General Requirements

1. Eligibility: Foreign individuals or couples, including cases where one spouse is foreign, must comply with Chinese adoption laws and their home country’s adoption laws.
2. Agency Involvement: Adoptions must be processed through authorized organizations:
1. Foreign adopters work with their government or authorized adoption agencies.
2. Chinese adopters work with government-approved Chinese adoption agencies.

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Steps to Adopt a Child in China

1. Application Submission

· Foreign adopters submit an adoption application to Chinese adoption organizations through their home country’s government or authorized agencies.
· Required documents (authenticated by relevant authorities and Chinese embassies/consulates):
o Adoption application.
o Birth certificate.
o Marriage certificate (if applicable).
o Proof of occupation, income, and assets.
o Health certificate.
o Criminal record clearance.
o Home country’s approval for transnational adoption.
o Family report (including identity, eligibility, family situation, adoption motives, and childcare suitability).

2. Review and Matching

· For Child Welfare Cases:
o Chinese authorities ensure children available for adoption meet legal requirements (e.g., orphans, abandoned children, children whose biological parents cannot care for them).
o For abandoned children, a public notice is issued, and if no claims are made within 60 days, the child becomes eligible for adoption.
· Chinese organizations match adopters with children based on preferences and suitability. Information about the child is provided to adopters for review.

3. Travel and Finalization

· Adopters must travel to China to complete the adoption process. Both spouses must be present if adopting as a couple (or one with written authorization from the other).
· A written adoption agreement is signed between the adopter and the child’s guardian.
· Adoption registration is done at the provincial civil affairs department where the child resides. This includes:
o Submitting the adoption agreement and necessary documents.
o Completing formalities and obtaining the Adoption Registration Certificate (officially establishing the adoption).

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Post-Adoption Steps

1. Notarization: Adopters may choose to notarize the adoption through a qualified notary.
2. Exit Procedures: Adopters must obtain exit documents for the child from the local public security bureau.
3. Fees:
o Registration fees per national standards.
o Optional service fees for adoption services.
o Donations to child welfare institutions are encouraged to improve care conditions but must be used transparently.

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Oversight and Accountability

· Adoption activities and associated fees are monitored by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
· Welfare institutions must publicly disclose the usage of donated funds and be open to oversight.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The adoption process can be complex, and official guidance from appropriate government agencies is essential.