Denmark is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the Convention; the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations; and all applicable legislation and regulations of Denmark.

While adoption is legally possible, children from Denmark are not generally placed for intercountry adoption. There are few children eligible for intercountry adoption from Denmark, with a long waiting list of Danish prospective adoptive parents. While legally possible, intercountry adoption of a Danish orphan by foreigners is unlikely. No child from Denmark has received a U.S. immigrant visa based on an intercountry adoption in the past five fiscal years. The information provided is intended primarily to assist in extremely rare adoption cases from Denmark, including adoptions of children from Denmark by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by U.S. citizens living in Denmark.

Below is the limited adoption information the Department has obtained from the adoption authority of Denmark. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Denmark should contact the Central Authority of Denmark to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Denmark who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Denmark’s Central Authority. See contact information below.

Please visit the Department of State’s country page for more information on traveling to Denmark and the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen’s website for information on consular services.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Denmark’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen adoptive parents and a child from Denmark if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform Denmark’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.

Warning: Do not attempt to adopt [or obtain custody] of a child in Denmark before USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case.

Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.

U.S. Embassy in Denmark
Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24
2100 Copenhagen
Tel: +45-3341 7100
Fax: +45-3538 9616
E-mail: CopenhagenACS@state.gov
Web site: https://dk.usembassy.gov/

Denmark's Adoption Authority
Familierethuset/ The Agency of Family Law 
Storetorv 10 
6200 Aabenraa 
Tel: +45 72 56 70 00 
E-Mail: post@familieretshuset.dk 
Locations: Locations (familieretshuset.dk) 
Website: Adoption (familieretshuset.dk)

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC):
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov