International adoption is the process you go through to adopt a child from another country. This also applies if you want to adopt a relative living in another country. This kind of adoption is very complex for a number of reasons.
- You have to follow Ontario's adoption laws, Canada's immigration laws and the laws of the child's home country.
- If the child's home country is a participant in the Hague Convention, there may be different requirements that you have to meet.
- You must use an international adoption agency licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
- Before you go to the child's country of origin, you have to have a homestudy completed and a Letter of Approval from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
- Even with the Letter of Approval from the ministry, you need to know that this does not always mean that you will be able to adopt a child. The child's country has the final say in whether or not the adoption can proceed.
Adopting a child from another country usually costs from about $20,000 to $30,000. In some cases, it can cost more.
Contact an approved adoption practitioner or an international adoption agency that is licensed by the ministry.
Contact an adoption practitioner who is approved to conduct homestudies.
