Countries

Depending on the habitual residence of the adoptive candidates, the intercountry adoption procedure is characterized with different requirements and is being monitored by different central authorities.

Germany

Legislation and Central Authority

Federal Republic of Germany is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption since 1 March 2002.

For the Federal Republic of Germany on federal level the functions of the Centra Authority under the Hague Convention are entrusted to the German Chief Federal Prosecutor at the Supreme Federal Court.

On a reagional level the powers of the Central Authority are executed by the central bureaus for adoptions at the Regional social services for children and youths.

The Central Federal Bureau has a coordinating function in general matters related to international cooperation, such as exchange of information regarding the applicable legislation, questions related to the adoption procedure, statistic and questions related to specific cases.

Citizenship of the adopted child:

Regarding the citizenship of a child adopted through intercounry adoption, the Law on citizenship as of 22 July 1913 are applied, last amendment adopted on 15 July 1999.

According to Second chapter of this law: Citizenship in a federal provice can be aquired through adoption unless the adopted child has turned 18 at the time of the submission of the application for adoption.

The children of the adopted child by a German citizen also becomes a German citizen according to par. 6 of the Law on Citizenship.

Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium signed the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption of 29 May 1993 on 27 January 1999 and ratified it on 26 May 2005. , the same enters into force on September 1, 2005.

Central authorities of the Convention

The central Federal Authority is the Adoption Directorate, which is part of the Federal Public Affairs Office of the Federal Government and the International Adoption Department, respectively.

Accredited organizations for mediation in international adoption in the Kingdom of Belgium

There are a total of 10 accredited organizations for mediation in international adoption in the Kingdom of Belgium, each operating in only one of the communities in Belgium.

Requirements for prospective adopters

They must be 25 years old
They must be a married couple or have signed a Declaration of Cohabitation at least 3 years ago
Unmarried people can adopt on their own if they are 25 years old

Recognition of international adoption in the territory of the Kingdom of Belgium

The central Federal Authority is the Adoption Directorate, which is part of the Federal Public Affairs Office of the Federal Government. This is the responsible authority that registers and recognizes adoption decisions that are not taken in the territory of the Kingdom of Belgium.

Great Britain

Legislation and Central Authority

UK signed the Hague Convention on Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 12 january 1994, ratifies it on 27 February 2003 and it entered into force on 1 June 2003.

Central Authorities under the Hague Convention in the UK are:

For England – The Department for Education
For Wales – National assembly of Wales
For Scotland – Scottish Executive
For Northern Ireland – Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

The Central authorities issue the Certificate of Eligibility to Adopt and the Certificates under art.17 and art. 23 of the Hague Convention.

Home study

You need to contact a local authority or a voluntary adoption agency which works on intercountry adoption. You will need to be assessed and approved as eligible and suitable to adopt. The law allows only local authorities and voluntary adoption agencies registered to deal with intercountry adoption to assess prospective adopters who want to adopt from abroad. Once you are approved for an adoptive parent, your agency will send your application to the Department of Education. After reviewing your application and documents, the Department of Education will issue the Certificate of Eligibility to Adopt.

For more information about the international adoption procedure you can visit the website of the Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.uk/b0074482/the-process-of-intercountry-adoption/current).

Eligibility requirements

In order to be able to adopt you need to meet the UK law requirements, i.e. you shall be 21 years old, you shall not have any criminal convictions and you shall have permanent residency in the UK for at least a year prior the submission of the application.

Recognition of the adoption

A child adopted from a country, party to the Hague Convention by a citizen of the UK is automatically recognized in the country.

Greece

Legislation and Central Authority

Greece ratified the Hague Convention on Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 2 september 2009 and it became effective on 01 January 2010.

The functions of the Central Authority under the Hague Convention are entrusted to the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity and to agencies and organizations, specialized in the field of intercounrty adoptions.

The intercountry adoption in Greece as a consequence of an adoption decree, that has become effective in a foreign country – party to the Convention is regognized if the following conditions are met:

a) A certificate by the Central Authorty is received, stating that the adoption was realized according the Convention

b) The adoption is in the best interest of the child

Ireland

Legislation and Central Authority

Adoption Act, 2010

Children's Act, 1957

Child Care Act, 1964

Health Act, 1970

Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851

Child Status Act, 1987

Adoption Act 2010

The Adoption Council of the Ministry of Children and Youth Affairs has been designated as the central body (CC) under the Hague Convention on International Adoptions in Ireland.

