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Adopting from Maldives

Revision as of 21:22, 1 April 2014 by Admin (Talk | contribs)

The official flag of Maldives.
Source: cia.gov.

Map of Maldives.
Source: cia.gov.

White sandy beaches in Maldives.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Colorful skyline of Male, capital of Maldives.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Hague Convention Information

The Republic of the Maldives (Maldives) is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Hague countries are processed in accordance with 8 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 204.3 as it relates to orphans as defined under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(b)(1)(F).


Maldivian law and Islamic Shari’a law, upon which Maldivian family law is largely based, does not allow the adoption of Maldivian children in Maldives. Maldivian law recognizes only long term guardianship as an alternative to adoption, and this arrangement is only available to Maldivian nationals. According to Maldivian law, prospective adoptive parents who are non-Muslim may not be appointed guardians of Muslim children. Prospective adoptive parents should refer to our information sheet on Adoption of Children from Countries in which Islamic Shari'a Law is observed for more information.


The Maldivian government is currently considering significant revisions to its laws governing the guardianship of minors. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Maldives who wish to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should contact Maldives adoption authority, the Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights (see contact information below).


Please visit the Department’s Country Specific Information sheets for more information on travelling to Maldives and the U.S. Embassy Sri Lanka & Maldives website for information on consular services.


Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are adoptable. In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardship, intending that the child return home when this becomes possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to their child(ren)’s adoption.


Please visit the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Maldives and the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s website for information on consular services.


MALDIVE'S ADOPTION AUTHORITY: Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights


Who Can Adopt

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Residency

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Age of Adopting Parents

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Marriage

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Income

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Other

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Who Can Be Adopted

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How to Adopt

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Adoption Authority

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The Process

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Traveling Abroad

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After Adoption

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Contact Information

U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka

210, Galle Road Colombo 03, Sri Lanka Tel: +94-1-2498500 Fax: +94-1-2437345 Email: consularcolombo@state.gov Internet: U.S. Embassy Sri Lanka


The Republic of the Maldives Adoption Authority

Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights Huravee Building, 1st Floor Male, Maldives Tel: +9603013008 Fax: 9603013018 Email: info@mgfhr.gov.mv


Embassy of Sri Lanka in the United States

Embassy of Sri Lanka 2148 Wyoming Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008 Tel: (202) 483-4026/ 28 Fax: (202) 232-7181 Email: slembassy@slembassyusa.org Internet: Embassy of Sri Lanka


SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information[1]