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Adopting a child

Who can adopt

Last updated
30 Jul 2025

You can adopt a child if:

  • you're aged 21 or over
  • you've lived in Scotland for more than a year

You can adopt a child regardless of:

  • where you were born
  • whether you have children already or not
  • any 'protected characteristics' you have as part of the Equality Act (for example, your marital status, sexual orientation or religion)

Find out more about protected characteristics and the Equality Act on GOV.UK.

If you're adopting a child from abroad, the country you want to adopt from may have other rules about who can adopt there. For example, they may have different rules about age, sexual orientation or marital status.

Who you apply to

You can apply to adopt a child through an adoption agency. An adoption agency could be:

  • your local council's adoption service
  • a charity

Your adoption agency may have their own additional criteria for who can adopt a child.

Contact your local council about adopting a child

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