Adoption of Children in China by Foreigners

I. Adopter shall meet simultaneously the following requirements:

1. Childless;

2. Capable of raising and educating the adoptee;

3. Suffering no such disease which is medically regarded as unfit for adopting a child;

4. Having reached the age of 30.

Orphans, disabled children, or abandoned infants and children whose parents cannot be ascertained or found and who are under the care of a social welfare institution may be adopted irrespective of the restrictions that the adopter shall be childless and that he or she can adopt one child only.

II. With regard to the adoption of a child in China by a foreigner, an adoption application shall be transmitted by the relevant government or the adoption organization entrusted by the relevant government to the adoption organization entrusted by the Chinese Government, accompanied by a report on the adopter's family background and relevant certificates.

The adopter's application, family background report and certificates prescribed in the preceding paragraph refer to the following documents notarized by the notary office or a notary of the country of his habitual residence and authenticated by the foreign affairs ministry or the agency authorized by the foreign affairs ministry of the country of his habitual residence and by the Embassy or Consulate of China in the country concerned: Application for transnational adoption;

1. Birth certificate

2. Marital status certificate

3. Certificates of profession, income and property

4. Health examination certificate

5. Certificate of criminal report

6. Certificate of child adoption approval issued by the competent authorities of the adopter's country of habitual residence;

7. Family background report, including the status of the adoption applicant, the qualification and appropriateness of the adoption, family conditions health history, adoption motive and features suitable for the care of the child.

With regard to the adoption of children in China by foreigners who have continuously lived in China for work or study for over one year, a marital status certificate, certificates of profession, income and property, and certificate of criminal record issued by his unit in China, and health certificate issued by a medical unit at or above the county level in China, shall be submitted, in addition to the submission of the application, family background report and certificates prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

The department in charge: Office of Social Affairs (Office of Adoption Registration)

Contact Person: Zhu Jungeng, Tian Lijun

Tel: +86-571-87050925, +86-571-87050928

Supervising department: Office of the Department Inspection Commissioners

Complaints: +86-571-87050288