Registration of adoption by foreigners

1. Passport of the adopter (self-provided)

The original is for inspection only. The adoption registration authority will photocopy the original, archive the photocopy and return the original to the adopter.

2. Notice of the adopter's adoption in China (issued upon verification by the government)

The original shall be archived

3. Two-inch recent half-length bareheaded photo of the adopter (self-provided)

The photo shall be a colorized photo with a single background color.

4. Two-inch recent half-length bareheaded group photo of the adopter and the adoptee (self-provided)

The photo shall be a colorized photo with a single background color.

5. Where a social welfare institution is the party placing out a child for adoption

(1) Valid ID card of the person in charge of the social welfare institution

The original is for inspection only. The adoption registration authority will photocopy the original, archive the photocopy and return the original to the person in charge.

(2) The proof certifying that the abandoned infant or child was abandoned and discovered and that the infant or child's parents or any other guardian cannot be found; or the proof certifying that the orphan's parents have passed away or been declared dead

(3) The adoptee's household register

The original is for inspection only.

(4) Proof of physical examination of the adoptee (produced by an intermediary or statutory body)

One photocopy shall be provided

(5) Two-inch recent half-length bareheaded photo of the adoptee (self-provided)

The photo shall be a colorized photo with a single background color.

6. Where the biological parents who are alive place out their child for adoption

(1) The biological parents' valid household register and ID cards

The originals are for inspection only.

(2) Agreement with the local family planning commission on not violating the family planning provisions

The original shall be archived.

(3) Two-inch recent half-length bareheaded photo of the persons placing out the child for adoption (self-provided)

The photo shall be a colorized photo with a single background color.

(4) The adoptee's household register

The original is for inspection only.

(5) Materials for children whose biological parents are unable to rear them due to unusual difficulties (self-provided)

They are not required to be provided by the service objects, and it shall be handled through internal departmental investigation and verification or third-party adoption assessment.

7. Where any other guardian is the person placing out the child for adoption

(1) The guardian' valid household register and ID card

The original is for inspection only.

(2) A written opinion of any other person obligated to rear the child certifying that such person has agreed to the adoption (self-provided)

Such person shall sign his or her name at the adoption registration authority and the original shall be archived.

(3) Death proof of the adoptee's biological parents

The original shall be archived.

(4) The adoptee's household register

The original is for inspection only.

(5) Materials certifying that the adoptee's biological parents do not have full capacity for civil conduct and may do serious harm to the adoptee (self-provided)

They are not required to be provided by the service objects, and it shall be handled through internal departmental investigation and verification or third-party adoption assessment.

8. Application for adoption registration

After the application is printed out through a computer of the adoption registration authority, the adopter, the person placing out the child for adoption and the adoptee shall sign their names on the application.

9. Adoption agreement

The adopter and the person placing out a child for adoption shall jointly sign an adoption agreement. If a child is placed out by his or her biological parents or any other guardian, the adoption agreement shall be signed at the adoption registration authority. The agreement shall be made in 3 copies.

Remarks: General requirements for application materials:

(1) If materials are incomplete or invalid, staff at the reception window will not accept the application.

(2) Photocopies shall be legible and identical to the originals.

(3) The above proof materials are valid for 6 months.

Working hours: 9:00-12:00 and 13:30-17:00 on weekdays

Location: Beijing Government Affairs Service Center: 1 Xisanhuan South Road, Fengtai District, Beijing (Southwest Corner of Liuli Bridge)

Promised time limit for completion: 7 working days

Way to inquire the progress: telephone: (8610)89150004

1. Application and acceptance

Time limit for processing: 5 working days

Review standards:

Minors under the age of 14, as enumerated below, may be adopted: (1) orphans bereaved of parents;

(2) abandoned infants and children whose biological parents cannot be ascertained or found and who are under the care of a social welfare institution;

(3) children whose biological parents are unable to rear them due to unusual difficulties.

Persons placing out children for adoption shall be:

(1) guardians of an orphan;

(2) social welfare institutions;

or (3) biological parents unable to rear their children due to unusual difficulties.

The adopter shall:

(1) be childless;

(2) be capable of rearing and educating the adoptee;

(3) be suffering no such disease as is medically regarded as unfit for adopting a child;

and (4) have reached the age of 30.

Special conditions:

(1) Adoption of a child and the placing out of the child for adoption shall both take place on a voluntary basis. Where the adoption involves a minor aged 10 or more, the consent of the adoptee shall be obtained.

(2) The adopter may adopt one child only. Orphans, disabled children, or abandoned infants and children whose biological parents cannot be ascertained or found and who are under the care of a social welfare institution may be adopted irrespective of the restrictions that the adopter shall be childless and that he or she may adopt one child only.

(3) Where a male person without spouse adopts a female child, the age difference between the adopter and the adoptee shall be no less than 40 years. The application materials submitted are complete and valid.

2. Review and decision-making

Time limit for processing: 7 working days

Review standards:

The materials are complete and conform to the legal form.

3. Issuance and delivery of the certificate

Time limit for processing: 5 working days

Certificate name: Certificate of Intercountry Adoption of the People's Republic of China

Method of delivery: collected at the window

Name: Certificate of Intercountry Adoption of the People's Republic of China

Validity: indefinite