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

Eswatini ratified the Convention on March 5, 2013, and it entered into force on July 1, 2013.

The Social Welfare Department is currently reviewing their laws and procedures to find how to best reopen intercountry adoption, which has been suspended in Eswatini since 2013. 

ASPs with questions about adoptions from Eswatini should contact the Eswatini Central Authority, Eswatini’s Adoption Authority, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Department of Social Welfare, Gwamile Street, Mbabane, Phone: (268) 2404-2723/4, website: Social Welfare Department (gov.sz).

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