Uganda is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, when the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, intercountry adoption processing for Uganda did not change.

Last Updated: April 2008

DISCLAIMER

WHO CAN ADOPT

To bring an adopted child to United States from Uganda, you must be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn more.

Ugandan law places restrictions on the ability of foreign citizens to adopt Ugandan children. The Children’s Act states that a foreign citizen may, in exceptional circumstances, adopt a Ugandan child, if the foreigner has resided in Uganda for at least three years and if the foreigner has also fostered the child for 36 months. However, High Court judges have made some exceptions to these three-year residency and fostering requirements on a case-by-case basis if it was deemed in the best interests of the child.

Ugandan High Court judges have also exercised discretion in approving legal guardianship decrees (which may permit the child to emigrate for full and final adoption abroad) in certain cases where the prospective adoptive parents were unable to meet the requirements for adoption in Uganda.

In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Uganda also has the following eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parents:

• Residency Requirements: Unless a judge waives the fostering requirements, prospective adoptive parents must reside in Uganda with their prospective adoptive child for three years. This means that a foreign citizen may adopt a Ugandan child if the foreigner has resided in Uganda for at least three years, and has also fostered the child for 36 months.
  
  
• Age Requirements: Applicants must be at least 25 years old and 21 years older than the child they plan to adopt. In the case of a married couple, it is sufficient for one spouse to meet these requirements.
  
  
• Marriage Requirements: Married couples must adopt jointly. Single parents may adopt, but they may not adopt a child of the opposite sex (unless an exception is made).
  
  
• Income Requirements: There are no specific income requirements for Ugandan adoption, although prospective adoptive parents must be able to prove financial stability.
  
  
• Other: Foreign adoptive parents must demonstrate they have no criminal record, and that they have been approved by their country of nationality to adopt. Applicants must demonstrate financial stability.
  

WHO CAN BE ADOPTED

Uganda has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in Uganda unless he or she meets the requirements outlined below.

In addition to these requirements, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her home back to the United States. Learn more about these U.S. requirements.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Relinquishment Requirements: Children who are 14 years old or older must consent to the adoption. The consent of both biological parents, if known, must be obtained and may be withdrawn prior to the execution of the adoption order. Under U.S. immigration law, if both biological parents for a child are living, they must independently release their child for adoption and emigration abroad, prior to U.S. prospective adoptive parents being identified.
  
  

HOW TO ADOPT

Uganda’s Adoption Authority
The Department of Youth and Child Affairs

The Process
The process for adopting a child from Uganda generally includes the following steps:

1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider
2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
3. Be Matched with a Child
4. Adopt the Child in Uganda
5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
6. Bring Your Child Home


1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider

The first step in adopting a child from Uganda is usually to select a licensed agency in the United States that can help with your adoption. Adoption service providers must be licensed by the U.S. state in which they operate. Learn more about choosing the right adoption service provider.


2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt

To bring an adopted child from Uganda to the United States, you must apply to be found eligible to adopt (Form I-600A) by the U.S. Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn how.

In addition to meeting the U.S. requirements for adoptive parents, you need to meet the requirements of Uganda as described in the Who Can Adopt section.


3. Be Matched with a Child

If you are eligible to adopt, and a child is available for intercountry adoption, the central adoption authority in Uganda will provide you with a referral to a child. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of a particular child and provide a permanent family placement for the referred child. Learn more about this critical decision.

The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Uganda’s requirements, as described in the Who Can be Adopted section. The child must also meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law. Learn more.


4. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in Uganda

The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in Uganda generally includes the following:

• Role of The Adoption Authority: The Department of Youth and Child Affairs oversees Probation and Social Welfare Officers assigned to magistrate courts. Prospective adoptive parents work with the Probation and Social Welfare Officers in the region where the child resides. These officers monitor and record the progress of the adoptive family during the 36-month fostering period.
  
• Role of The Court:   Foreign citizens wishing to adopt a child in Uganda are required to file a petition with the High Court of Uganda after they have identified a child they wish to adopt.  When filing the petition, prospective adoptive parents should ensure the petition states clearly their intention for the child to immigrate to the United States and that they seek to subsequently adopt the child in the United States.  Prospective adoptive parents are required to appear in person, and the court requires that the local Probation and Social Welfare Officer overseeing the case submit a report with his/her recommendation.  In certain cases, the court may also request that other individuals or authorities submit a report in respect to the adoption petition.  For instance, in many cases orphanage directors are requested to submit information about children that were placed in their care.

