Intercountry Adoption Program
The Intercountry Adoption Program information booklet provides information for couples seeking to be assessed as suitable adoptive parents for a child born overseas. The booklet is currently being updated and will be available soon.
The adoption process occurs in several stages:
- initial enquiry
- lodgement of an expression of interest (EOI)
- establishment of eligibility
- education
- assessment
- determination of suitability
- the overseas process
- travel
- post placement follow up.
- Legislative information
- Eligibility criteria
- Infertility
- Lodging an EOI
- Fees
- Overseas country eligibility requirements
- Further information
Legislative information
The Adoption of Children Act 1964 prescribes that certain information is to be given to each person who expresses interest in being assessed as a prospective adoptive parent. We are required to provide prospective adoptive parents with information about:
- the estimated number and characteristics of children needing adoptive placements
- the assessment and selection processes for adoption
- the fees associated with the assessment process.
Eligibility criteria
Couples expressing interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents are required to meet the eligibility criteria specified in Section 5 of the Adoption of Children Regulation 1999 (the Regulation).
For couples to be eligible to have their names entered in the EOI register they must:
- be resident or domiciled in Queensland
- be Australian citizens, or at least one of them must be an Australian citizen
- not suffer from a physical or mental condition, or have a physical or mental disability, to the extent that they could not provide a high level of stable, long-term care for a child
- have been married for at least two years
- not have more than four children in the custody of either or both of the prospective adoptive parents(this requirement differs to that of the General Children's Adoption Program where couples can only have one child).
Amendments to the Regulation made in 2004 have removed the upper age limit of people seeking to be assessed as prospective adoptive parents. However, the Adoption of Children Act 1964 prescribes, with respect to age of adopters, that the Department of Child Safety Director-General shall not make an adoption order in favour of prospective adopters, either of whom:
- has not attained the age of 21 years
- being male, is less than 18 years older than the child concerned
- being female, is less than 16 years older than the child concerned.
Infertility
Couples do not have to be infertile to access the Intercountry Adoption Program. However, some countries have preferences for couples who are unable to have their own biological children. In Taiwan, it is an eligibility criteria that a prospective adoptive couple are unable to conceive their own child.
Many couples who are trying to conceive a child face times of hope, and sadly, times of disappointment and for many, a necessary process of acceptance and adjustment if they are unsuccessful. To allow couples the opportunity to come to terms with this difficult time in their lives and to ensure the strongest chance of bonding and connection between a child and their adoptive parents, the Department of Child Safety asks that any fertility treatment a couple may intend on, or are in the process of undertaking is completed before they move forward to the education and assessment stage of the adoption process.
Couples who are interested in registering an expression of interest in both the General Children's and Intercountry Adoption programs should note that the General Children's Adoption Program only permits couples who are unable to conceive a child to register.
Lodging an EOI
Couples seeking to express interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents for a child born overseas must complete the EOI Intercountry Program form and forward it with the application fee to Adoption Services Queensland (ASQ) before the EOI closing date.
The closing date for the current EOI is close of business Friday 30 October 2009.
Forms and fees can be posted or lodged in person at ASQ.
If a couple's form and fee is received after the EOI closing date, they cannot be registered.
Fees
- Expression of interest fee - $60.00
- Assessment fee - $3,500.00
- Post-placement fee - $1,500.00
There are no fees associated with attendance at information or education sessions or the preparation of documents.
The fees are prescribed by the Adoption of Children Regulation 1999 and are subject to change. Further information is available in the adoption fee changes information sheet.
Overseas country eligibility requirements
In addition to meeting eligibility criteria specified by the Adoption of Children Regulation 1999 in Queensland, prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt a child born overseas must meet eligibility criteria specified by the individual countries with which Queensland has negotiated adoption agreements.
In some instances, eligibility criteria specified by adoption authorities in overseas countries are more restrictive than those prescribed in Queensland legislation.
Although prospective adoptive parents are eligible to have their names entered in the EOI register in Queensland, they cannot be considered as prospective adoptive parents for children from countries whose eligibility criteria is more restrictive than those specified in Queensland legislation.
After establishing eligibility, couples must also be favourably approved as prospective adoptive parents for a child born overseas before their documents are forwarded to the adoption authority in the relevant country.
Couples can only be approved as prospective adoptive parents for a child or children from one country.
For full details of the requirements for individual countries, refer to the overseas country information.
Further information
For information about adopting a child from overseas, contact Adoption Services Queensland.
- Last updated
- 31 October 2007
