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If you are a South African based abroad, and interested in adopting a South African child, you must contact the central authority in the country where you reside. If there is no competent authority in your country, you can contact the International Social Services (ISS).
Intercountry adoption is the placement of a child in the permanent care of a person who is not their biological parent or guardian and resides in a foreign country. It offers a permanent family to a child for whom a suitable family could not be found in the country of origin.
What You Should Do
- Contact the central adoption authority or ISS (https://www.iss-ssi.org/index.php/en/) in the country where you reside.
- The central adoption authority or ISS in your country will recommend an adoption organization that will assess and screen you for suitability.
- If the central authority or ISS finds you to be fit and proper to adopt, it will compile a comprehensive home study report and forward it to the South African Central Authority (Saca).
- The Saca will refer the matter to an accredited adoption organization to establish whether there is a child who is available for adoption.
- The social worker will ensure that every person who ought to consent to the adoption does so through the Children's Court.
- Affected parties will be given 60 days in which they can withdraw their consent before the child is considered adoptable.
- Once the adoption organization submits a report in favour of the adoption, the Saca will issue Article 17, recommending intercountry adoption.
- The Saca will forward the child study report to the Central Authority in your country to match you with the child.
- If you are still interested in adopting the child, the Central Authority in the foreign country will grant you permission to adopt the child and forward the permission to the Saca.
- You will be invited to travel to South Africa for the adoption to be finalized at the Children's Court.
- The Children's Court will issue an adoption order, and the relevant documentation will be forwarded to the Saca for the adoption to be verified and registered.
- If this adoption was arranged with another signatory to the Hague Convention, the Saca will ensure that a Certificate of Conformity is issued.
- The accredited child protection organization will ensure that the Department of Home Affairs receives a copy of the adoption order. The department will change the names of the child and issue a new birth certificate.
- The accredited child protection organization will forward the new birth certificate to you.
- The adoption agency in the country where you live will provide you with aftercare services for five years.
How long does it take?
It differs from one case to another.
How much does it cost?
You must pay an accredited child protection organization in respect of intercountry adoption. The below table outlines the equivalent prices it would cost in South African Rand:
| Adoption Costs | |
|---|---|
| Group orientation | R2250 per session |
| Interview/counselling | R250 per hour |
| Home visits | R250 per hour |
| Home-study report | R500 per report |
| Court processes | R500 per day |
| Birth registration | R170 per hour |
| Administration costs | R170 per hour |
| After-care services | R500 once-off payment |
| Origin enquiry/tracing | R200 per hour |
Forms to Complete
In South Africa, all forms are available from the nearest Department of Social Development office. Overseas, you should be able to obtain the necessary paperwork from your country's accredited adoption organization.
Who to Contact
Contact the toll-free line (within South Africa): 0800 60 10 11. Otherwise, contact your country's accredited adoption organization or the ISS.
Reference:
South Africa Government Services (n.d.). Intercountry adoption with local element. Retrieved 5 April 2018 from https://www.gov.za