| What is an adoption? | | | | that particular country.Documents which are not in |
| "Adoption is the act of legally placing a child with a | | | | English language must be attached with English or |
| parent or parents other than those to whom they | | | | Thai translations and be translated and certified by |
| were born. An adoption order has the effect of | | | | the authorized translator.In case the applicant resides |
| severing parental responsibilities and rights of the | | | | in the country other than a country of domicile, |
| original parent(s) and transferring those responsibilities | | | | document certifying such residency and period of not |
| and rights to the adoptive parent(s)." | | | | less than six months for taking care of the child |
| How to apply for adoption of a Thai child? | | | | before adoption. |
| Foreigner who has domicile outside Thailand can | | | | The Parents of Adopted Child |
| submit the application through authorized agency or | | | | They must give the following documents: |
| the Competent Authority to DSDW or the | | | | 1. Identification of parents of child. 2. House |
| non-governmental child welfare agencies. | | | | Registration 3. Marriage Certificate. 4. Divorce |
| Foreigner who has domicile inside Thailand and proof | | | | Certificate and divorce agreement concerning child |
| of residency and house registration can submit the | | | | custody or court order. 5. In case that father and |
| application where the domicile is. The person who has | | | | mother of child are not legally married and unable to |
| domicile in Bangkok can submit the application at Child | | | | find the father, the authority officer will interview the |
| Adoption Center. The person who has domicile | | | | mother with 2 witnesses at the child adoption center |
| outside Bangkok can submit the application at the | | | | and certify that: |
| Department of Social Development and Welfare of | | | | 5.1 The father and the mother of child haven't |
| each province. | | | | registered their marriage. 5.2 The father hasn't |
| Foreigner who has temporary domicile inside Thailand | | | | registered the child and separated. 5.3 No judgment |
| and work permit from Labor Department of Ministry | | | | concerning that the father is legal parent. 5.4 Not be |
| of Labor and reside at least 6 months in Thailand | | | | able to find the father of child to sign the consent. |
| before filing the application can submit the application | | | | 6. Letter of consent of authorized person 7. Letter |
| with the required document which certify with | | | | of consent of father 8. Four photographs of the |
| embassy or consular in Thailand. | | | | father, the mother and the child size 4.5 x 6 cm, and |
| Adoptive Applicant | | | | family 9. Other relevant document such as death |
| Applicant contacts through the competent social | | | | certificate, name change certificate etc. |
| welfare authority in their country such as the | | | | Adopted Child |
| governmental organization which is responsible for | | | | 1. Birth Certificate of adopted child |
| Social Welfare (Competent Authority) or the | | | | 2. House Registration |
| non-governmental Child Welfare Organization which is | | | | 3. Four photographs of the adopted child size 4.5 x 6 |
| licensed by their Government to handle the matter | | | | cm |
| as following; | | | | 4. Letter of Consent of the adopted child |
| 1. A Home Study Report should concern about living | | | | 5. Other relevant document. |
| and family and photos of interior and exterior of | | | | Procedure in Thailand: |
| house. | | | | 1. When all required document are received, they will |
| 2. A statement of approval made by the Competent | | | | be submitted to the Child Adoption Board which will |
| Authority or the responsible authority as the case | | | | review all qualification of adoptive parents. |
| may be, confirming that the applicants are qualified | | | | 2. The authority officer will submit the evaluation to |
| for adoption and are in all respects suitable to be the | | | | the Board and informed to the applicants through |
| adoptive parents. | | | | Competent Authority whether or not they are |
| 3. A statement made by the Competent Authority | | | | approved as prospective adoption parents. |
| agreeing to supervise the pre-adoption placement of | | | | 3. In case the adoption application is processed |
| a child in case such placement is granted to the | | | | through the Authorized Agencies, DSDW is entitled |
| applicants and to provide three bi-monthly progress | | | | to review and investigate the background of the child |
| reports to DSDW. The pre-adoption placement period | | | | to be adopted in order to be confirmed that the child |
| is a probationary period of not less than six months. | | | | is legally available for Inter-Country adoption. |
| 4. Your application form for Child Adoption | | | | 4. In case the prospective parents accept the child |
| 5. Copy of passport or related document. Residency | | | | the case will be further submitted to the Child |
| certificate. | | | | Adoption Board and the Director General of the |
| 6. Copy of Marriage certificate ( In case that there is | | | | DSDW for approval of pre-adoption placement either |
| a previous marriage, please attach divorce certificate, | | | | in Thailand or aboard. In case the prospective |
| Marriage certificate is more than six months) | | | | adoptive parents living aboard, he case will be |
| 7. Medical certificate verifying good physical health | | | | accordingly submitted to the Minister of the Ministry |
| and mental stability indication. | | | | of Social Development and Human Security for a |
| 8. Document certifying occupation and income. | | | | permission to take the child out of Thailand. |
| 9. Document certifying current financial status (dating | | | | 5. When the pre-adoption placement is approved, an |
| back not more than six months) | | | | appointment is made by DSDW for the prospective |
| 10. Document certifying asset | | | | parents to be interviewed by the Child Adoption |
| 11. Four photographs of the applicant and spouse (if | | | | Board and issue document for the child's travel. The |
| any) size 4.5 x 6 cm, applicants' children and the | | | | prospective parents will have at least 6 months to |
| home area (photograph taken dating back not over | | | | the probation of child. |
| than six months). | | | | 6. After six months probation, 3 home study reports |
| 12. Copy of Law, regulation or document form | | | | are satisfied. The authority officer will submit |
| relevant authorities of the country of domicile or | | | | summary report to Child Adoption Board for approval. |
| residence of the applicant certifying the eligibility of | | | | 7. DSDW will notice to the Ministry of Foreign Affair |
| the applicant to adopt a child. | | | | about the matter. The prospective parents may |
| 13. Copy of Law, regulation or document from | | | | register their adoption at Thai Embassy or Thai |
| relevant authorities of the country of domicile or | | | | Consulate. In case that the prospective parent |
| residence of the applicant certifying the eligibility of | | | | resides in Thailand, they may register adoption at |
| an adopted child to enter into such country. The | | | | district office. |
| prospective parents should check with their | | | | Ministry of Foreign Affair will send a set of adoption |
| immigration authority of a child's entry visa before | | | | application to DSDW to confirm that this case has |
| applying. | | | | completed. |
| 14. Letter of consent for adoption from the | | | | The basic criteria for prospective adoptive parent(s) |
| applicants' spouse or a approval order of the court in | | | | are: |
| lieu of the spouse's consent (if any) | | | | Being legally qualified to adopt a child under the law |
| 15. Copy of work permit of alien and employment | | | | of your home country: |
| contract. | | | | Applicant is over 25 years of age. Be at least 15 |
| 16. References certifying the suitability of the | | | | years older than the child to be adopted. The |
| applicants for adoption from at least two persons. | | | | adopted child is over than 15 years must consent. In |
| 17. Criminal Record (from the country of domicile | | | | case that the adopted child is minor, it must- consent |
| AND residence) | | | | of both parents. In case that either mother or father |
| 18. Confirmation from the Competent Authority or | | | | passes away, one has to consent. In case that there |
| concerned authority that after the adoption is | | | | is no consent person, the legal representative or |
| finalized under the Thai Law, it will also be legalized | | | | prosecutor asks the court's permission. The consent |
| under the concerned Law of the applicants' country | | | | of spouse. |
| when due. | | | | Thailand is part and ratified the Hague Convention on |
| All required documents from no.5 -14 have to be | | | | Intercountry Adoption entered into force 1 May 1995. |
| certified by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in | | | | |