Children and adoption

Basic procedure for child adoption

According to the relevant Chinese legal provisions, a foreigner who intends to adopt a child in China shall submit an application to China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption and go through the relevant formalities.

Foreigners who intend to adopt children in China shall follow the basic procedures as follows: (1) Submission of application. (2) Acceptance and registration. The China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption, after receiving the adoption materials submitted by the foreign adopters through their host government or the adoption organization, shall accept and register the adoption materials that are complete and effective, and that service fee has been paid to China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption, and inform the foreign government or foreign adoption organization that submitted the adoption materials of the acceptance and registration. (3) Examination and selection. Upon examination of the China Adoption Center, as to the foreign adopters who conform to the relevant Chinese legal provisions and conditions, the China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption shall select appropriate adoptee in consideration of the wishes of the foreign adopter, and refer the relevant information of the adoptee as well as the the person placing out the child for adoption to the foreign government and adopter and solicit their opinions. (4) Issuance of Notice. After the foreign government and adopter agree to accept the recommended adoptee, the China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption shall issue the Notice of Coming to China for Adoption to the adopters. At the same time, the China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption shall issue the Notice of Foreign-related Adoption to the adoption registration organ of the civil affairs department at the provincial level in the locality where the adoptee resides. (5) Coming to China in person. Upon receipt of the Notice of Coming to China for Adoption, the foreign couple shall come in concert to China with the original copy of the Notice and go through the formalities of registration of adoption with the civil affairs department of the people's government at the provincial level in the locality where the adoptee's permanent residence is registered. (6) Registration of adoption. Foreign adopters, in registering adoption, shall fill out a registration application for adoption of children by foreigners in China and submit the adoption agreement with the person placing out the child for adoption. At the same time, the adopters shall submit the original copy of the Notice of Coming to China for Adoption issued by the China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption, and the identity documents and photos of the adopters. The civil affairs department at the provincial level shall register the adoption for the parties having adoptive relationships where the legal requirements are met, and issue an adoption registration certificate and provide the Certificate of Conformity of Inter-country Adoption. The adoptive relationship shall be established as of the date of registration.

Where, after the adoption has been registered, adoption notarization is required by all parties or any one party involved in the adoptive relationship, the adoption shall be notarized in a notary organ with the qualification of foreign-related notarization determined by the judicial administration department under the State Council.