International adoption has gained global attention due to celebrities who have chosen this method to raise their families. Angelina Jolie has adopted children from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam, while Madonna has adopted four children from Malawi. Sandra Bullock adopted two children from the United States, and Meg Ryan adopted a daughter from China.For families hoping to adopt a child from another country, the biggest surprises often come before the paperwork begins. There is no single global system. Each country has its own laws, its own conditions and, in some cases, its own reasons for refusal.The same family may be eligible to adopt from one country but not another. Some governments require intended parents to travel abroad multiple times, while others require that every step of the process go through an accredited agency. Eligibility depends on factors such as age, marital status, health, income and even when the applicant was married.Things have also changed dramatically over the past two decades. Countries that once hosted thousands of international adoptions each year have introduced stricter safeguards or shut down their programs entirely. Many governments are now placing greater emphasis on keeping children with extended family members or finding adoptive families in their own country before considering overseas placement.People choose international adoption for different reasons. Some people turn to domestic adoption only after they find it is not possible or requires a longer wait.Here’s how foreign adoption services are available in some of the world’s major countries.
India
India continues to allow international adoptions under the Hague Adoption Convention.Applications are processed through the country’s centralized adoption system, with authorities first trying to place children with Indian families before considering overseas applicants.Both married couples and single applicants are eligible to adopt, subject to age restrictions. India’s adoption framework also distinguishes between married couples and single applicants, and some schemes restrict single men to boys only.
South Africa
South Africa also allows international adoption through its central agency under the Hague Adoption Convention.Singles and couples, including same-sex couples, can adopt if they meet the country’s legal requirements.Children of all ages can be adopted, although many children waiting are older or have additional medical or developmental needs.
Taiwan
In Taiwan, prospective adoptive parents must apply through a licensed agency. Married couples are generally preferred over singles. Applicants usually need to be at least 20 years older than the child, and the age gap cannot be too large.The agencies also ask for medical reports, criminal records, financial documents, marriage certificates, letters of recommendation and home study type assessments.Families who already have children at home may face restrictions on how many children they can have in the family after adoption.
Why are the rules getting stricter?
Many countries now view international adoption as a last resort option rather than a first option. Under the Hague Adoption Convention, authorities are encouraged to first explore whether the child can remain with relatives, foster carers or adoptive families in the home country. International adoption is only possible when these options are not available.As a result, cross-border adoptions have declined dramatically in many parts of the world. Families considering the process today often face longer waiting periods, more rigorous background checks and more detailed legal requirements than they did a decade ago.Many governments have also tightened laws to respond to concerns about unethical adoption practices. Over the years, investigations in several countries have uncovered cases in which children were wrongly registered as orphans, families were deceived into giving up children, or documents were forged to facilitate overseas adoptions.
