adopting from overseas: intercountry adoptions
DoCS is currently the only agency in NSW which can arrange intercountry adoption.
who can adopt from overseas?
DoCS considers many factors when selecting parents for overseas children, including their parenting abilities, character and family situation.
what countries can I adopt from?
Details of the current intercountry adoption programs available to prospective adoptive applicants can be found on the Australian Attorney General’s website.
The Attorney-General's Department does not process individual adoption applications. This is the responsibility of the State and Territory Central Authorities.
See the support organisations page for details of intercountry adoption support organisations and NSW contact details.
Under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, it may be possible for an intercountry adoption arrangement to be made with another member country.
For further information about how to adopt through the intercountry program, see Thinking about adoption.
fees and charges
A new pricing structure for fees for intercountry adoptions is now effective as of 1 July 2004. See the fact sheet on fees and costs for more details.
These changes followed community consultation and discussion on proposed reforms to intercountry adoption.
The reforms aim to improve the effectiveness of the intercountry adoption process, and to ensure the best possible services for the children being placed for adoption from overseas and for people seeking to adopt these children.
DoCS acknowledges that there are circumstances where the fee structure may disadvantage applicants with lower incomes. Some fee relief is available under the new Hardship Policy. For more information on the hardship policy and fee relief provisions, see the Hardship Policy fact sheet.
The new pricing structure was gazetted under Section 200 (2) of the Adoption Act 2000.
support organisations
There are many organisations which exist to support and assist families who wish to or have adopted a child from overseas.
Different intercountry adoption support organisations provide different types of services. Find an organisation to suit your needs.
ethics and rights
DoCS works to safeguard and protect the rights, welfare and interests of children being adopted, while providing applicants with a professional adoption service.
We work only through overseas government adoption authorities or their accredited agencies. We are very strict about which adoption programs we support, and will only facilitate the adoption of a child if we're satisfied that every alternative which would have enabled the child to remain in their country has been explored.
All intercountry adoptions are governed by the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption which places obligations on both the child’s country of origin and the receiving country.
illegal adoptions
NSW applicants must adopt only through DoCS or an accredited adoption service provider.
Currently there are no other accredited adoption service providers for intercountry adoption. We provide all intercountry adoption services.
private arrangements are illegal
Private adoption arrangements are illegal and there are penalties for all involved in such arrangements.
DoCS will not support applications to independent adoption agents in another country.
The Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) will refuse a child an entry visa to Australia if the adoption arrangements are not initiated by DoCS and approved by the Department PRIOR to placement of a child.
related links:
- Fees and costs for intercountry adoptions (fact sheet)
- Hardship Policy (fact sheet)
- Adopting children from overseas (DIMIA fact sheet)
- Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption