International adoption:
The citizenship process

There are two processes that you must go through when you adopt a child from another country: the adoption process and the citizenship process.

You and your adopted child must meet the eligibility requirements for both international adoption and the citizenship process before you can bring the child to live with you in Canada.

Not all countries allow foreign adoptions. Before you apply to adopt a child from a foreign country, you should ask the adoption authority in your province or territory, or the appropriate foreign embassy in Canada, if adoption is allowed. You can find contact information for provincial and territorial government offices and foreign embassies or consulates in Canada in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

To be eligible for an international adoption, you must meet:

• the adoption requirements of your province or territory, and
• the adoption requirements in the child’s home country.

Adoption authorities in your province or territory, or their licensed adoption agencies, can give you information on eligibility requirements. You can find their contact information in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

Before you travel, see the Important Notice for Adoptive Parents in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

Note:
On April 17, 2009, the law changed to limit citizenship by descent to one generation born outside Canada. This change may affect children adopted from outside Canada.
[ More ]

---

Related Links

• International adoption authorities in Canada
• Intercountry adoption services
• Foreign embassies or consulates in Canada
• The Hague Convention
• Important notice for adoptive parents — before you travel
• Information for prospective parents adopting from China