Who Can Be Adopted from Spain

Because Spain is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Spain must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the Convention requires that Spain attempt to place a child with a family in-country before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition to Spain’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:

Relinquishment/Abandonment Requirements: A child is eligible for adoption if the biological parents have given their consent, are unknown, or have lost their parental rights.

Age Requirements: Under Spanish law, the prospective adoptee must be younger than eighteen years old. An exception can be made to these conditions when a child has lived with the prospective parent(s) continuously since before turning fourteen. It is important for American prospective adoptive families to note, however, that U.S. law required adoptive children to be under age 16 at the time of adoption except in special circumstances outlined in the law.

Marriage Requirements: No known marriage requirements

Income Requirements: No known marriage requirements

Other Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents may not adopt their own descendents or immediate blood relatives, and may not adopt second-degree relatives (i.e. niece, nephew) by blood or marriage, unless they are orphans.

Back to Adopting from Spain