Age and other requirements for prospective adoptive parents in international adoption

According to the Adoption Act of 2010, in order to proceed with adoption it is necessary:

the adopter, or in case the adopters are married, have reached at least 21 years of age;
when adopting a married couple and both of them must be 21 years old /;
when the adoptive parents are a couple and one of them is the child's mother or father or is close to the child and each of them must have reached at least 21 years of age.
There is no age limit, but it is always assessed whether the specific age of the applicants for adoption and their desire for the age of the child they want to adopt are compatible and in the best interests of the child.

Process:

The international adoption procedure is mainly governed by the provisions of Irish law as well as those of the Hague Convention. Under the terms of the Convention, the Declaration of Fitness must be submitted to an accredited organization or the Central Authority of the selected country, which can only happen through the Adoption Council in Ireland or through an organization accredited by it to perform these functions.

Recognition of international adoption in Ireland:

With the entry into force of the Hague Convention on 01.11.2010. in Ireland, all procedures performed in accordance with the Hague Convention are automatically recognized in Ireland.

The basic prerequisite for recognizing adoptions made abroad in Ireland is set out in the 2010 Act. According to him, persons wishing to adopt a child from abroad must first check with the Adoption Council whether the adoption law of the country from which they intend to adopt a child is compatible with the legislation in Ireland governing the matter of adoption.

Foreign partners

Helping Hands

Spain

Legislation and Central Autority

The Kingdom of Spain is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Central Authority under the Hague Convention with coordinating functions, cooperation and communication is the Ministry of Labour and Social Services in Madrid. Each region or autonous communities in the Kingdom of Spain has a local central authority, responsible for the preparation of the home study and the approval of the prospective adoptive parents for intercountry adoption. These are the General Directorate for Social Services, Childeren and Families and the directorates at the Social Service Councels in each autonomous community in Spain. The local central autorities, at the regional and autonomous communities in the Kingdom of Spain are responsible for the preparation of the home study of the prospective adoptive parents and their approval. Each autonomous community has their own specific reglations in the preparation of the adoption process.

Adoption in Spain

The adoption is full and leads to the establishement of new family relationship, equal to the biological and therefor the relationship of the adopted child with his/her biological parents is terminaed.

According the instructions of the Spanish Ministry of Justice as of 15 February 1999, the registration of an adopted child in the civil register shall be done with the names of the adoptive parents, without mentioning the adoption, as it is equal to registering a biological child.

Eligibility requirements towards the prospective adoptive parents applying to adopt a child through intercountry adoption

Pursuant to Art.175 of №21/1987, amending the Civil Code and the Law on the citizenship, regulating the adoptions, the prospective adoptive parents must be at least 25 years old. When married couples apply to adopt, it is enough for one of the parents to be at least 25 years old. In any case, the adoptive parent shall be at least 14 years older than the adopted child.

Competent authorities under the Hague Convention

The eligibility certificate and the home studies for intercounry adoptions are prepared by the Local Central Authorities at the place of residence of the applicants.

Main stages:

The adoptive parents that wish to apply for approval for intercountry adoption shall be registered in the registry of the Central Authority in their place of residence in order for their eligibility to be evaluated.

Validity of the Certificate of eligibility

The validity of the Certificate of eligibility to adopt of the adoptive parents is different in the different communities in Spain, but it is always mentioned in the document. Pursuant to Art.10 of Law № 54/2007 the Certificate of eligibility is valid for 3 years.

Recognition of the intercounry adoption

Pursuant to Art.23 of the Hague Convention, upon certifying that the adoption is realized in line with the Convention, the adoption is recognized by the accepting country and in this sense the adoption of a child in a country, party to the Hague convention is automatically recognized in Spain.

Foreign partners

ADECOP

Italy

Legislation and Central Authority

Italy ratified the Hague Convention on Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 31 December 1998 and entered into force on 16 November 2000. The Central Authority under the Hague Convention is the Commission on intercounry adoptions in Rome.

