About applying for inter-country adoption with local element

If you are a South African based abroad, interested in adopting a South African child, you must contact the central authority in the country where you reside.

If there is no competent authority in your country, you can contact the International Social Services (ISS).

Inter-country adoption is the placement of a child in the permanent care of a person who is not their biological parent or guardian and resides in a foreign country,. It offers a permanent family to a child for whom a suitable family could not be found in the country of origin.

What you should do

• Contact the central  authority or ISS in the country where you reside
• The central authority or ISS in your country will recommend an adoption organisation that will assess and screen you for suitability.
• If the central authority or ISS finds you to be fit and proper to adopt, it will compile a comprehensive home study report and forward it to SACA.
• SACA will refer the matter to an accredited adoption organisation to establish whether there is a child who is available for adoption.
• The social worker will ensure that every person that needs to consent to the adoption gives consent through the Children’s Court.
• Affected parties will be given 60 days in which they can withdraw their consent  before the child is considered adoptable
• Once the adoption organisation submits a report in favour of the adoption, SACA will issue an Article 17, recommending inter-country adoption. 
  
• SACA will forward the child study report to the central  authority in your country to match you with the child.
• If you are still interested in  adopting the child, the central authority in the foreign country will issue an Article 17 granting you permission to adopt the child and forward it to SACA.
• You will be invited to travel to South Africa for the adoption to be finalised at the children’s court.  
• The children’s court will issue an adoption order and the relevant documentation will be forwarded to SACA for verification and registration of the adoption.
• If this adoption was arranged with another Hague country, SACA will ensure that the Certificate of Conformity is issued.
• The accredited child protection organisation will ensure that the Department of Home Affairs receives a copy of the adoption order and that the changing of names is done and a new birth certificate is issued.
• The accredited child protection organisation will forward you with the new birth certificate.
• The foreign adoption agency 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