Hague Certificate

Hague Adoption Certificates and Hague Custody Declarations are issued by the Department of State in its role of U.S. Central Authority for the Convention. Hague Adoption Certificates certify that a U.S. adoption has been completed in accordance with the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA); a Hague Custody Declaration declares that custody of a child for purposes of adoption has been granted in the U.S. in accordance with the Convention and the IAA.

  • The Hague Adoption Certificate entitles the adoption to recognition in the United States and other Convention countries.
  • Once the receiving country has the Hague Custody Declaration, it may grant the final adoption and issue an Article 23 Convention certificate. Then the adoption is entitled to recognition in the receiving country and other Convention countries, including the United States.

    • How to Apply

    To apply for a Hague Adoption Certificate or Custody Declaration for a Convention adoption from the United States, please follow the steps below.

    1. Complete Form DS-5509 - Application for U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Custody Declaration
    2. Submit the complete Form and all required supporting documents may to the Office of Children's Issues, Department of State. To submit the materials, use one of the methods outlined below (do not send the application and the supporting documents under separate cover or by different methods).

    *Please note that supporting documents will not be returned. For this reason we recommend that applicants not submit original document

    Express Mail Service or U.S. Postal Service

    The address for courier (FedEx/UPS/DHL) and U.S. Postal Service use is:

    U.S. Department of State
    Office of Children's Issues, SA-29
    Hague Adoption Unit (HAC/HCD)
    2100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 4th floor
    Washington, D.C. 20037

    E-mail

    Completed application forms DS-5509 and supporting documents, either scanned or available in other electronic form, may be sent to: AdoptionUSCA@state.gov

    The subject line should read: "Application for Hague Adoption Certificate/Custody Declaration" (as appropriate).

    FAX

    FAX number: 202-736-9080. Please ensure that each page of a FAX submission is clearly numbered to indicate the total number of pages and the individual page number (example: 1 of 9). FAX submission is not recommended for submissions of ten pages or more in total.