Who can adopt?

According art. 6 of Law №184/04 as of May 1983 for adoption of minor children from Italian citizens, the adoption is allowed in the following cases:

1. The prospective adoptive parents are married for at least three years and that there were not separated during the last three years. It is not possible for Italian couples to adopt if they were separated.

2. Spouses that are not separated and who are capable of raising, educating and financially supporting the minor children, who they want to adopt.

3. The prospective adoptive parents shall have a home study prepared by the local Social services

4. The prospective adoptive parents shall be assesed as eligible to adopt with a decision by the Court for minors

5. There are strickt requirements related to the age difference between the adoptive parents and the adopted child:

a) The minimum age between the adoptive parent and the child shall be at least 18 years

b) The maximum age difference shall be 45 for one of the parents and 55 for the other, as this age difference can be different if the adoptive parents adopt two or more childeren or if they have either a biological or adopted child.

Home study:

According art. 29, par. 3, par. 4 and par. 5 the municipal social services provide information on the intercountry adoption, prepare the adoptive parents and prepare the home study about their eligibility to adopt.

Main stages:

The prospective adoptive parents shall inform the Minors Court about their permanent residence and by providing a declaration for predesposition to adopt they request the Court to declare them suitable to adopt.

Pursuant to Art. 30, par. 3 of Law №476, a copy of the decision of the Minors Court, and a copy of the report of the Services for social support the whole available information is being sent to the Central Authority – the Commission on intercountry adoptions in Rome.

The term of the approval is valid for the whole adoption procedure.

Validity term of the certificate of eligibility:

The decision issued by the Italian Minors Court about the eligibility to adopt is valid throughout the procedure. The adoption procedure shall be initiated by the adoptive parents within one year of the date of the decision. Within this period the prospective adoptive parents shall authorize an Italian accredited agency to intermediate in their adoption procedure.

Foreign partners:

Sao Jose Amici nel Mondo (SjAMO) • Assocciazione “Lo Scoiattolo” ONLUS • Associazione “Il Mantello” ONLUS • Fondazione Patrizia Nidoli

Canada

Legislation and Central authority

In Canada the intercountry adoption is regulated under provincial, territorial and foreign adoption laws and the adoption eligibility is determined by the provinces and territories. It is either the provinces and territories or licensed adoption agencies that carry out adoption case management. For information on the intercountry adoption process, prospective adoptive families shall contact their provincial or territorial adoption authority: Adoption Authorities – Provincial / Territorial Governments.

In Canada, adoption is under provincial or territorial jurisdiction. To be eligible to adopt a child, you must meet the adoption requirements of the province/territory where you live if you are living in Canada or the country where you live if you are living abroad; the central adoption authority of the country where the child lives.

Your provincial or territorial adoption autorities or the central adoption authority of the country in which you live if living abroad will tell you if you need to contact a licensed adoption agency, will advise you on the adoption laws of the country from where you want to adopt and explain the requirements of the Hague Convention that apply to intercountry adoptions between countries that have ratified the Hague Convention.

Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada for information on how to bring your adopted child to Canada: International adoption.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is the federal department responsible for intercountry adoption issues at the national and international levels.

Intercountry Adoption Services (IAS), a unit within, works directly with the provinces and territories to provide information and guidance. However, the provinces and territories make the decisions regarding eligibility and assist Canadians in their efforts to adopt.

IAS’s role in intercountry adoption includes:

developing pan-Canadian responses on issues such as unethical and irregular adoption practices and child trafficking;
acting as a central database on adoption legislation, policies and practices of “sending” countries, research, data and statistics; and,
encouraging communications and continually building on working relationships with provincial and territorial, federal, and foreign government counterparts in the adoption community.

Who can adopt?

In order to be able to adopt you should meet the requiremets of your province/territory.

Recognition of the Bulgarian adoption decree

The full adoption of a child from a country, party to the Hague convention is automatically recognized in all provinces and teritories of Canada.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/adoption/index.asp

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/community_partnerships/international_adoption/index.shtml

Foreign partners

UAS Eastern European Adoptions Inc

Luxemburg

Legislation and Central Authority

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg signed the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 29 May 1993. on 06.06.1995, ratified it on 05.07.2002. and accordingly the convention enters into force on 01.11.2002.

