are included. To download a copy of this checklist, please click here.
The normal stages in the processing of intercountry adoption cases are as follows:
1) DCSF receive case from adoption agency and send an acknowledgement to adopters which also asks for contact details.
2) A caseworker will check that all the necessary papers are included and up-to-date. If there are papers missing or incorrectly completed, we will contact the adoption agency to rectify any errors.
3) If we are satisfied from the paperwork that the adopter has been assessed and approved according to UK legislation and meets the other country's requirements, we will normally issue a Certificate of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt. Adopters will be notified that this has happened.
4) A caseworker will then arrange for the papers to be sent to a Notary Public, nominated by the prospective adopters. Not all countries require papers to be notarised, and those that do have varying requirements.
5) The Notary Public will usually return the papers to the DCSF casework team, who will then arrange for the papers to be legalised at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Again, not all countries require this legalisation.
6) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will return the papers to the DCSF team who will, if necessary, forward them to the other country's Embassy in London for the final stage of legalisation.
7) When the papers are received back at the DCSF from the Embassy, the application will be sent to the relevant authorities or contact in the other country.
This is the standard casework procedure, although requirements will vary from country to country. For more detailed information about the process, please click here . For details of different countries' requirements, please click here .
