Apply In-Person:
IF THE CHILD IS SOUTH AFRICAN:

1. To Apply for Inter-Country Family Adoption in person, the applicant should visit the office of the Central Authority 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 to register your intention of Inter-Country Family Adoption.
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 will direct you to an accredited adoption organisation in your country for assessment and screening to determine if you are suitable to adopt a child.
6. The organisation will compose a home study report and forward it to the South African Central Authority (SACA) which will further send it to the child protection organisation.
7. The adoption organisation will make a comprehensive child study report and send it to the foreign country.
8. When both countries agree to the adoption, the applicant will be asked to visit South Africa for finalisation processes of adoption.
   
   

IF THE CHILD IS ABROAD:

1. To Apply for Inter-Country Family Adoption in person, the applicant should visit the office of the South African Central Authority.
2. The contact and address details of the South African Central Authority can be found in the following link: Link
3. Visit the office and obtain the prescribed format of application to register your intention of Inter-Country Family Adoption.
4. Complete the prescribed format of application and submit it along with the required documents to the relevant authority at the office.
5. The South African Central Authority will direct you to an accredited child protection organisation in your country for assessment and screening to determine if you are suitable to adopt a child.
6. The organisation will compose a home study report and forward it to the foreign Central Authority (SACA) which will further send it to the child protection organisation.
7. The child protection organisation will make a comprehensive child study report and send it to the SACA.
8. When both countries agree to the adoption, the applicant will be asked to visit South Africa for finalisation processes of 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

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Head Office
Physical Adsress: Momentum Centre, 329
Pretorius Street,
Pretoria,
0001
South Africa
Postal Adsress:Private Bag X81
Pretoria,
0001
South Africa
Tel: 080 002 0007
Email:servicedelivery@justice.gov.za
Website link

• Any person living abroad, who wants to adopt his/her relative children residing in the South African Republic, can apply.
• Any person living in the South African Republic, who wants to adopt his/her relative children residing in any foreign country, can apply.

You must pay to 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'.

• To adopt the child of a relative of yours who is based in South Africa you must approach the Central Authority the country where you live.

• If there is no competent authority in your country, you can contact International Social Services (ISS) in that country to facilitate the adoption.

• If you are in South Africa and the child lives in another country, you can get the child to join you in South Africa once you have adopted the child in the foreign country.

• Inter-country adoption entails the legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from birth parent(s) to you across international borders.

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

Through the Inter-country family adoption, it is possible to adopt the child of your South African relative and have the child to live with you abroad and if you are in South Africa and the child lives in another country, you can get the child to join you in South Africa once you have adopted the child in the foreign country.

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.