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Intercountry adoption
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Thinking about adopting a child from another country?
Although there are many children in England who are looking for an adoptive family, there are also children in other countries who need homes. Intercountry adoption may be their only opportunity to have a permanent family. For humanitarian reasons the Government allows intercountry adoptions to proceed where:
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The child cannot be cared for in any suitable manner in his or her own country;
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The adoption would be in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights as recognised in international law; and
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The adopter has been assessed as eligible and suitable to adopt from overseas by an adoption agency.
If you think that you would be interested in adopting a child from overseas you should speak to your local authority or a voluntary adoption agency that is registered to work on intercountry adoption. Contact details for local authorities and adoption agencies, and other organisations linked to intercountry adoption are available.
A brief overview of intercountry adoption processes and procedures is provided in our leaflet Intercountry Adoption Procedures. Information on relevant immigration requirements is available in the Home Office publication Intercountry Adoption and the Immigration Rules.
If you have further queries our list of frequently asked questions may help.
