Adopting from Ecuador

Hague Convention Information

Ecuador is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, all adoptions between Ecuador and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.

Ecuadorian law does not allow for an Ecuadorian child to travel to the United States to be adopted. Therefore, prospective adoptive parents must obtain a full and final adoption under Ecuadorian law before the child can immigrate to the United States.

Adoption in Ecuador can be a complicated process. Ecuadorian adoption law gives preference to adoptions made by Ecuadorian nationals within Ecuador. Intercountry adoptions are permitted only in exceptional cases, normally when there are no relatives or other Ecuadorians able to adopt orphans or become their guardians.

Who Can Adopt

Adoption between the United States and Ecuador is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. Therefore to adopt from Ecuador, you must first be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn more.

In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Ecuador also has the following eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parents:

Residency

Prospective adoptive parent(s) must travel to Ecuador and expect to remain there for three to four weeks to finalize the adoption. Once an adoption decree is issued, only one parent needs to remain in Ecuador with the child, usually for an additional week.

Age of Adopting Parents

If married, both parents must be over 25 years of age and have been married for more than three years. There must be an age difference of at least 14 years between the younger parent and the child and no more than 45 years between either parent and the child.

Marriage

Both single and married individuals may adopt a child in Ecuador. Married couples must be heterosexual. An unmarried (single, widowed, or divorced) adoptive parent may only adopt a child of the same sex, unless the National Adoption Direction issues a favorable report for adoption of a child of the opposite sex. Priority is given to heterosexual married couples.

Income

N/A

Other

The Childhood and Adolescence Court (Juzgado de la Niñez y Adolescencia) or a Notary Public must grant permission for the child to depart the country if only one member of the couple is present in Ecuador to travel with the child. This permission is only valid for one year. Additionally, prospective adoptive parents residing outside Ecuador may not adopt more than two children at a time, except in the case of sibling adoptions.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Ecuador is a member of the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Ecuador must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the Convention requires that Ecuador attempt to place a child with a family in-country before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition to Ecuador's requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee for you to bring him or her back to the United States. Learn more about the Convention's requirements for adoptable children.

After Adoption

SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information