The choice to adopt a child or children from another country may happen for a number of different reasons, but when someone gets to that point, it is usually with a great deal of passion and conviction. Whether you aren't able to have children of your own, you have emotional ties to another country or you just want to make a child's life better, adopting from another country can be a great opiton.

However, it is also complicated and potentially time-consuming, so it is important that you follow the right steps at the right times. There is obviously a lot more to it than contacting an international adoption agency and choosing a child to bring over and call your own.

Determining Eligibility

A successful adoption won't happen at all if you aren't eligible to adopt a child from another country, so figuring that out is a critical first step. The welfare and rights of the child are of the utmost importance, to the Canadian government and to the other country, so only qualified candidates are considered.

Adopting children from other countries is known as "intercountry" or international adoption, and the end result is a Canadian individual or couple being legally recognized as the permanent parent(s) of the child or children. Some of the requirements you must meet in order to be eligible to adopt a child from another country include:

  • The adoption must be in the best interest of the child.
  • The adoption is a genuine parent/child relationship and not just a plan to acquire citizenship.
  • The adoption is in accordance with both Canadian law and the laws of the country where the child resides.

Once it has been determined that you are eligible, the adoption process may begin. However, even after this step has been completed successfully and the adoption finalized, another step is required before you can bring your adopted child to Canada.

Immigration or Citizenship

Once the child has been adopted, some parents are able to apply for Canadian citizenship for the child directly, while others must sponsor the child for permanent residence first.

Each process has its own requirements and rules of eligibility, and this is where a seasoned Canadian immigration lawyer can help guide you in the right direction. Knowing which step applies to your situation can be challenging, which is why consulting an expert makes sense. An immigration lawyer will also help with any applications that must be filled out for these steps.

The fact that children are involved and there is more than one country involved in the process is why it can be such an arduous process, but the rewards are great if it works out. Not all countries permit adoption, and some are currently suspended from intercountry adoptions.

If you're still interested in going through the process, contact our office today to learn how we can help.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.