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Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Location Information > Saudi Arabia Intercountry Adoption Information

Intercountry Adoption

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Location Information

Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Location Information > Saudi Arabia Intercountry Adoption Information

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
No
ALL / ALL /

Hague Convention Information

Saudi Arabia is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Hague countries are processed in accordance with 8 Code of Federal Regulations, Section  204.3 as it relates to orphans as defined under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(b)(1)(F).

Adoption in Saudi Arabia is illegal and strictly forbidden. There is no Saudi Arabian adoption authority.

Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are adoptable. In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardship, intending that the child return home when this becomes possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to their child(ren)’s adoption.

Please visit the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Saudi Arabia and U.S. Embassy Riyadh's website for information on consular services.

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Saudi Arabia, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements. USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IR-3 or IR-4 immigrant visa.

Last Updated: July 5, 2023

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Riyadh
Abdullah Ibn Hudhafah As Sahmi Street
Roundabout no. 9, Diplomatic Quarter
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Telephone
+966-11-835-4000
Emergency
+966-11-835-4000
Fax
null
Email
RiyadhACS@state.gov
Website
https://sa.usembassy.gov/

Saudi Arabia Map

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Adoption Statistics

Adoptions from Saudi Arabia to U.S. by Year:
SEE ALL STATISTICS
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