Steps to follow

• Complete a form at your nearest Social Development office or Children’s Court.
• Your application will be assessed to determine your suitability as an adoptive parent. 
• If your application is successful, the Commissioner of Welfare will issue an adoption order.
• After the Commissioner has issued the adoption order, documents are sent to the Registrar of Adoptions for registration.
• The Registrar of Adoptions will subsequently issue a certified copy of Adoption.
• Enquiries must be directed to the Registrar of Adoptions, and should include the following information: 
  • adopted or birth name of the adoptee
  • identity number or date of birth of the adoptee
  • names of the adoptive parents or biological parents
  • full contact details of the enquirer.
• Inter-country adoptions:
  • The Department of Social Development is the Central Authority on inter-country adoptions and enquiries should be directed to the department.
  • South Africa has entered into working agreements with foreign countries with regard to inter-country adoptions. In terms of these agreements, South Africa is mainly the sending country.