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

Finland ratified the Convention on March 27, 1997, and it entered into force on July 1, 1997.

Finnish law requires U.S. ASPs be authorized by the Finnish Adoption Board.

ASPs with questions about the information below or about pursuing authorization in Finland should contact the Finnish Adoption Board, National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), P.O. BOX 43, FI-00521, Helsinki, Finland

Phone: +358 295 209 111

Website: https://www.valvira.fi/web/en/social_welfare/adoption.  

Contact people, Mrs. Irene Pärssinen-Hentula, Counsellor of Social Welfare, Chair of the Finnish Adoption Board, Phone: +358 295 209 247, Email: irene.parssinen-hentula@valvira.fi, or adoption@valvira.fi, Mrs. Johanna Huovinen, Senior Officer, Secretary of the Adoption Board, Email: adoption@valvira.fi, Mrs. Minna Malviniemi, Senior Officer, Secretary of the Adoption Board, adoption@valvira.fi.

The Adoption Board may, upon application, grant a U.S. adoption service provider a license to cooperate with a local service provider in Finland if:

1. the U.S. adoption service provider has the competence to carry out tasks relating to intercountry adoption in its home country;
2. the U.S. adoption service provider shows that it carries out the tasks relating to intercountry adoption in a professional and reliable manner, in the best interests of the child and with respect for the fundamental rights of the child as recognized in international law and without providing improper financial or other gain from adoptions; and
3. the cooperation can be regarded as justified, taking special account of the need for intercountry adoptions in that country.

The license shall be granted for a fixed period not exceeding five years at a time.

The Adoption Oversight Division in the Office of Children’s Issues can provide an accreditation verification letter as needed. ASPs may email ASPadoption@state.gov to request this official communication. For additional information, ASPs may wish to review the Finland country-information page.