Can I adopt from abroad?

Contrary to popular belief, adopting from abroad is not necessarily a quicker or easier route to adoption. You will have to pay the relevant fees to the agency, which can be over £6,000, and possibly a fee to the authorities in the child’s country of origin. The process can take between one to three years.

There are currently over 4,000 children in the UK waiting for a new family, either through adoption or permanent (also known as long-term) fostering. Why not look at some of our profiles of children who need adopting or fostering now?

If you think you could offer one of these children a permanent, loving home, you may wish to read some more information on the UK adoption and fostering process.

If you would rather adopt a child from another country, you will need to be approved for intercountry adoption by a UK adoption agency that is registered to carry out intercountry adoption assessments. You can apply to either your local council (known as the health and social services trust in Northern Ireland) or to a voluntary adoption agency approved to assess intercountry adopters. The Department for Education (DfE) will process your application and issue a certificate of eligibility if you are approved.

Note: It is against the law to bring a child who is not a resident of this country to the UK for adoption if you have not been approved by a UK adoption agency.

For more information, see:

• Intercountry Adoption Centre
• Advice on intercountry adoption from the DCSF (now Department for Education (DfE)

Last updated: 29 June 10

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