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How to Adopt from Netherlands

The colorful canals of Amsterdam.
Source: cia.gov.

Adoption Authority

Adoption Authority of the Netherlands

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for adoptions:

Ministry of Justice

Directie Justitiele Jeugdbescherming Centrale Autoriteit Internationale Adoptie PO Box 20301, 2500 EH Den Haag, The Netherlands


All contact with the Ministry should be made through the Foundation for Adoption Services (Stichting Adoptievoorzieningen) listed hereafter.


The Ministry is not, however, directly involved in the initial adoption procedures. To request an application for a "permit in principle" (Beginseltoestemming) to begin the adoption process, prospective adoptive parents should contact:


Stichting Adoptievoorzieningen (Foundation for Adoption Services)

Postbus 290, 3500 AG Utrecht The Netherlands Tel: +31 30 233 0340 Fax: +31 30 232 1777 Email: (messages via website below)


The Process

Because the Netherlands is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adopting from the Netherlands must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention's requirements. A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is given below. You must complete these steps in the following order so that your adoption meets all necessary legal requirements.

NOTE: If you filed your I-600a with the Netherlands before April 1, 2008, the Hague Adoption Convention may not apply to your adoption. Your adoption could continue to be processed in accordance with the immigration regulations for non-Convention adoptions. Learn more.


1. Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider 2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt 3. Be Matched with a Child 4. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Immigration to the United States 5. Adopt the Child in the Netherlands 6. Bring your Child Home


1. Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider:

The first step in adopting a child from the Netherlands is to select an adoption service provider in the United States that has been accredited. Only these agencies and attorneys can provide adoption services between the United States and the Netherlands. Learn more.


2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt:

After you choose an accredited adoption service provider, you apply to be found eligible to adopt (Form I-800A) by the U.S. Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn how. Once the U.S. government determines that you are "eligible" and "suitable" to adopt, you or your agency will forward your information to the adoption authority in the Netherlands. The Dutch adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also eligible to adopt under the law of the Netherlands.


3. Be Matched with a Child:

If both the United States and the Netherlands determine that you are eligible to adopt, and a child is available for intercountry adoption, the central adoption authority in the Netherlands may provide you with a referral for a child. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of the particular child and provide a permanent family placement for the referred child.


4. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption:

After you accept a match with a child, you will apply to the U.S Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for provisional approval to adopt that particular child (Form I-800). USCIS will determine whether the child is eligible under U.S. law to be adopted and enter the United States. Learn how. After this, your adoption service provider or you will submit a visa application for to a Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy. The Consular Officer will review the child's information and evaluate the child for possible visa ineligibilities. If the Consular Office determines that the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States, he/she will notify the Netherlands's adoption authority (Article 5 letter). For Convention country adoptions, prospective adoptive parent(s) may not proceed with the adoption or obtain custody for the purpose of adoption until this takes place.


Remember: The Consular Officer will make a final decision about the immigrant visa later in the adoption process.


5. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in the Netherlands:

Remember: Before you adopt (or gain legal custody of) a child in the Netherlands, you must have completed the above four steps. Only after completing these steps, can you proceed to finalize the adoption or grant of custody for the purposes of adoption in the Netherlands.


The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in the Netherlands generally includes the following:


  • ADOPTION APPLICATION AND ROLE OF ADOPTION AUTHORITY: Detailed and up-to-date information may be obtained from the Stichting Adoptievoorzieningen (Foundation for Adoption Services) at the address listed under Contact Information. The Dutch adoption procedure is based on the Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention. Prospective adoptive parents register with the Foundation for Adoption Services. After a waiting period (currently 18-20 months), prospective adoptive parents complete six information sessions over three months. After the prospective parents complete these sessions, their file is transferred to Dutch Child Protective Services, which evaluates the applicants' physical and mental health and suitability and arranges for a home study involving various meetings with social workers over the course of two to three months. On the basis of the home study report, the Ministry of Justice determines whether a "permit in principle," valid for three years, will be issued, giving the prospective adoptive parents the authorization to begin the mediation process used to identify a well-suited parent-child match. Specific rules apply. The child should be under six years old and the age difference between the future parent and the child should be no more than 40 years (certain exceptions apply to both conditions).
  • ADOPTION FEES: Compulsory preparation and information sessions cost € 900 per applicant. The Foundation for Adoption Services estimates that total costs for adoption procedures in the child's country of origin, depending on the country and the intermediary organization involved, amount to between € 7,500 and € 20,000. Additional costs in the Netherlands include € 1,000 to have a contact screened by one of the mediating organizations in cases of self-established contacts; € 331 for the child's permit to stay in the Netherlands; € 600 for the Dutch adoption declaration.
  • DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: For detailed information please see this website. NOTE: Additional documents may be requested. If you are asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic, we can help. Learn how.


6. Bring Your Child Home

Now that your adoption is complete (or you have obtained legal custody of the child), there are a few more steps to take before you can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for three documents for your child before he or she can travel to the United States:


1. Birth Certificate

You will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child, so that you can later apply for a passport. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.

For how to obtain a new birth certificate for the child in the Netherlands please see www.overheid.nl and select the municipality (city hall) concerned. For the U.S. please see this website.

2. Netherlands Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or Passport from The Netherlands.

For how to obtain a Passport for the child in the Netherlands please see www.overheid.nl and select the municipality [city hall] concerned]. For the U.S. please see this website.

3. U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you also need to apply for an U.S. visa from the United States Embassy for your child. After the adoption (or custody for purpose of adoption) is granted, visit the U.S Embassy for final review and approval of the child's I-800 petition and to obtain a visa for the child. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the "Panel Physician's" medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage.

NOTE: The U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands does not issue Immigrant Visas. All Immigrant Visas for the Netherlands are issued by the U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam (see Contact Information).

To learn more about the Child Citizenship Act please read The Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

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