Adopting a Child who Resides Outside of Canada: Intercountry Adoption

Intercountry adoption occurs when a resident of British Columbia adopts a child from outside Canada. The child may be unrelated to the applicant or may be a relative who lives in another country.

In British Columbia, anyone applying to adopt a child or sibling group must be at least 19 years old and a resident of the province.

Intercountry adoptions are governed by the British Columbia Adoption Act and Adoption Regulation, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co‑operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) and the legislation and policies of the child’s country of origin or birth.

Canadian federal immigration requirements administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Immigration and citizenship - Canada.ca is responsible for determining the child’s admissibility to Canada.

Prospective adoptive parents are not permitted to engage directly with an orphanage or adoption authority in the child’s country of origin. All communication must be conducted through a British Columbia licensed adoption agency, which is responsible for liaising with the relevant authorities and organizations abroad.

If the Government of Canada has issued a travel advisory cautioning against travel to a country, it is not advisable to initiate an adoption plan. The United Nations and UNICEF clearly state that during armed conflicts, natural disasters, or humanitarian crises reuniting a child with their family should take priority, and adoption procedures should cease during these times.

FACT SHEETS: REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

The Fact Sheets below were developed to assist prospective adoptive parent(s) navigate the intercountry adoption process. Before initiating the process, applicants should review the relevant Fact Sheet and then contact a licensed adoption agency in BC.

• Intercountry Adoption Factsheet 1: Homestudy Assessment Process (PDF, 97KB)
• Intercountry Adoption Factsheet 2: Non-Hague, Non-Relative Section 48 (PDF, 98KB)
• Intercountry Adoption Factsheet 3: Non-Hague, Non-Relative, Adoption Finalized in Child’s Country of Origin before Move to Canada (PDF, 143KB)
• Intercountry Adoption Factsheet 4: Non-Hague, Relative Adoption, Adoption Finalized in Child’s Country of Origin before Move to Canada (PDF, 151KB)
• Hague Convention Intercountry Adoption Factsheet 5 (PDF, 131KB)

Licensed Adoption Agencies in BC

• Sunrise Family Services Society
• The Adoption Centre of BC

ACQUIRING IMMIGRATION APPROVAL FOR THE CHILD TO ENTER CANADA

Before a child can enter and reside in Canada, all adoption legislation and policy requirements of both British Columbia and the child’s country of origin must be fully satisfied. In addition, prospective adoptive parents must apply to  Immigration and citizenship - Canada.ca(IRCC).  IRCC is responsible for determining whether the child is admissible to enter Canada.

COUNTRIES WITH RESTRICTIONS OR SUSPENSIONS ON INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION: 

The IRCC website Immigration and citizenship - Canada.ca provides up‑to‑date information on countries where intercountry adoption is restricted or suspended. These restrictions may occur for several reasons, including program closures, natural disasters, civil unrest, or concerns related to child trafficking. Prospective adoptive parents should review these notices carefully, as they may affect eligibility and timelines for adopting from specific countries: Countries with suspensions or restrictions