Belarus and the Hague Convention

The official flag.
Source: cia.gov.

Belarus is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Hague countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations, as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Belarus.

PLEASE NOTE: The Government of Belarus has not processed any U.S. adoptions of Belarusian children since October 2004. The Government of Belarus changed its adoption procedures between 2004 and 2005, requiring an agreement of cooperation between the central authorities of a foreign state and the Republic of Belarus. The United States and Belarus have not entered into such agreement.

U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Belarus who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should contact Belarus’ Central Authority.

Please visit the Department’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Belarus and the U.S. Embassy in Minsk website: minsk.usembassy.gov/ for information on consular services.

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