Adopt a child from abroad

Adopting a child from abroad is also known as 'intercountry adoption' (ICA). 

There are 4 types of ICA: 

• Hague Convention adoptions 
• Non-Hague Convention adoptions 
• Restricted countries list adoptions 
• State of Origin adoptions  

Read Scotland’s intercountry adoption guidance to understand the process for adopting from abroad on gov.scot.

Hague Convention adoptions 

The 1993 Hague Convention sets rules to protect children in ICA. It is sometimes called 'the Convention'.  

What countries must do under the Convention 

Countries that have signed the Convention agree to: 

• put safeguards in place to protect children who are being adopted 
• assess people who want to adopt 
• prevent anyone making a profit from the adoption process 

When a Convention adoption applies 

If you adopt from a country that has signed the Convention, your adoption will follow the Convention adoption process. 

If the country has signed the Convention but is on Scotland’s restricted list, your application will need to be approved by Scottish Ministers before you can continue. This is known as an exception request.

Find out which countries are part of the Hague Convention on HCCH.net. 

For Convention adoptions, your first point of contact will be your local council. They will guide you through the application and assessment process.

Non-Hague Convention adoptions 

A non-Hague Convention adoption happens when you apply to adopt a child from a country that has not signed the Convention.

These adoptions cannot use the Hague Convention’s legal process.  

After your eligibility to adopt has been confirmed, you are responsible for completing the remaining steps.

If you’re planning to adopt from abroad 

Before applying, you should: 

Get legal advice 

You should consider getting legal advice. The process will be different depending on the country you want to adopt from. 

You can search for a solicitor on the Law Society of Scotland website. Choose ‘family and relationships’ under area of law. 

Find a solicitor on the Law Society of Scotland. 

Research the country you're adopting from 

You should research the country you're adopting from to find out their adoption rules and what fees you may be charged. The country's embassy or consulate can help you find information and give you advice about adoption. 

Find information about other countries' embassies in the UK on GOV.UK.

Countries with adoption restrictions 

Scotland keeps a list of restricted countries. You cannot usually adopt from these countries unless Scottish Ministers approve an exception request. 

Countries may be added to the list if there are concerns about: 

• unsafe adoption practices 
• political instability 
• risks to children or adopters 

A country stays on the list until it is considered safe. There are currently restrictions on adopting a child from: 

• Cambodia 
• Ethiopia 
• Guatemala 
• Haiti 
• Nepal 
• Nigeria 

Find out why there are restrictions for these countries and how to make a request on gov.scot. 

What this means for your adoption 

There is no guarantee that an exception request will be approved, even if you provide detailed evidence about your circumstances.

Some restricted countries have also signed the Hague Convention. If your country has signed the Convention and receives an exception request, your adoption will continue as a Convention adoption.

Applying to adopt a child from abroad 

You must: 

• apply through your local council's adoption service 
• get a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) from the Scottish Government 

Apply through your local council 

Your local council will check whether you can adopt a child. 

A social worker will work with you to complete background checks. They may: 

• visit you at home 
• meet with your friends and family members 

They'll also check things such as your: 

• medical history 
• criminal record 
• finances 
• home – to make sure it's safe for a child 

Your local council will then speak to an adoption panel about your application. They will decide whether you’re suitable to adopt a child.  

Get a Certificate of Eligibility 

You will need a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) to adopt a child from abroad. It confirms to the child’s country that you have been assessed and are eligible to adopt. 

The Scottish Government is the Central Authority for intercountry adoption (ICA) in Scotland. They will: 

• check all your required documents 
• decide whether to give you a CoE

The assessment period can take several months.  

If your application is successful 

Getting a CoE does not guarantee that you will adopt a child. 

If you applied for a Hague Convention adoption, the Scottish Government will communicate with the child’s country on your behalf. For non‑Hague Convention adoptions, you must complete the remaining steps yourself. 

The full ICA application process can take years. 

Costs of adopting a child from abroad 

There are costs you may need to pay during the adoption process. 

Identifying a child 

If you want to adopt and do not already have a child identified, the sending country may try to match you with a child once they accept your adoption application. 

Matching can take several years. This depends on how many applications the country has and how many children are waiting for a permanent home. 

You can also adopt a child who has already been identified, such as a family member. In many cases, sending countries will only consider adoptions involving family members, so it’s important to check each country’s ICA requirements. 

Immigration approval 

Your child will need immigration approval to enter the UK. This is known as 'entry clearance'. 

The Scottish Government ICA team does not handle the immigration process. Even if a child is matched for adoption, this does not guarantee that immigration approval will be granted.  

Find out more about entry clearance on GOV.UK. 

Make the adoption legal 

Depending on the country you're adopting the child from, you'll either: 

• finalise the adoption in the child's country of origin 
• bring the child back to Scotland and finalise the adoption here 

Your local council's adoption team and your solicitor can give you advice on this process. 

Get more help with adopting a child from abroad 

You can email the Scottish Government's intercountry adoption team at intercountryadoption@gov.scot if you have any questions about adopting a child from abroad.