International Adoption
The adoption of a child that lives outside Canada, including relatives, is called international adoption. International adoption can be a costly and complex process. You will need to manage your local provincial requirements and the requirements of the adoption authority of the country where the child lives.
Where can you adopt from?
Not all countries allow international adoption. The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) maintains a list of countries with restrictions or suspensions on international adoption here.
Further guidelines stem from the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (The Hague Convention), an international agreement signed by most countries around the world. The Hague Convention provides standard government-to-government processes and requires that a family be found in the child’s home country before an international adoption is considered.
Finally, some countries have specific requirements for adoptive parents based on age, health, finances and marital status. For example, to adopt a child in Korea, you must have been married for at least 3 years, be a heterosexual couple, be between the ages of 25 and 44, etc. (there is a lengthy list of additional requirements). Individual country requirements can be found here.
International adoption can be expensive
An agency or individual licensed for international adoption usually charges $20,000 to $50,000 for their international adoption services. There are also additional fees for a homestudy assessment, the mandatory parent training programs and travel and accommodation costs in a foreign country.
What is the international adoption process?
Select an adoption practitioner licensed in your home province with expertise in the country you anticipate adopting from.
A list of licensed agencies and individuals for private international adoption in Ontario can be found here. Their country-specific experience is noted.
Complete the homestudy and mandatory training
Find a match
Your adoption licensee will prepare a file with all the necessary information, including translations and send it to the country from which you are applying to adopt.
The wait time to receive a response regarding a child available to adopt varies from country to country, but commonly takes 2-5 years. During the waiting period it is important to keep your homestudy and training up to date.
Receive a proposal
When your adoption licensee receives a proposal from a foreign country for a child who is legally available to adopt, the licensee will review the details of the proposal to ensure it matches the recommendations from your homestudy.
The adoption licensee will ask you to review the details of the proposal with your adoption practitioner and decide if you want to proceed. If you accept the proposal, your adoption practitioner will prepare a consent report and send the proposal to the ministry for approval.
Travel to a foreign country
You’ll need to travel to the child’s country of origin to meet and bond with the child, but the requirements will vary from country to country. Some will require a specific number of trips or length of stay.
You can contact your adoption practitioner or licensee with any questions you may have while travelling to meet the child.
Finalize the adoption
Typically, the child must remain in their birth country until you receive the final adoption order and the child’s immigration clearance documentation that allows you to bring your child home.
The local Canadian Embassy will issue the decision about the child’s status in Canada. You will need to wait for this decision before the child can travel to Canada.
Approved Canadian immigration
You will need to apply for permanent residence for your child and, ultimately, Canadian citizenship. An overview of this process can be found here. This is typically a complex process, and your adoption practitioner will guide you through the immigration requirements.
Post-adoption reporting
Most foreign governments will require post-placement reports to ensure the well-being of their children. This can last for many months or many years, depending on the country.
