What are the Hague Convention Countries for Adoption?

Signatories to the convention on international adoptions

Parent holding a child

The Hague convention adoptions are recognised in the UK and the child will normally gain automatic British citizenship, provided one of the adoptive parents is habitually resident in the UK and is a British Citizen.

The rules and process governing recognition of British citizenship status of the adopted child are however very complex.

You should book a consultation for legal advice to verify whether adoption in question is recognised and whether the child really does qualify.

Hague Convention Countries
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Cabo Verde
Chile
China (and Hong Kong)
Colombia
Côte d’Ivoire
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Eswatini
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Mali
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Niger
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of the Congo
Romania
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
San Marino
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Togo
Turkey
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia

11. Is there anything else I should consider when applying for adoption with respect to my child eligibility for a UK visa or citizenship?

If you’d like to apply for adoption please be aware that applicants can be refused even where they appear to meet the applicable legal requirements. Such refusals are attributable to the applicant’s failure to provide evidence in the format required by the rules or them being legally illiterate failing to properly interpret and apply the law to their own circumstances.

The applicant, as a result, not not only loses the application but also the application fees. It is therefore critical that proper immigration and citizenship law advice and representation is sought before you submit your case to the Home Office to ensure you meet all applicable rules and policy guidelines increasing your prospects of success.

Looking to make an application?

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