Australia – Foreign Authorization – Requirements and Procedure

To support the viability of intercountry adoption as an option for permanency for children in Australia, the Office of Children’s Issues and the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney sought information from the Australian Central Authority regarding its legal requirements for the authorization of adoption service providers (ASP), pursuant to Article 12 of the Hague Adoption Convention.

Australia ratified the Convention on August 25, 1998, and the Convention came into force on December 1, 1998.

The Central Authority for Australia confirmed there is no authorization process for foreign providers.  Intercountry adoptions from Australia to the United States are only possible in limited circumstances such as a relative or known child adoption.  In cases such as these, the Central Authority for Australia would engage with the relevant authorities in the United States on a case-by-case basis.

ASPs with questions about adoptions from Australia should contact the Australian Central Authority, Department of Social Services GPO Box 9820 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia, Tel.: +61 2 6146 8232, Email: icaprograms@dss.gov.au, Web: www.dss.gov.au/intercountryadoption

For additional information, ASPs may wish to review the Australia country-information page.