Central authority:

Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth

Accredited organizations for mediation in international adoption

In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, there are adoption agencies that act as partners and intermediaries and are accredited by the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth.

Functions of accredited organizations

Accredited organizations for mediation in international adoption have the following main functions:

Assist the prospective adoptive parents by informing and advising them about the procedure, as well as in compiling their file;
Inform the adopters about the technical and legal aspects of the procedure;
Correspond with the competent persons or institutions to take the decision for adoption by sending them the applications for adoption;
Follow the procedures according to the legal requirements;
They help families when the child has already arrived

Adoption process - requirements for the candidate-adopters

Two people can adopt together if they have been married and married for at least 3 years.

Under Luxembourg law, unmarried citizens cannot apply as adoptive parents under the full adoption procedure.

Stages of the adoption process in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

After the candidates declare their intention to adopt, the process of social research and psychological characteristics of the candidates follows.

An assessment of the finished dossier is prepared and in case of a positive assessment by the specialists, the dossier of the prospective adoptive parents together with the application form is submitted to the Ministry of Family, where the Decision on suitability for adoption is submitted.

Following is the preparation of a complete dossier of the candidates according to the requirements of the country from which they will adopt.

Recognition of international adoption

The judgment of adoption given in the country of origin of the child shall be automatically recognized in Luxembourg for the States Parties to the Convention and the decision of adoption shall be entered in the Luxembourg Civil Registry.

Malta

On October 13, 2004 The Republic of Malta signs the Hague Convention for the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption / the CONVENTION /. The Convention was ratified and entered into force on 1 February 2005.

Central authority:

The Ministry of Family and Social Solidarity (Department of Social Development Standards) is a central body under the Hague Convention on Malta

Accredited organizations for mediation in international adoption:

Accredited organizations for international adoptions receive their accreditation from the Minister of Social Development.

Recognition of international adoption in Malta:

The adoption of a child with a habitual residence in a foreign country is recognized on the basis of an effective court decision of a foreign court.

Post-adoption follow-up:

Each agency shall carry out the post-adoption monitoring for the period required by the sending State and shall be responsible for sending the post-adoption reports to the relevant competent authority in the country from which the child was adopted.

United States Of America

Legislation and Central Authority

USA ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercounry Adoptions and it eneterd into force on 1 April 2008.

By ratifying the Hague Convention and the adoption of the Intercountry Adoptions Act, the U.S. Department of State has been designated as the United States Central Authority for the Hague Convention and the powers and responsibilities of various government agencies have been defined.

The Office of Children’s Issues at the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, actively engages in the operative issues in the intercountry adoption process;
The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) at the US Homeland Security is responsible for many stages in the intercountry adoption process, related to the immigration of the children adopted abroad in the USA. USCIS is also the authority that issues the adoption approval;
Other government institutions also can perform part of the functions of the Central Authority, especially in the cases of adoption of child under the Hague Convention who immigrates in a different country.

Functions of the Central Authority

In the adoption process, officials from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Homeland Security and representatives of agencies, accredited to intermediate in the intercountry adoption process, communicate with the Bulgrian Central Authority in relation to the different phases of the adoption process.

Recogizing of the adoption

According the legislation of the USA, the child adopted abroad automatically acquires U.S. citizenship on the date they immigrate to the United States.

Foreign partners

All God`s Children International • Nightlight Christian Adoptions • Hand in Hand International • Children`s House International • HOLT International • International Christian Adoptions

France

Legislation and Central Authority

France signed the Hague Convention on Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 5 April 1995 and ratified it on 30 June 1998. The Hague Convention became effective in France on 1 October 1998.

The Central Authority of France under the Hague Convention is the Intercountry Adoption Service (Service de l’Adoption Internationale) at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

The Intercountry Adoption Service monitors the compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989 and the Hague Convention of 1993 and has strategic, regulatory and control functions.

Among the main functions if the central authority are: monitoring of the relationships between the countries and the Central Authorities of the various countries; signing of bilateral agreements; developing of strategies for international cooperation; control of the activities of the French Adoption Agency (l'AFA) and the licensed adoption agencies.

