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

Costa Rica ratified the Convention on October 30, 1995, and it entered into force on February 1, 1996. Costa Rican law requires U.S. ASPs be authorized by the Costa Rican National Adoption Council.

ASPs with questions about the information below or about pursuing authorization in Costa Rica should contact the Consejo Nacional de Adopciones del Patronato Nacional de la Infancia, CNA – PANI, San José, San José, Catedral, 400 metros sur de esquina sureste de la Corte Suprema de Justicia. Calle 21, Avenida 12 B.

Phone: +506 25230794 or +506 25230843

E-mail: adopciones@pani.go.cr

Website: www.pani.go.cr.

Contact people: Sr. Jorge Urbina Soto, Coordinador del Departamento de Adopciones. Phone: +506 25230792, E-mail: jurbina@pani.go.cr or

Sra. Silvia Rojas Esquivel, Psicóloga del Departamento de Adopciones, Phone: +50625230824, E-mail: srojas@pani.go.cr

ASPs  may request authorization from the National Adoption Council to perform functions as a Collaborating Entity for International Adoption in Costa Rica, by presenting the following to the Council:

1)      A written request addressed to the National Adoption Council, with the name of the requesting entity, its headquarters, postal address, electronic mail, telephone and fax number. The request must be signed by the legal representative or attorney-in-fact of the organization.

2)      Evidence the ASP is a non-profit organization.

            3)  The current license that certifies the ASP is authorized by the Central Authority.

            4)  General information about the ASP, including its management and administration structure, as well as its training and experience in the field of international adoption.

            5)  A document issued by the Central Authority of their country of origin or another authority formally designated for such purposes, where the functions entrusted by that authority are expressly indicated, in accordance with the provision of the bilateral or multilateral agreement, as appropriate.

            6)  A document issued by the official Authorizing Entity expressly indicating whether complaints of irregularities have been filed against the ASP regarding adoption processes or violation of the rights of minors.

            7)  Certified photocopy of the ASP’s legal status or Articles of Incorporation.

            8)  Power of Attorney for any person designated to represent the ASP in Costa Rica.  This is not a requirement.

            9)  Commitment that evaluations of any potential adoptive parents considering adoption in Costa Rica will meet the psychological and social criteria established by the Adoption Department.

            10)  Confirmation that the ASP will follow the Costa Rican requirement to follow up for three years any adoption approved in Costa Rica in accordance with the monitoring criteria established institutionally and in the Costa Rican regulations.

            11)  A document confirming the ASP will not intervene directly, or through its representatives in Costa Rica, in the judicial processes of intercountry adoption without complying with the procedures and conditions established in the Hague Convention.

ASPs seeking authorization in Costa Rica may request the assistance of the Adoption Oversight Division in the Office of Children’s Issues about requirement 3 and 5 by emailing  ASPadoption@state.gov.  Accrediting entities may assist ASPs with requirement 6.

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