Who Can Be Adopted from Taiwan
In addition to U.S. immigration requirements, Taiwan has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption:
Relinquishment: Where the biological mother is alive and her whereabouts known, the Family Court will request a written, signed relinquishment document.
Abandonment: A legal determination of abandonment by a court is usually required.
Age of Adoptive Child: An adoptive child must be at least 20 years younger than the adopted parent. If the adoptive parents are married, the child must be at least 20 years younger than one spouse and at least 16 years younger than the other spouse.
Sibling Adoptions: None
Special Needs or Medical Conditions: None
Waiting Period or Foster Care: None
In addition, no child may be adopted who is:
- 1. directly related by blood to the prospective adoptive parents (for example: grandparents cannot adopt their grandchildren);
- 3. indirectly related by blood or marriage, such as cousins (unless removed by a certain degree), the spouse of a sibling, or a sibling of your spouse. (NOTE: Taiwan law is very detailed about what degree of indirect blood relation is excluded from adoption. If prospective adoptive parents are concerned about possible blood ties with the child they wish to adopt, they should contact AIT for clarification before proceeding with the adoption.)
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, intending that the child return home when this becomes possible. 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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