The international adoption process
International (or intercountry) adoption
- is a process by which a person or couple is recognized as the legal and permanent parent(s) of a child from another country
- must comply with the laws of the parent’s country and the country where the child is coming from
For most international adoptions, you must complete 2 processes:
- the adoption process
- the immigration or citizenship process
Complete both these processes before you bring your adopted child to Canada.
Don’t plan to return to Canada with the adopted child until you know for certain that you meet all citizenship or immigration requirements.
You can start the immigration process before the adoption process if either
- the country you’re adopting from requires a probationary period, or
- you’ll complete the adoption process in Canada
Complete the adoption process
In Canada, the provinces and territories are responsible for the adoption process.
To be eligible to adopt, you must meet the adoption requirements of the
Canadian province or territory where you live (or the country where you live, if you’re abroad)
adoption authority of the country where the child lives
-
Contact the appropriate adoption authority
Whether you’re in Canada or abroad, the first step is to reach out to the appropriate adoption authority.
If you’re in Canada
Contact your provincial or territorial adoption central authority to get started.
They’ll help you
- determine whether you need to work with a licensed adoption agency
- learn about the adoptions laws of the country that you want to adopt the child from
- understand the rules of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions
If you’re living outside Canada
If you’re a Canadian living abroad for an extended period, contact the adoption authority of the country where you live to learn about their adoption requirements.
If you lived in Quebec before you moved abroad
If you were a Quebec resident before you moved abroad, your first step in the adoption process is to contact the Secrétariat aux services internationaux à l’enfant (SASIE), Quebec’s central authority for intercountry adoption. Let them know you’re interested in adopting and follow their process.
Contact SASIE through
- email at SASIE@msss.gouv.qc.ca
- the online contact form
The nearest Government of Canada office may be able to help you with the process. They can
- direct you to the right adoption authorities, such as
- local social service agencies
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- provincial and territorial adoption authorities in Canada
- help you get a Letter for Non-resident Canadians from your last province of residence, if required
- issue a letter confirming that Canada will recognize the adoption
-
Check which countries allow international adoptions
There are suspensions or restrictions on international adoptions in some countries.
Don’t adopt during a crisis
A crisis (such as a war or natural disaster) often separates children from their families.
Why you shouldn’t adopt a child during a crisis
In these situations, you shouldn’t adopt a child because
- reuniting the child with their parents or family must take priority
- it’s difficult to confirm if a child is actually available for adoption
For more information, check the statement from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).
-
Follow all the steps in the adoption process
If you skip steps, this may result in you unknowingly participating in the abduction, sale or trafficking of a child.
We may refuse your adopted child’s immigration or citizenship application if we find that their adoption did not follow
- the safeguards and principles of the Hague Convention (for example, the child was not legally available for adoption or may have been abducted), or
- Canadian laws and local laws where the child lives
-
Check processing times
Intercountry adoption takes time.
In some cases, it can take several years to process your adopted child’s immigration or citizenship application. The processing time depends on the complexity of your application. This doesn’t include the time required for the adoption process.
Beware of child trafficking
Some countries have a higher risk of child trafficking. If the country you’re adopting from has a high risk, we’ll take more steps to make sure the best interests of children are respected.
Immigration and citizenship applications for adopted children from these parts of the world may take longer than usual to process.
-
-
Choose the immigration or citizenship process (bringing your adopted child to Canada)
To bring your child to Canada, you must apply for either the child’s
: Option 1 of 2 Canadian citizenship
: Option 2 of 2 permanent residence (immigration)
The process you use depends on your situation and where the child is from.
-
Submit a post-adoption progress report
Many countries of origin require post-adoption progress reports on how the child is doing in their adopted family and new environment.
As an adoptive parent, it’s your responsibility to complete these reports.
Contact your province or territory for more information about these reports.
Adoption resources
Page details
- Date modified: