The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions. Concluded on May 29, 1993 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the Convention establishes international standards of practices for intercountry adoptions. The United States signed the Convention in 1994, and the Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008. Read the full text of the Convention.
The Convention applies to all adoptions by U.S. citizens habitually resident in the United States of children habitually resident in any country outside of the United States that is a party to the Convention (Convention countries). Adopting a child from a Convention country is similar in many ways to adopting a child from a country not party to the Convention. However, there are some key differences. In particular, those seeking to adopt may receive greater protections if they adopt from a Convention country.
View forging effective Convention partnerships for more information on how the United States evaluates a Convention country’s adoption system.
The Convention requires that countries who are party to it establish a Central Authority to be the authoritative source of information and point of contact in that country. The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authorityfor the Convention.
The Convention aims to prevent the abduction, sale of, or trafficking in children, and it works to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children.
The Convention recognizes intercountry adoption as a means of offering the advantage of a permanent home to a child when a suitable family has not been found in the child's country of origin. It enables intercountry adoption to take place when, among other steps:
The Convention provides for recognition by other party countries of adoptions made in accordance with the Convention.
Accredited or Approved Adoption Agencies: Only adoption service providers that have been accredited or approved on a Federal level may offer certain key adoption services for Convention adoptions. When adopting a child from a Convention country, prospective adoptive parents know that their adoption service provider has been evaluated by the Department of State's designated Accrediting Entity. This Accrediting Entity, the Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity, Inc. (IAAME), evaluates agencies and individuals using uniform standards that work to ensure professional and ethical practices.
Note: Starting in July 2014, all agencies providing services in intercountry adoptions will need to be accredited or approved, supervised by an accredited or approved agency, or exempted. Please see our FAQs on the Universal Accreditation Act for further information on the new requirements.
Transparency: When adopting from a Convention country, accredited and approved adoption service providers must itemize and disclose in writing the fees and estimated expenses associated with the adoption ahead of time. Outside of that fee schedule, the adoption service provider is only permitted to charge for unforeseen expenses under very specific circumstances. There is also an official mechanism for lodging a complaint against an accredited or approved adoption service provider with the Department of State.
Adoption and Custody Certificates: Every child adopted from a Convention country receives a Hague Adoption Certificate or a Hague Custody Certificate from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that issues the child’s immigrant visa. The certificate is issued by a U.S. consular officer after determining that the adoption (or grant of custody) has met the requirements of the Convention and the U.S. Intercountry Adoption Act. In Convention adoptions, prior to the final adoption or grant of custody in the child’s country, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines whether a child appears eligible to immigrate to the U.S. as a “Convention adoptee.” A U.S. consular officer also determines whether the child appears to meet the criteria for visa eligibility before the adoption is finalized (or custody is granted) in the country of origin. This will allow the prospective adoptive parents to know ahead of time whether the child appears to be eligible to enter the United States. Review our Country Information pages for specific information about adoption procedures in individual Convention countries.
Convention Forms & Visa Categories: Prospective adoptive parents must file Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, and Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, for Convention adoption cases. Both forms must be filed with U.S. Citizenship & Immigrations Services (USCIS). Form I-800A must be filed and approved prior to Form I-800 to allow USCIS to determine whether prospective adoptive parent(s) are suitable and eligible to adopt a child from a Convention country. Prospective adoptive parent(s) must identify the country from which they will adopt on the Form I-800A. After receiving Form I-800A approval from USCIS and being matched with a specific child, but prior to adoption or grant of custody, prospective adoptive parent(s) must file Form I-800 to determine the particular child’s eligibility to immigrate to the United States through the Convention adoption process. Children adopted from a Convention country must meet the definition of a "Convention adoptee” in order to immigrate to the United States through the Convention adoption process. Two visa categories, IH-3 and IH-4, are used in Convention adoption cases.
