Adopting a child from abroad

If you’re considering international adoption, it is important to seek specialist children law and immigration advice. Adopting a child from abroad is a complex process, but having the right lawyers by your side can make all the difference.

The adoption process will differ depending on which country you choose to adopt from. There are three key categories that a country will fall into, affecting the legal requirements to adopt from there:

• Hague Convention countries
• ‘Designated list’ countries
• Countries that aren’t in either category

The UK is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the 'Hague Convention'). This is an international treaty designed to protect children’s welfare by providing safeguards and standards for inter-country adoptions. If you adopt a child from a country which is also a party to the Hague Convention (Hague Convention country), the adoption will be recognised in the UK. Importantly, this means that you will not have to make two separate adoption applications.

The UK also has a ‘designated list’ of countries, listing those where it will automatically recognise an adoption from. This list is available on the government website here. However, adopting from a ‘designated list’ country is more complicated than adopting from a Hague Convention country, as you will have to make a separate application seeking British citizenship for your child.

If you choose to adopt from a country that is neither a Hague Convention country nor a ‘designated list’ country, you will have to apply for an adoption order from the UK courts. This route is the most complex, with many steps to the adoption process. Furthermore, there are restrictions on adopting from specific countries. To adopt from a restricted country, you will need to make an exception request. You can read the list of restricted countries here.

Is Vardags right for you?

We have worked at the forefront of family law for two decades, setting new precedents and achieving life-changing results for our clients. We have earned a global reputation as a leading family law firm and are described as ‘the Rolls Royce and the Ferrari of the family law world’.

Our fearless, innovative approach sets us apart from other law firms and is the reason behind our success. We work diligently to get the best results for our clients, with the Legal 500 commending our ability to ‘take on unwinnable cases and win…fight the unfightable and succeed’.

At Vardags, we will guide you through every stage of the process and provide the strategic advice you need to make your adoption journey as smooth as possible. If you think you need our help, don’t delay. Contact Vardags today.

We are ready to help

We provide a free initial consultation to suitable clients, where our team will take their time to understand the issues of your case and help you determine the next best move. Our clients typically have an income over £300,000 per annum or savings of over £100,000.