Legal Guardianship and Final Adoption Abroad:  Ugandan High Court judges have exercised discretion in granting legal guardianship in some cases, which permit an orphan to emigrate from Uganda for full and final adoption abroad.  For U.S. citizens, this means the prospective adoptive child may qualify for an Immediate Relative 4 visa (IR-4) for the purpose of emigration and adoption in the United States.  In order to file for an IR-4 visa for the child, the legal guardianship order and the accompanying court ruling cannot limit the custody arrangements of the parents, or prohibit the child's ability to leave Uganda.  Once the child immigrates to the United States, the legal guardians must file for adoption with a U.S. state court.

• Role of Adoption Agencies:  There are no adoption agencies that provide adoption services in Uganda, although there are a number of nongovernmental organizations and interest groups that advocate for children's rights.  Some of these groups are encouraging Uganda's ratification of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, and may also provide adoption-related information.  Prospective adoptive parents are advised to hire a qualified Ugandan attorney to assist with the legal aspects of the adoption.  The U.S. Embassy cannot recommend the services of any specific attorney, and most law firms in Uganda indicate that they provide adoption services.
  
• Time Frame:  Prospective adoptive parents should allow sufficient time to complete the necessary processing of the case both with the Ugandan High Court, and the U.S. Embassy.  The court process often takes three weeks from the initial court appearance, the execution of the adoption or legal guardianship decree, and the issuance of a court ruling.  In addition, in many recent adoption cases Ugandan immigration authorities have required the court documents and also clearance from the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development before adjudicating a passport application submitted on behalf of the child.  The average processing time for a Ugandan passport has been about four weeks, and many American prospective adoptive parents have been forced to delay their date of departure from Uganda and rebook flights given the length of time required to complete the court process, obtain the passport, and then apply for a U.S. immigrant visa. 
  
• Adoption Fees: Court fees are less than $100.00 and may vary according to the number of documents that require notarization. Attorney's fees can range from $500 to $2,000. The U.S. Embassy in Uganda discourages the payment of any fees that are not properly receipted, for example, “donations,” or “expediting” fees, which may be requested from prospective adoptive parents. Such fees have the appearance of “buying” a baby and put all future adoptions in Uganda at risk.
  
• Documents Required: The following documents must be submitted to the Ugandan High Court:
  
  •  Marriage certificate of adoptive parents;
  • Police clearances;
  • Proof of financial stability (e.g., tax returns and bank statements);
  •  A report from the Probation and Social Welfare Officer, or a U.S. home study if the prospective parents do not reside in Uganda;
  •  The High Court of Uganda must issue an adoption order for the child to be adopted by the parent(s);
  •  Assurance that the adoptive parent(s)’s country will respect and recognize the adoption order issued by the Ugandan Court.  (The U.S. Child and Citizenship Act of 2000 meets this requirement).
     

NOTE:  Additional documents may be requested.  If you are asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic, we can help.  Learn how.  

5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption

After you finalize the adoption (or gain legal custody) in Uganda, the U.S Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) MUST determine whether the child is eligible under U.S. law to be adopted (Form I-600). Learn how.


6. Bringing Your Child Home

Now that your adoption is complete (or you have obtained legal custody of the child), there are a few more steps to take before you can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for several documents for your child before he or she can travel to the United States:

1. Birth Certificate
   You will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child, so that you can later apply for a passport. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.
   
   The official birth certificate for the child; an official “long” birth certificate and death certificates for the biological parent(s) can be obtained at:
   
   Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
   Registrar General’s Chambers
   Crane Chambers
   2nd Floor
   P.O. Box 7183
   Kampala, Uganda
   Telephone: 041 348 107
   Fax: 041 348 107
   
   
2. Uganda Passport
   Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or Passport from Uganda.
   
   
3. U.S. Immigrant Visa
   After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you also need to apply for an U.S. visa from the United States Embassy for your child.  After the adoption (or custody for purpose of adoption) is granted, visit the U.S Embassy for final review and approval of the child’s I-600 petition and to obtain a visa for the child.  This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you.  As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the “Panel Physician’s” medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage. Learn more.
   
   On March 2, 2009, the U.S. Embassy Nairobi’s panel physicians began using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2007 Tuberculosis Technical Instructions (TB TIs) for the TB medical screening for all immigrant visa applicants from Uganda, including adopted children.  The 2007 TB TIs include new requirements that affect the pace at which some adoption cases can be concluded.   Please visit the CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/panel_2007.htm for further information regarding the 2007 Technical Instructions for Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment for Panel Physicians.
   
   Once in Uganda, adoptive parents should contact the consular section at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala about scheduling the mandatory I-604 orphan investigation.  Depending on the circumstances of the case, the orphan investigation can range from an interview and document review to a full field investigation by Embassy personnel.  When appearing for the I-604 orphan investigation the original adoption order (or legal guardianship order for the child to emigrate for full and final adoption abroad) must be presented.  In addition, the original court ruling issued in conjunction with the adoption order or legal guardianship order, and the petition filed by the prospective adoptive parents before the High Court, must also be presented.

