Hague convention adoptions

If you are a foreigner interested in adopting  a South African child, you must first find out if your country is a signatory to the Hague Convention. The convention dictates best inter-country adoption practice between participating countries.  

You can only use this type of adoption if your country, like South Africa, has signed the Hague convention.

The convention considers the best interest of the child and seeks to prevent the abduction, exploitation, sale and trafficking of children.

The central authority in your country of residence should refer you to a accredited child protection organisation for screening. The organisation will also liaise with an accredited child protection organisation in South Africa to help look for a child available for adoption.  

What you should do

• Contact the Central Authority in your country of residence
• The Central Authority will refer you to an adoption. organisation in your country for assessment and screening to determine if you are suitable to adopt a child.
• If the protection organisation finds you to be  fit and proper to adopt, it will compile a comprehensive home study report and forward it  to the South African Central Authority (SACA).
• SACA will forward the report to the child protection organisation which has an adoption working agreement with the foreign organisation to look for a child who is available for adoption.
• If  there is a child who is available for adoption, the child protection organization will compile a child study report  and forward it to SACA for approval for inter-country adoption (Article 17).
• The child protection organisation in South Africa will forward the report to the foreign organisation to match the child with the prospective parents.  
• If you are still interested in the adoption, the Central Authority in your country of residence will issue Article 17, granting you permission to adopt.
• The Article 17 from your country’s Central Authority will be sent to the accredited child protection organisation in South Africa. The child protection organisation will inform you to travel to South Africa for the finalization of the adoption in the children’s court.
• The court will finalize the adoption and court documents will be forwarded to SACA for verification and registration of the adoption.
• SACA will then issue the Certificate of Conformity
• The foreign adoption organisation will provide you with after-care services for a period of five years.

Timeframe

It differs from one case to another.

How much does it cost

You must pay to an accredited child protection organisation in respect of an inter-country adoption.

Group orientation	R2250.oo per session
Interview/counselling	R250.00 per hour
Home visits	R250.00 per hour
Home study report	R500.00 per report
Court processes	R500.00 per day
Birth registration	R170.00 per hour
Administration costs	R170.00 per hour
After care services	R500.00 once-off payment
Origin enquiry/tracing	R200.00 per hour

Forms to complete

All forms are available at your nearest Department of Social Development office.

Who to contact

Toll Free Line: 0800 60 10 11