ADOPTION IMMIGRATION PROCESS — INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION

There are two processes that you must go through when you adopt a child from another country:

The adoption process and
The immigration process.

Most intercountry adoptions will take place in the child’s home country. Each country has different laws and procedures covering adoption by foreigners.

The immigration process allows two types of adoptions of children under 18. Depending on the law of the child’s home country, the intercountry adoption must either:

be completed outside of Canada; or
be completed in Canada.

For Canadian immigration purposes, all intercountry adoptions:

Must be legal in the child’s home country and in the province or territory where you live;
It Severs the legal relationship between child and biological parents;
It must be meeting the requirements of your province or territory which includes a home visit;
There must be a genuine relationship between the child and the parent;
It must be in the interests of the child;
It must not be to gain permanent resident status for the child in Canada.

Children adopted outside Canada may be sponsored to come to Canada if informed consent has been given by child’s biological parents (if they are living) and your child has been legally adopted outside Canada.

If applicable, the requirements of the Hague Convention must have been met.