If, after conducting the I-604 orphan investigation the U.S. Embassy Kampala determines that the I-600 petition is not clearly approvable, the petition will be forwarded to the applicable USCIS office for adjudication.
Appointments are required for all adoption cases.  Prospective adoptive parents should contact the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Kampala via email at: KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov in order to schedule an interview date and time.

As a part of the immigrant visa process, the child should undergo a standard immigrant visa physical examination conducted by U.S. Embassy Kampala’s panel physician.  Applicants should schedule the physical examination directly with:

The Surgery
Acacia Avenue
Plot 1577 Ggaba Road
P.O. Box 7007, Kampala
Uganda
Tel: 256 41 259 791/5
Fax: 256 41 258 451

When appearing for the immigrant visa interview the applicant should present:

• A valid passport, valid for at least six months beyond the expected date of travel;
• Four color photos, 2 x 2 inches square, full-face on an off-white background.  Face must cover 50 percent of the photo and the hairline and ears should be visible;
• A completed DS-230 immigrant visa application, available online at: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html;
• An I-864 Affidavit of Support and I-864A if applicable completed and signed by the petitioner, available online at:  www.uscis.gov (under forms, instructions for completing the I-864, I-864A, and I-864W are also available on the USCIS website);
• The petitioner’s most recent income tax return, and if applicable, other financial evidence demonstrating the ability of the petitioner(s) to provide for the immigrant as detailed in the I-864 instructions.

The U.S. Embassy in Kampala, also requires death certificates for deceased biological parent(s) and/or other documentary evidence that demonstrates the child’s orphan status, such as orphanage records, statements from local government or hospital officials, a Probation and Social Welfare Officer's report, etc.

NOTE: Visa issuance after the final interview now generally takes at least 24 hours and it will not normally be possible to provide the visa to adoptive parents on the day of the interview.  Adoptive parents should verify current processing times at the appropriate consulate or embassy before making final travel arrangements.

Child Citizenship Act

For adoptions finalized abroad: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when he or she enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident.

For adoptions finalized in the United States: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when the court in the United States issues the final adoption decree.

*Please be aware that if your child did not qualify to become a citizen upon entry to the United States, it is very important that you take the steps necessary so that your child does qualify as soon as possible. Failure to obtain citizenship for your child can impact many areas of his/her life including family travel, eligibility for education and education grants, and voting.

Learn more about the Child Citizenship Act.

TRAVELING ABROAD

Applying for Your U.S. Passport
A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Uganda. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.

Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which Passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.

Obtaining Your Visa
In addition to a U.S. Passport, you may also need to obtain a Ugandan visa. A visa is an official document issued by a foreign country that formally allows you to visit. Where required, visas are attached to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation.

To find information about obtaining a visa for Uganda, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.

Staying Safe on Your Trip
Before you travel, it's always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The State Department is a good place to start.

The Department of State provides Country Specific Information for every country of the world about various issues, including the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip
When traveling during the adoption process, we encourage you to register your trip with the Department of State. Travel registration makes it possible to contact you if necessary. Whether there’s a family emergency in the United States, or a crisis in Uganda, registration assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.

Registration is free and can be done online.

AFTER ADOPTION

What does Uganda require of the adoptive parents after the adoption?

Once the adoption is finalized, adoptive parents must register the adoption with the Registrar General’s Office in Kampala. The Registrar General informs the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the adoption. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will maintain the adopted child’s records, which will remain available to the child.

We strongly urge you to comply with the wishes of Uganda and complete all post-adoption requirements in a timely manner. Your adoption agency may be able to help you with this process. Your cooperation will contribute to that Uganda’s history of positive experiences with American parents.


What resources are available to assist families after the adoption?

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family -- whether it’s another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Embassy in Uganda
Plot 1577 Ggaba Road
P.O. Box 7007, Kampala
Uganda
Telephone: 256 41 259 791/5
Fax: 256 41 258 451
Email: KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov
Web site: http://kampala.usembassy.gov/


Ugandan Adoption Authority
The Department of Youth and Child Affairs
Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development
Simbamanyo House, Plot 2
Lumumba Avenue
Kampala, Uganda
Telephone: 256-41-347 854/5
Fax: 256-41-256-374
E-mail: ps@mglsd.go.ug
Web site: http://www.mglsd.go.ug/


Embassy of the Republic of Uganda
5911 16th Street, NW,
Washington DC 20011
Tel: (202) 726-7100
Fax: (202) 726-1727


Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-29
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: AskCI@state.gov
http://adoption.state.gov


U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about immigration procedures, call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)