Overseas Child Adoption Explained

Adoption in Qld of an Overseas Child 

How to Adopt a Child from Overseas

There is a procedure you must follow if you wish to adopt a child from overseas.

The procedure differs from State to State.

For example, a couple wanting to adopt a child from overseas to live with them in Queensland, must lodge an expression of interest application with the Queensland Department of Communities.

You must meet certain eligibility criteria to lodge an expression of interest application.

A couple will be eligible to lodge an expression of interest application if:

 

 

Eligibility Criteria

• you are a heterosexual couple;
• you have lived together continuously (either as married or de facto spouses) for at least two years and are currently living together;
• you are both adults;
• you are resident or domiciled in Queensland;
• one of you is an Australian Citizen;
• the female spouse is not pregnant;
• neither spouse is undergoing fertility treatment, nor have they undergone fertility within the previous six months;
• you are not an intended parent under a surrogacy arrangement;
• if you are an intended parent under a surrogacy arrangement , then the surrogacy arrangement must have ended at least 6 months earlier; and
• you do not have custody of a child who is either:
  • under 12 months of age; or
  • who has been in their custody for less than a year
  • unless it is a child for whom they are an approved carer.

 

The eligibility criteria listed above must be met or you will not qualify to lodge an expression of interest application to adopt a child from overseas.

Under Queensland law, same sex couples are not eligible to lodge an expression of interest.

Same sex couples are currently able to enter into a surrogacy arrangement in Queensland however the Queensland government has said they propose to change this so that same sex couples will not be eligible in the future.

Overseas Child Adoption – More Information

If you meet the above eligibility criteria to adopt a child from overseas, then you may also wish to read about how adopted parents are selected.

If you do adopt a child then you will need to get a Final Adoption Order and understand how to go about getting a Final Adoption Order from the Court.

 

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