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The Adoption Process
What you need to know
IAA are committed to providing information and support to families who are engaged in intercountry adoption. This page is being updated, and will provide initial answers to some frequently asked questions.
Introduction to Intercountry Adoption
WHO CAN ADOPT?
This guide is intended for people interested in intercountry adoption, who are resident in Ireland. Irish residents who wish to adopt a child abroad are required to have their eligibility and suitability established by the HSE or by an accredited assessment agency prior to adopting.
ELIGIBILITY
The eligibility criteria for adoption are provided for under the Adoption Act 2010. In order to be eligible to adopt you must fall into one of the following categories:
- You are a married couple living together. This is the only circumstance where the law permits the adoption of a child by more than one person;
- You are a married person living alone. In this circumstance the spouse’s consent to the adoption must be obtained, unless they are living apart and are separated under (i) a court decree, (ii) a deed of separation, (iii) the spouse has deserted the prospective adopter or (iv) conduct on the part of the spouse results in the prospective adopter,with just cause, leaving the spouse and living apart;
- You are the mother, father or a relative of the child (relative meaning a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt of the child and/or the spouse of any such person, the relationship to the child being traced through the mother or the father);
- You are a sole applicant not covered in any of the categories above and the Adoption Authority is satisfied that, in the particular circumstances of the case, it is desirable to grant an adoption order.
There is also a minimum age limit for adoption. You must be at least 21 years of age if the child is not a relative. If the child is to be adopted by the natural father or mother, or a relative of the child, only one of you must have attained the age of 21.
Currently there is NO UPPER AGE LIMIT in Irish statute in relation to intercountry adoption, nor is one applied by the Adoption Authority in relation to the decision to issue a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability (“Declaration”).
As regards residency, you must be ordinarily resident in the State and must have resided in the State for at least one year before the date of the making of the Adoption Order.
SUITABILITY
Suitability assessments may only be carried out by the HSE or by any accredited assessment agency. However ALL applications for assessment must, in the first instance be made to the HSE. The HSE has statutory power to allocate assessments to accredited assessment agencies.
The 5 Standards
In assessing your suitability regard shall be had to the following standards:
- The capacity to safeguard the child throughout his or her childhood;
- The capacity to provide the child with family life that will promote his or her development and well being and have due regard to the physical, emotional, social, health, educational, cultural, spiritual and other dimensions. The resources that families can draw on will vary from family to family and may change over time. Whatever circumstances the family find themselves in, the applicant/s will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the importance of maintaining an on-going and meaningful relationship with their child;
- The capacity to provide an environment where the child’s original nationality, race, culture, language and religion will be valued and appropriately promoted throughout childhood. This will include the capacity of the parent/s to recognise the differences between themselves and their child within these areas and to recognise and try to combat racism and other institutional and personal oppressive forces within society;
- The capacity to recognise and understand the impact of being an adopted child from an overseas country on the development of the child’s identity throughout their childhood and beyond;
- The capacity to recognise the need for and to arrange for appropriate support and intervention from health, social services, educational, and other services throughout childhood.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications must be made to the HSE. Contact Details for the HSE are listed in the Useful Addresses section at the end of this Guide.
Upcoming Events
Creating a Lifebook – An Interactive Workshop – 10 March 2012
Post Adoptive? New Year's Resolution to make a Lifebook for your child(ren)? Then sign-up to participate in this practical but fun workshop.
Contact with Birth Family: Issues to Consider – 23rd February 2012
In adoption, initiating and/or maintaining contact with birth family will always have many complexities and challenges. This workshop will explore the issues to be considered from the child’s, the adoptive parents’ and the birth parents’ point of view.
2012 Upcoming Events
23 February - Contact with Birth Families- Issues to Consider 10 March – Lifebook – An Interactive Workshop 31 March – Sole Adopters Spring Social Network 1 April – Easter Egg Hunt All events are for IAA Members except where otherwise stated. The calendar of events for 2012 is updated as events are scheduled. Please check [...]
Past Events – 2011
The following events have already taken place in 2011: Sole Adopters Network – Dublin – 28th January Practical Parenting – Dublin – 26th February Sole Adopters Q&A – Portlaoise – 26th March Nutrition for the Adopted Child – Dublin – 2nd April Easter Egg Hunt, Donadea Forest Park, Kildare – 16th April Introduction to Intercountry [...]
News 
AAI Advisory – VARIOUS COUNTRIES – 22 February 2012
South Africa: Hague Convention state, but specifically informed the AAI in mid-2011 that it would NOT accept packs from Ireland at that time. The NCA has been asked for on update on their position. Irish applicants should not attempt to effect a private (non-Hague Convention) adoption in South Africa. Refer to country specific advisories. India: [...]
