Adopting from Thailand
Adoptions between New Zealand and Thailand are conducted according to the Hague Convention. All adoptions are approved by the Child Adoption Board of Thailand, the Central Authority for Adoption in Thailand.
FFAC was established in 1977. ICANZ was granted permission to work with FFAC in 2005 and began its first Thai adoptions in 2006. Thai law prevents adoptive parents approaching FFAC directly to adopt. Adoptive parents must work through their accredited agency in NZ.
FFAC runs small child care centres in both Bangkok and in the north of Thailand, which provide a variety of services to local families. Aside from care and adoption planning for some children, FFAC also provides educational support, food and material aid and entertainment programs for local children. Children may also be cared for in smaller group homes or in foster homes.
The Children
Most Thai children in FFAC care were voluntarily relinquished by young single birth parents at, or shortly after, birth. As in most developing countries, some
ICANZ works with an accredited organization in Bangkok, the Friends for All Children Foundation (FFAC).
Families in Thailand struggle with providing basic needs for their children. Poverty, difficult social circumstances and lack of opportunity conspire against families often resulting in great need for some children.
Before they are referred for international adoption, efforts have been made to reunite the child with the birth family, or place the child with an appropriate extended family member or a local Thai adoptive family. Permission for international adoption is granted by the Thai Child Adoption Board.
Due to the efforts to reunite the child with their birth family or find a local adoptive family, children are over 1 year by the time they can be adopted. Children being placed via FFAC and ICANZ are usually 18 months - 3 years old at referral and 6 months older by the time they enter NZ. There are more boys than girls placed for adoption.
Information on a child typically consists of medical and social information and one or more photos. Because the children are normally relinquished by their birth parents, it is typical to receive birth family social history, which can be very important for children. Immunization records and information pertaining to physical, emotional and intellectual development are also included.
ICANZ will accept prospective adoptive parents who are:
- approved by the NZ Central Authority following assessment by CYF
- married, with no more than one divorce per parent
- both between 25 and 41 years of age at the time ICANZ receives your homestudy and all required documents, for a child aged 1 - 3 years
- healthy, (no physical or mental health issues)
- childless with infertility, or have one Thai adopted child
- willing to send one photo of the child to the orphanage every year until the child is 18 years old
- open to adopting a child of either gender, aged 1-3
- adoptive mother able and willing to be an at-home parent for at least one year
NOTE - NO applications will be accepted outside the above criteria
Criteria may be more flexible when familes apply for older children aged 5 - 8 years or those with medical needs. Please contact ICANZ for details.
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 Thailand (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.
A child will be pre-matched to you by FFAC, approved by the Thai Child Adoption Board and the New Zealand Central Authority. Matching is done on the basis of the best interests of the child. You will consider and accept the placement while in NZ.
A trip to Thailand of 12– 18 days is needed. Upon arriving in Thailand, families receive their child, meet with the Thai Adoption Board and sign documentation.
You are required to have bi-monthly post adoption visits and reports by ICANZ for 6 months and to send one photo of the child to the orphanage every year until the child is 18. After 3 satisfactory bi-monthly post-placement reports are received by the Thai Child Adoption Board you will receive permission to finalise the adoption, typically about one year later. You must then travel to Wellington to register the adoption at the Thai Embassy. It will take a further 6 months or more to receive the documentation needed to gain New Zealand citizenship.
Timeframes
Adoption from Thailand involves a fair degree of variability in timing. Numbers of adoptions are small and each case is unique. As a general guide only, it is expected that after submission of your documents, you will be matched with a child within 12 months.
Costs
You will need to pay for all costs associated with ICANZ work for you, travel accommodation, personal costs and post placement reporting costs. Please contact ICANZ for details.