In order to be able for the French families to apply to adopt in Bulgaria, they must have an approval to adopt. The following persons may apply for approval to adopt:

Prospective adoptive parents who are French citizens and live in France;
Prospective adoptive parents who are foreigners and live in France;
Prospective adoptive parents who are French citizens but live abroad.

Bulgaria is a party to the Hague Convention and the French families who wish to adopt from Bulgaria shall contact either a licensed accredited agency in France or to send their dossier to the French or to send their dossier to the French adoption agency (http://www.agence-adoption.fr/home/).

Who can adopt?

Adoptive parents can be married couples who have been married for at least 2 years. Each of the adoptive parents shall be at least 28 years old;
Single parents can also adopt. They shall be at least 28 years old;
The adoptive parent shall be at least 15 years older than the adopted child;
French citizens can adopt children younger than 15 years of age.

Recognition of the adoption

The full adoption of a child from a country, party to the Hague convention, such as Bulgaria is automatically recognized in France.

Foreign partners

Kasih Bunda France • AYUDA • French adoption agency (AFA)

а Агенция‘‘

Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation accedes to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989, as well as to the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993. for the protection of children and cooperation in the field of international adoption / the Convention /.

Central Federal Authority

The Central Federal Authority (CFO) is the privileged unit that cooperates with the relevant Central Authorities in the country of origin of the adopted child.

Central authorities in the cantons (choke)

The central authorities in the cantons are 26, corresponding to the number of cantons of the Swiss Confederation.

Accredited organizations for mediation in international adoption

In the Swiss Confederation, there are adoption agencies that act as intermediaries in international adoption procedures, based on the accreditations granted to them by the CFO.

Term and nature of the approval for adoption

The Central Authority in the respective Canton (CCC) issues an approval for adoption, which is called Agreman. The maximum validity of the Agreman is three years and can be renewed by the candidates.

Requirements to the candidate-adoptive parents

The Central Federal Authority (CFO) and the Central Cantonal Authority (CCC) set requirements only for residents of the Swiss Confederation. According to the Family Code of the Swiss Confederation, adoptive parents must have the capacity to care for a child, meet his or her needs and provide him or her with an education.

Recognition of international adoption

Under current Swiss law, a decision to allow the full adoption of a child by a party to the Hague Convention by Swiss nationals is recognized after the issuance of a certificate under Article 23 of the Convention.

Sweden

Legislation and Central Authority

Sweden ratified the Hague Convention on Protection and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on 1 September 1997, pursuant to art. 1 of the Act consequent on Sweden's accession to the Hague Convention.

Central Authority

According to art. 2 of the Act consequent on Sweden's accession to the Convention, the Central Autority of Sweden according to art. 6 of the Convention is the Swedish Intercountry Adoptions Authority (MIA).

Swedish Intercountry Adoptions Authority (MIA) is a government authority under the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. MIA is also the central authority as referred to in the Convention and performs the tasks incumnent on such an authority, except where otherwise indicated by law or other statute.

Functions of the Central Authority

The primary tasks of MIA are:

Authorizing and supervising the non-government organizations. The accreditation is granted for a specific period of time and it shall mention the specific country it has been issued for. Each organization is accredited for 5 years and 2 years is the accreditation for each particular country the organization works with;

Considering whether the adoption procedure is acceptable or not in certain individual cases such as family-related adoptions;
Observing the international development and research;
Negotiating with authorities and non-governmental organizations in other countries in relation to signing of bilateral agreements and to sign such agreemets;
Conducting information activities and providing information and support to the public autorities and non-governmental organizations;
Issuing certificates under art. 23 of the Convention when the adoption has taken place in Sweden or when a foreign adoption order has been transported in Sweden as provided in Artcile 27 of the Convention.

Recognition of the intercountry adoption in Sweden

Pursuant to Art.4 of the Intercountry Adoption Intermediation Act, adoption court decrees issued in a foreigh country shall be accepted in Sweden and the the adopted child shall acquires the same status as it it has been born in the family.