‘No need for concern’ about adoptions prior to Hague Convention, Irish Times, 22 February 2012
THERE IS no need for anyone to be concerned about inter-country adoptions into Ireland that took place before the Hague Convention was signed, the Minister for Children has told the Dáil. Frances Fitzgerald acknowledged the difference in language used “pre-Hague and post-Hague”. But she stressed “it is extremely important that there is no implication that [...]
AAI Notice – INDIA – 17 February 2012
Both Ireland and India are signatories to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Article 2 of the Convention states that the Convention SHALL apply to all intercountry adoptions between two contracting States. On 1 July 2011, the AAI was notified by the Indian National Central Authority [...]
Recession hits number of ICA Bids – Irish Independent 13 February 2012
The numbers of Irish people applying for permission to adopt a child from abroad have fallen, according to the Health Service Executive. A spokeswoman said improved fertility treatments meant women had a greater chance of getting pregnant and giving birth. The other serious factor, of course, is the number of people who are unemployed or [...]
Adoption Authority Notice – Vietnam – 7 February 2012
The Vietnamese authorities are examining a suggested scheme of administrative arrangements to be established between Ireland and Vietnam, under the terms of the 1993 Hague Convention, for the resumption of intercountry adoption between the two States. The scheme was prepared and submitted to the Vietnamese authorities by the Adoption Authority of Ireland during the course [...]
Adoption Authority of Ireland – Updated Notice – MEXICO – 25 January 2012
Ireland ratified the 1993 Hague Convention through the enactment of the Adoption Act on 1 November 2010. The Hague Convention sets out a robust framework for regulating intercountry adoption on a global basis. Recent events in Mexico underline the importance of the Convention in providing a framework to regulate intercountry adoption. In relation to Mexico, [...]
Dail Debate – Intercountry Adoption – 18 January 2012
Dail Debate 18 January 2012 Deputy Pat Breen: I welcome the opportunity to raise the important issue of intercountry adoptions. I commend the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on the excellent job she has done since taking over her portfolio. She has rightly placed the welfare of our children at the heart of [...]
Press Release – Successful Visit by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to Vietnam Achieves Major Step Forward in Inter Country Adoption Relationships – 16 January 2012
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald T.D, on return from her visit to Vietnam, today said that: “Since coming into office I have prioritised the development of a closer working relationship with the Vietnamese authorities on adoption. I know that this is an issue of enormous interest to prospective adopters from Ireland. [...]
Adoption Authority of Ireland – Responses to potential queries regarding adoption in Mexico – 16 January 2012
Background: Mexico has become increasingly popular as a country to be considered for intercountry adoption in recent years. It ratified the Hague Convention in 1995. However, the former Adoption Board and the AAI have had occasion to raise a number of concerns with diplomatic and official Mexican authorities, and has urged caution on a [...]
Adoption Authority – Updated Notice – MEXICO – 12 January 2012
A delegation from the AAI met with their counterparts in the Mexican National Central Authority in Mexico City on 9th December 2011. Items discussed included -the adoption process in Mexico -the accreditation process in Mexico for accredited bodies -Mexico and Ireland working together within the Hague Convention The Mexican authorities sought details of applications for [...]
10 January 2012 – Minister Fitzgerald to progress arrangements with Vietnamese Minister for Justice on intercountry adoption. – DCYA Press
Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, is meeting Mr. Ha Hung Cuong, Vietnamese Minister for Justice, of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam later this week and will carry out a series of engagements in relation to intercountry adoption between Ireland and Vietnam. Minister Fitzgerald said “I have accepted an invitation from Mr [...]
Adoption Authority Notice – MEXICO – 5 January 2012
From the Hague Convention website (www.hcch.net)… Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Declaration by MEXICO Articles: 6,17,21,22,28,34 I. In connection with Article 6, paragraph 2, and Article 22, paragraph 2, the Systems for Integral Family Development in each of the following federal units shall act as [...]
Adoption Authority Notice – VIETNAM – 30 December 2011
A delegation from the AAI will visit Vietnam in January 2012 to commence discussions on possible administration arrangements for inter country adoption between Ireland and Vietnam as provided for by Article 39(2) of the 1993 Hague Convention and Section 72 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Adoption Authority Notice – RUSSIAN FEDERATION -22 December 2011
A delegation from the Department of Children & Youth Affairs and the Adoption Authority of Ireland met with officials of the Ministry of Education & Science of the Russian Federation in Moscow on 13th and 14th December 2011. The visit took place within the context of preliminary talks on the possibility of agreeing [...]
Adoption Authority Advisory – REVIEW OF LAWS – 20 December 2011
The Adoption Authority of Ireland commenced a review of the adoption law(s) of the following countries on the dates indicated - - Kazakhstan 12 October 2011 - Panama 28 November 2011 - Turkey 30 November 2011 - Russian Federation (non-Hague) 16 December 2011 - Ethiopia (non-Hague) 19 December 2011 The general process for the review [...]
