Apply In-Person:

1. To Apply for Inter-Country Adoption with Local Element in person, the applicant should visit the office of the central authority or office of International Social Services in the country they live.
2. The contact and address links of central authorities in various countries can be found in the following link: Link
3. Visit the office and obtain the prescribed format of application for Inter-Country Adoption with Local Element, from the concerned department.
4. Complete the prescribed format of application and submit it along with the required documents to the relevant authority at the office.
5. The central authority or ISS will direct you to an adoption organisation in your country for assessment and screening to determine if you are suitable to adopt a child.
6. A comprehensive home study report will be compiled and forwarded to the South African Central Authority (SACA) which will further send it to the accredited adoption organisation.
7. Once the adoption organisation submits a report in favour of the adoption, the SACA will issue an Article 17, recommending inter-country adoption.
8. On receipt of the permission for adoption, the organisation and central authority will carry out the required processes for the adoption.
9. Then the applicant will be asked to visit South Africa for finalisation processes of adoption at the court. Reports from the court will be then forwarded to the SACA for verification and registration of the adoption.

• Completed application form (if any)
• Home study report of applicant
• Child study report
• Identity documents of parents
• Residential proof
• Proof of income
• Identity document of child
• Required fees
• Consent to adoption

International Social Services of South Africa - Head Office
7th Floor, HSRC Building,
134 Pretorius Street,
Pretoria, 0001
South Africa
Postal Adsress:Private Bag X901,
0001
South Africa
Tel:012 312 7790/ 012 312 7591
Fax:012 323 3733
Email: customercare@dsd.gov.za
Website link
link
Department of Social Development Offices

Provincial Contact Numbers
EASTERN CAPE - (043) 605 5000
FREE STATE - (051) 400 0302 / 0304 / 0307
GAUTENG - (011) 355 7687 / 7977 / 7878
KWAZULU-NATAL - (033) 264 5400
LIMPOPO - (015) 293 6004 / 6054 / 6011 / 6053
MPUMALANGA - (013) 766 3098 / 3253 / 3031
NORTH WEST - (018) 387 3434 / 0255 / 3497 / 0281
NORTHERN CAPE - (053) 807 5600
WESTERN CAPE - (021) 483 3858/ 3765 / 3158 / 5445

• Any South African, who lives in a foreign country and wishes to adopt a South African child, can apply.
• The person willing to adopt must be proper and fit to look after and raise the child.

You must pay an accredited child protection organisation in respect of an inter-country adoption.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

It differs from one case to another.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• If this adoption was arranged with another signatory to the Hague Convention, the SACA will ensure that a Certificate of Conformity is issued.

• The accredited child protection organisation will ensure that the Department of Home Affairs receives a copy of the adoption order. The department will changes names of the child and issue a new birth certificate.

• The accredited child protection organisation will forward the new birth certificate to you.

• The adoption agency in the country where you live will provide you with after-care services for five years.

• Particulars of the prospective parents
• Particulars of the child
• Identity document numbers
• Address information
• Contact details

If you are a South African based abroad, interested in adopting a South African child, you must contact the central authority in the country where you reside and carry out the specified adoption procedure as prescribed.

Refer: Link

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Link

More information which might help people.