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	=Who Can Be Adopted=		=Who Can Be Adopted=
		+	Because Togo is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Togo must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the Convention requires that Togo attempt to place a child with a family in-country before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition to Togo's requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee for you to bring him or her back to the United States.
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		+	'''ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:'''
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		+	In order to be eligible for adoption under Togolese law, a child must have been pronounced abandoned or relinquished by the Togolese Lower Court.
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		+	'''[[Relinquishment]] Requirements:'''  Both parents have decided to release the child because they are unable to care for him/her or the child's parents rights have been terminated due to [[neglect]]; or both parents are deceased and the family consents to release the child to a third party. This would be considered an adoption by consent. In the case of [[relinquishment]] of a child, the Lower Court must make a legal ruling.
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		+	'''[[Abandonment]] Requirements:'''  In order to be considered legally abandoned, the legal parents must have willfully forsaken all [[Parental Rights|parental rights]], obligations and claims to the child; and/or the legal parents have not transferred [[Parental Rights|parental rights]] to anyone and the child is not in their care. After a field investigation, a judge or the president of the Togolese Lower Court will decree the child abandoned by a court decree.
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		+	'''AGE REQUIREMENTS:''' Under local law, the adoptee must be unmarried and under 18. Because U.S. law limits the adoptions of children above 16, American citizens considering adopting an older child in Togo should contact the Embassy prior to initiating the process.
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		+	'''Requirements for Children with [[Special Needs]] or Medical Conditions:''' [[Special Needs|Special needs]] or children with medical conditions can be [[adopted]]. [[Adoptive Parents|Adoptive parents]] are given the opportunity to request specific criteria for the child they want to [[adopt]] when submitting their adoption application. [[Adoptive Parents|Adoptive parents]] are informed of the child's condition in a detailed report when they are matched with the child. Once matched with a child, the PAP will have the opportunity to accept or reject the prospective child.
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		+	'''WAITING PERIOD:''' There is no designated waiting period in an adoption case but prospective parents should be aware that it will likely take several years to finalize an adoption in Togo as the adoption process is new and details are still being worked out. Files are treated on a first come, first served basis and as the process is relatively new, many of the details
	=How to Adopt=		=How to Adopt=

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Revision as of 21:27, 10 April 2014

Hague Convention Information

Togo is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption ( Hague Adoption Convention ). Therefore all adoptions between TOGO and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.

There are two types of adoptions in Togo: Plenary and simple. Both are valid for immigration purposes.

Beginning March 2010, all new adoption cases in Togo will be conducted under the guidelines of the Hague Convention. NOTE: Special transition provisions apply to some adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Learn more.

Who Can Adopt

Adoption between the United States and Togo is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. Therefore to adopt from Togo, you must first be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn more.

In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Togo also has the following requirements for prospective adoptive parents:

Residency

There is a one year residency requirement where the Prospective Adoptive Parent (PAP) must live in Togo for at least one year before the adoption is finalized. However exemptions to this requirement can be granted by the President of the High Court.

Age of Adopting Parents

At least one of the PAPs must be over 30-year-old and there must at least an18-year difference between the PAP and the adopted child. This requirement is reduced to a 10-year age difference in cases where the prospective adoptee is the biological child of the spouse of PAP.

Marriage

Married couples and single individuals may adopt.

Income

Togo has no income requirements for international adoptions. Prospective parents must prove that they can provide for the child. The National Adoption Committee (CNAET) relies on the information provided by the Central Authority -- specifically the U.S. home study that relays information on the PAP's finances.

Other

Same-sex couples cannot adopt in Togo.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Togo is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Togo must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the Convention requires that Togo attempt to place a child with a family in-country before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition to Togo's requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee for you to bring him or her back to the United States.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

In order to be eligible for adoption under Togolese law, a child must have been pronounced abandoned or relinquished by the Togolese Lower Court.

Relinquishment Requirements: Both parents have decided to release the child because they are unable to care for him/her or the child's parents rights have been terminated due to neglect; or both parents are deceased and the family consents to release the child to a third party. This would be considered an adoption by consent. In the case of relinquishment of a child, the Lower Court must make a legal ruling.

Abandonment Requirements: In order to be considered legally abandoned, the legal parents must have willfully forsaken all parental rights, obligations and claims to the child; and/or the legal parents have not transferred parental rights to anyone and the child is not in their care. After a field investigation, a judge or the president of the Togolese Lower Court will decree the child abandoned by a court decree.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Under local law, the adoptee must be unmarried and under 18. Because U.S. law limits the adoptions of children above 16, American citizens considering adopting an older child in Togo should contact the Embassy prior to initiating the process.

Requirements for Children with Special Needs or Medical Conditions: Special needs or children with medical conditions can be adopted. Adoptive parents are given the opportunity to request specific criteria for the child they want to adopt when submitting their adoption application. Adoptive parents are informed of the child's condition in a detailed report when they are matched with the child. Once matched with a child, the PAP will have the opportunity to accept or reject the prospective child.

WAITING PERIOD: There is no designated waiting period in an adoption case but prospective parents should be aware that it will likely take several years to finalize an adoption in Togo as the adoption process is new and details are still being worked out. Files are treated on a first come, first served basis and as the process is relatively new, many of the details

How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

The Process

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Togo. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports. Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print-all in one place.

Obtaining Your Visa

In addition to a U.S. passport, you also need to obtain a visa. A visa is an official document issued by a foreign country that formally allows you to visit. Where required, visas are attached to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation. To find information about obtaining a visa for Togo, see the Department of State's Country Specific Information.

Staying Safe on Your Trip

Before you travel, it's always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The State Department is a good place to start. The Department of State provides Country Specific Information for every country of the world about various issues, including the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip

When traveling during the adoption process, we encourage you to register your trip with the Department of State. Travel registration makes it possible to contact you if necessary. Whether there's a family emergency in the United States, or a crisis in Togo, registration assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you. Registration is free and can be done online.

After Adoption

What resources are available to assist families after the adoption?

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family -- whether it's another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.

Here are some good places to start your support group search:

Child Welfare Information Gateway

North American Council on Adoptable Children

Adoption Services Support Group for Adopting Persons

SOURCE

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