About family or blood related inter-country adoption

Adopt the child of your South African relative and get the child to stay with you abroad. If you are in South Africa and the child is foreign-based, you can get the child to join you in South Africa once you’ve adopted the child in the foreign country.

Inter-country adoption entails the legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from birth parent(s) to you across international borders.

To adopt a child of your South African based relative, you must approach the central authority in your country of residence. If there is no competent authority in your country, you can contact the International Social Services (ISS) to facilitate the adoption.

If the child is foreign-based, you must approach the South African Central Authority (SACA), who will refer the matter to an accredited child protection organisation. If the child protection organisation finds you to be a suitable prospective adoptive parent after screening and assessment, it will compile a comprehensive report send it to the foreign central authority. The foreign central authority, will, in turn, investigate and compile a child study report and  send it to South Africa.

Should both countries agree to the adoption, you will have to go to the foreign country to finalise the adoption.

Family or blood related adoptions can be done with any country without a working agreement in place (Hague or non-Hague country).

What you should do

• When South Africa is the country of origin, the procedure is as follows:
• If you are in a foreign country and want to adopt a South African child related to you, you must contact the central authority in the country of your residence.
• An accredited adoption organisation will assess and screen you to determine your suitability as a prospective adoptive parent. If the organization fids you to be fit and proper to adopt,it will compile a comprehensive home study report and send it to SACA, which will in turn, forward it to an accredited child protection organisation.
• The South African child protection organisation will investigate and establish the adoptability of the child. 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
• The adoption organization will compile a comprehensive child study report and send it to the foreign country.
• Should both countries agree to the adoption, you will have to come to South Africa for the finalisation of the adoption.
• In a situation where South Africa is the receiving country and you are South African and want to adopt a child you are related to from a foreign country, the procedure for such an adoption is as follows:
• You must contact the South African Central Authority (SACA), who in turn will refer the matter to an accredited child protection organisation.
• The child protection organisation will assess and screen you to determine your suitability as a prospective adoptive parent. If the organisation finds you to be fit and proper to adopt, it will compile a comprehensive home study report send it to the foreign central authority.
• The foreign central authority, through their organisation, will investigate the adoptability of the child and compile a comprehensive child study report. The report will be forwarded to the South African Central Authority.
• Should both countries agree to the adoption, you will have to travel to the foreign country  to  finalise the adoption

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