Foreign partners

Adoptionscentrum

Table according to Hague Conference

TABLE I – STATE OF ORIGIN

COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

TO BE PAID IN [NAME OF THE STATE OF ORIGIN]

[YEAR]

Date completed:

Please note: In order to obtain a comprehensive overview of the costs and contributions which may need to be paid by the PAPs, one will need also to refer to Table II (costs and contributions to be paid in the receiving State) as completed by the receiving State in which the PAPs habitually reside.

COSTS
Purpose of the service covered by the cost		Charged by	Name of the authority, body or person	Amount[1] [currency]
Administrative application fee[2]		X CAN □ CAR □ PA □ N/A	Ministry of Justice of republic of Bulgaria	€ 51
Administrative processing fee[3]		X CAN □ CAR □ PA □ N/A	Ministry of Justice of republic of Bulgaria	€ 26
Court fees		X CT □ N/A	Sofia’s Civil Court	€ 63
Visa(s) for PAPs to enter the State of origin		□ PA □ N/A	-	-
Specialised professionals	Legal services (e.g., legal advice and representation in the State of origin)	X AB SO □ AB RS[4] □ OP □ N/A	NGO Alista	€ 600 - € 1000
	Notary’s fees	X OP □ N/A	Notary office	€ 51
	Medical services (e.g., health examination for the child)	X OP □ N/A		€ 0 - € 150
Specialised professionals	Psychologists / counselling	□ AB SO □ AB RS[5] X OP □ N/A		€ 0 - € 150
	Interpreter in the State of origin	X AB SO □ AB RS[6] □ OP □ N/A		€ 870
	Other:
Documentation	Birth certificate(s) of the child	X PA □ CT □ N/A		€ 8
	Passport from the State of origin	X PA □ N/A		€ 41
	Legalization of documents in the State of origin	X PA □ CT □ N/A		€ 410
	Translation of documents in the State of origin	□ AB SO □ AB RS[7] X OP □ N/A		€ 1150
	Other: *Amount of the expenses for intermediation*	X AB SO		€ 2710 - € 3110
Other costs charged by an AB of the State of origin (not included in other categories) Amount of the administrative costs of VESTA, out of the range of activities on the specific adoption procedure, designated to cover expenses related to the overall functioning of the business`s organization of the mediation in international adoption and staff.		X AB SO □ N/A		€ 820 - € 1420
Emigration / Exit fees for the child (e.g., fee to exit the State)[8]		□ PA □ N/A
Other: [please specify]

CONTRIBUTIONS
Purpose	Charged by	Name of the authority, body or person	Amount [currency]
[Please specify for what purpose this money is collected]	□ CAN □ CAR □ PA □ N/A	-	-
[Please specify for what purpose this money is collected (e.g. for the care of the child)]	□ AB SO □ N/A	-	-

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

[Please specify if prospective adoptive parent(s) is / are required to personally travel to the State of origin and the number of compulsory trips[9] as well as the minimum number of days which he / she / they are required to stay in the State of origin].

According to he Regulation No.3/2014 of the Ministry of Justice the adoption applicants are obliged to establish a personal contact with the child by visiting them for at least 5 days. Only one parent can travel. In case of important circumstances the stay could be shorter.

The second trip`s duration is between 3-10 days depending on the receiving country`s requirements. Only one parent can travel with explicit Power of attorney from the other parent. There is also an option for escort of the child by representative explicitly authorized by the adoptive parents.

[1] For each category of costs, please indicate the currency, fixed amount, if applicable, or the range (minimum to maximum) that is charged for each category. See also p. 2 of this document for more details on the way to enter the “amount” in the tables.

[2] States should use this category to indicate whether they charge a standard fee when PAPs submit an application to adopt.

[3] States should use this category to indicate whether they charge subsequent fees at different stages of the adoption procedure (e.g., when the matching is done).

[4] Only applicable if not included already in the costs for services by a receiving States accredited body mentioned in Table II.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] This category of costs does not refer to costs associated with the immigration of the child into the receiving State; instead, it refers to any fees charged by the authorities of the State of origin in order for the child to exit the territory.

[9] States should be aware of the psychological trauma to the child which could occur when several trips are made to meet the child before the he or she is finally entrusted to the adoptive parents.