Who Can Be Adopted from Mozambique

The old cathedral of Quelimane.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

In addition to U.S. immigration requirements, Mozambique has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption:

Relinquishment: In order to be eligible for adoption, a child must be relinquished by both parents. However, there is an exception if the prospective adoptive parent is the spouse of a biological parent or a partner with whom the biological parent has been living for at least three years. In these situations, only the biological parent who is not living with the minor child and the prospective adoptive parent must relinquish parental rights.

Abandonment: A child of unknown parents.

Age of Adoptive Child: The prospective adoptive child must be a minor under 14 years of age, or 18 years of age if s/he has been fostered by the prospective adoptive parents since 12 years of age.

Sibling Adoptions: None

Special Needs or Medical Conditions: None

Waiting Period or Foster Care: The adoption is generally preceded by a minimum adaptation period of six months, in which the prospective adopted child is integrated into the family via foster care before the legal adoption is finalized in the court. This process must take place in Mozambique.

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, with the intention of returning for the child when they are able to do so. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to their child(ren)’s adoption.

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