Adopting a child whilst living abroad

[TheBossofMe]

My first post on this subject, am hoping someone will be able to point me in the right direction. I am a British citizen living and working in Thailand for a couple of years, aged 39, DH is 42, with DD aged 3 (she is our bio child).

We would like to adopt a child (for various reasons, its looking unlikely that i can conceive or carry a child to term again) whilst still living abroad. But I have no idea where to start, what the implications are for the child when we return back to the UK (is he/she a British citizen), what the legal implications/processes are, whether we have to be approved by UK authorities for adoption etc.

Can anyone help?

Hi. I suspect that you would need to be assessed and approved by British authorities. Usually your local authority would do this... If you do not have a current address that you use in the UK, maybe contact the independent adoption service? This is their number in London: 020 77031088 or email: [email protected]. International adoptions can be tricky and expensive. But IAS can maybe advise...

I suggest you contact the Intercountry Adoption Centre
www.icacentre.org.uk who will be able to advise. I know people who have done this (though not Thailand) and have just had to "readopt"when returning to the UK - they will probably be able to put you in touch will others in same situation
Good luck

As i understand it, if you live in Thailand you can submit an adoption application with the Child Adoption Centre in Bangkok. there is more information here

there is information here about the entry requirement for a child adopted abroad to enter the uk

Thank you so much!

I don't know what the situation is like in Thailand but we're currently in a very similar position in China (we're waiting for our daughter now) and we found the British Embassy were fantastically helpful. As I understand it, we don't even need to "readopt" back in UK but there are certain requirements such as we're not allowed to repatriate back to the UK for (I think) 2 years after we get our daughter. Maybe worth talking to the British Embassy. Good luck!

you don't need to readopt in th UK because CHina is a Hague country and so chinese adoptions are recognised in teh UK. I don't think Thailand is Hague but someone can crrect me if I'm wrong.

Dear All,

I am so glad that I have joined this network. I am living and working in Bangladesh for some years and planning to adopt from here. My husband is still in the UK and working there, I shuttle every two/three months, or he comes here whenever he gets chances. In Bangladesh the adoption law is pretty strict so I have to work hard to convince the court. But before that I need to know can I take my future kid to the UK or not, or I have to go through the re-adoption process. Please advice me on this regard. Thanks a zillion in advance.

My understanding from adopting our child internationally (while based in U.K.) is that the child automatically becomes a British citizen if you adopt from a country that is party to The Hague convention. If the country is non Hague then they will need a visa to enter the U.K. and will be classed as a foster child until you have re-adopted them in the U.K. court. There is a lot more detail to this but that’s the outline. I know various people that have done this and many have involved a lawyer experienced in international adoption. Hilka Holman of Freeman’s Solicitors was very good with us,
alternatively Natalie Gamble is another person people use.

Thanks a lot for the information. Bangladesh is not in the lists of Hague Conventions. So I believe I have to go through with the process of re-adoption. Is it so?

It's not that straightforward.

You have to be assessed as a potential adoptive parent where you are 'habitually resident'. That's not the same as citizenship, permanent residence, or where you own property or where you're living right now... although all those things can give weight one way or the other.

If you are habitually resident in the UK you need to go through the UK system for adopting from abroad, but the child you adopt will be entitled to UK citizenship.

If you are habitually resident overseas you can adopt there. If it is a Hague Convention country then you can apply for UK citizenship for the child, but it isn't automatic. If it is a genuine relationship then it probably will be granted.

If it is not a Hague Convention country then you can apply, but it is unlikely to be granted.

Please help urgently
Me & my husband both are british national living in Bangladesh with our adopted princess daughter since jan 2019. She is 10 months now. This is the best decision we have ever made. She is our whole life now.
We are really worried for her UK visa/British nationality.
Please help us if anyone have any experience. Thank you

Might have been worth investigating this BEFORE adopting...

Info here

"Adoptions... after 3 January 2014 in countries that are not recognised in UK law in accordance with the legislation listed above, and which are not Hague Convention adoptions, are not recognised in UK law. Applications for registration in these circumstances would normally be refused."

The legislation referred to is the Adoption (Recognition of Overseas Adoptions) Order 2013, and Bangladesh is not on the list of recognised countries list here

It doesn't look as if adoptions in Bangladesh are recognised under the Hague convention either List of Hague Convention countries

Your best bet would be to contact a specialist immigration lawyer to see what your options are.