Adopting from India
Adoptions between New Zealand and India are done according to the Hague Convention. All adoptions are approved by the Indian Central Adoption Resource Agency, the Central Authority for adoptions in India.
Citizens of countries other than India must work through an adoption agency in their home country that appears on a list of agencies approved by CARA. ICANZ is approved by CARA. View the list of foreign approved agencies at Indian Central Adoption Resource Agency.
ICANZ liaises with CARA and the Recognized Indian Placement Agency on behalf of adoptive parents, assists the parent with the process and ensures the process proceeds as quickly as possible.
ICANZ was approved to work in India in November 2007. See our Authorisation Certificate. This program is new and under development. ICANZ now accepts applications from those who meet the requirements listed below.
The Children
Most relinquished children in India are from unwed mothers or from families too poor to care for them. As a result of gender discrimination, the majority of children adopted by foreigners are girls.
Abandoned or relinquished children in India are cared for in orphanages, which are relatively clean and have adequate space and access to resources and good medical services. Children receive affection and social interaction and informal education for living.
ICANZ helps couples with Indian heritage to adopt infants or older children, and assists applicants without Indian heritage to apply for children from 5 to 10 years of age or a younger child with a definite medical need. It is sometimes possible to adopt sibling groups are aged between 4 and 14 years consisting of 2 or 3 children from one family.
Information on a child typically consists of medical and social information and one or more photos. Immunization records and information pertaining to physical, emotional and intellectual development are also included.
Before they are referred for international adoption, efforts have been made to reunite the child with the birth or extended family, or place the child with an appropriate local Indian adoptive family. Permission for international adoption must be granted by CARA as well as the NZ Central Authority.
ICANZ will accept applications from prospective adoptive parents who are
- Approved by the NZ Central Authority.
- Married with at least 5 years stable relationship, no more than 1 divorce.
- Healthy (no physical or mental health issues)
- Couples aged between the age 30-55 years, with combined parents' ages under 90, unless applying for children over 5 years old. Not more than a 45 year gap between parent and child. NB The younger children are placed with NRIs.
- Single women (never married, widowed, divorced) between the ages 30-45 years, in some cases. India will not allow the adoption of a child by a gay or lesbian person.
- Families with no more than 1 child, unless all the children are boys. Families with more children are accepted if applying for older children or those with medical needs.
- Applicants with Indian passports (NRIs) or OCI cards – these applicants have priority and may apply for infants. Other applicants (non NRI) must be open to adopting a child of either gender, open to a wide age range including children over 4 years, or younger ones with medical needs, or a sibling group including older children.
Please contact ICANZ to discuss your situation as each case is considered individually and the above generalised requirements can vary in some cases
The Process
The process includes a 3 day education/preparation course and an assessment with CYF to gain approval from the New Zealand Central Authority to adopt from India (see Adoption Process).
Once you have obtained approval from the New Zealand Central Authority, ICANZ will assist you with document preparation and completion of the placement process. ICANZ will communicate regularly with the agency in India about your adoption.
A child will be allocated to you by a Recognised Indian Placement Agency, approved by CARA and the NZCA before your own approval. Matching is done on the basis of the best interests of the child. You will consider and accept the child placement while in NZ.
A trip to India of about 8-12 days is needed.
You are required to have bi-monthly post adoption visits and reports by CYF for 6 months and to send a photo of the child to the orphanage every year. After 3 satisfactory bi-monthly post-placement reports are completed you will apply for permission to finalise the adoption in the New Zealand court
Timeframes
Timing is variable, usually about 12-18 months to referral. Applications for a child over five years are usually responded to far more quickly, within a few months.
Costs
You will need to pay for all costs associated with ICANZ work for you in NZ, the RIPA charges in India, travel accommodation and personal costs. Please Contact ICANZ for details.