Ethiopia - Adoption by Foreign Parents

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Procedure

Apply In-Person:

1. Adopting by Foreign parents can be done in Ethiopia with the help of certain licensed government and private orphanages.
2. Bureau of Women, Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for approval of adoption within Ethiopia Contact link
3. Foreign parents must have an approval from the Embassies of their respective countries.
4. Applicant must provide necessary details for the adoption procedure to complete.
5. Applicant should carry documents that are listed under “Required Documents” section of this page for the procedure to get completed (both photocopies and originals).
6. Applicant must attach photocopies of documents (whichever is necessary) along with the application form while submitting.
7. Fee for this procedure has to be paid as per the authority’s request.
8. After all the procedures get over and an approval is provided by concerned authorities, adoption can be done within 6 months.
9. If the adoption is refused, applicant can reach out to the Bureau to know the status of their application.
   

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Required Documents

Foreign parents must provide the below mentioned documents from their countries:

• Original Police Certificate
• Medical Clearance Certificate
• Birth Certificate
• ID Proof
• Address Proof
• Nationality / Citizenship
• Bank statements
• Letters of Reference from local authorities
• Passport
• Marriage Certificate (in case of married couples)
  

Non-Ethiopians must provide the following documents for adopting a child in Ethiopia:

• Permanent residential address
• ID Proof from their own country
• Passport
• Reason for adopting an Ethiopian Child
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Bureau of Women Children and Youth Affairs,
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.
Contact No: +251916377297
Contact link
Location link

Eligibility

• Foreign parents who are permanent residents of Ethiopia are eligible.
• Foreign parents who are willing to adopt an Ethiopian child are eligible.
  

Fees

Fee for this procedure has to be paid as per the authority’s request.

Validity

Valid as long as the adopted parents keep the child.

Documents to Use

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

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Processing time for this procedure is 6 months.

Related Videos

Procedure of Adoption is explained in this video Link

Instructions

• Applicant must follow all instructions provided by authorities properly.
• Applicant should make sure to provide genuine information while registration.
  

Required Information

• Name of the Adoptive parent or parents
• Sex
• Age
• Marital status
• Address
• Occupation
• Salary per annum
  

Need for the Document

• This document is necessary for adopting a child legally in Ethiopia.
• A person who’s willing to adopt a child and live as the child’s parent must have this document.
  

Information which might help

• Married couple need to wait at least 3 years from their marriage for getting into the adoption process.
• Couple who already have a child or two can also adopt a child if they wished to.
  

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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

External Links

External link

Others

Link