How to Adopt from Cote d'Ivoire

Laundry in the river in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Adoption Authority

Côte d’Ivoire Adoption Authority

The government offices responsible for adoption in Côte d'Ivoire are the Ministère de l’Emploi, des Affaires Sociales et de la Solidarité (Ministry of Employment, Social Welfare and Solidarity) and the Ministère de la Justice (Ministry of Justice). More specifically, the Direction de la Protection Sociale (Department of Social Welfare) has jurisdiction over the child's identification process, the home study and the issuance of a certificate authorizing the orphanage to release the child to the adoptive parent(s). The Tribunal de Première Instance (Court of First Instance) has sole authority to grant or deny legal adoption.

The Process

The process for adopting a child from Côte d’Ivoire generally includes the following steps:

1. Choose an adoption service provider
2. Apply to be found eligible to adopt
3. Be matched with a child
4. Adopt the child in Côte d’Ivoire
5. Apply for the child to be found eligible for orphan status
6. Bring your child home

Steps 1 through 3 are on this page. To read about steps 4-6 please go to How to Adopt from Cote d'Ivoire Part 2.

1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider

The recommended first step in adopting a child from Côte d’Ivoire is to decide whether or not to use a licensed adoption service provider in the United States that can help you with your adoption. Adoption service providers must be licensed by the U.S. state in which they operate. The Department of State provides information on selecting an adoption service provider on its website.

There are no private adoption agencies in Côte d'Ivoire. All adoption matters are processed through the Department of Social Welfare and/or the Court of First Instance. The Department of Social Welfare requires that foreign prospective adoptive parent(s) living abroad submit an official authorization for adoption issued by authorized U.S. adoption agencies from their state of residence. This can be a formal U.S. home study.

2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt

In order to adopt a child from Côte d’Ivoire you will need to meet the requirements of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and U.S. immigration law. If the adoptive parent already identified the child, the request for adoption is directly processed through the Court of First Instance as described in Section 4. When a child is not yet identified, the first step must be followed with the Department of Social Welfare of Côte d’Ivoire, as described below. Please note: All Ivoirian fees noted in the flyer are set in Euros; the U.S. dollar estimate is based on the current Euro-U.S. dollar exchange rate and may fluctuate.

1. Prospective adoptive parent(s) must submit an application to be found eligible to adopt with the Department of Social Welfare of Côte d’Ivoire. The application includes a written request from the prospective parent(s) addressed to the Directeur de la Protection Sociale (Head of Social Welfare Department) along with specific supporting documents. The request should mention the motives for adoption and must indicate the age range and the gender of the adoptive child.

2. The following documents, originals or certified copies, must be attached to the application:

• . Birth certificates of the adoptive parent(s);
• . Police Clearance;
• . Copy of passport or National ID card;
• . One ID photograph;
• . Marriage certificate for legally married couples;
• . Proof of income (pay slips or other proof);
• . Medical certificate confirming sterility if this is the basis for adoption;
• . The foreign state authorization for adoption. (I-600A or I600).

3. The complete file should be sent to or dropped off at the following address in order to receive a registration number: Direction de la Protection Sociale, BP V 200 Immeuble le Général, 5e étage, Plateau, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire. You may also call (+225) 22 32 42 33 for directions.

4. The registration is subject to the payment of fees which are separate from the court fees. The fee for foreign citizens residing in or outside Côte d’Ivoire is currently $123. This fee is non-refundable.

5. The committee in charge of placing children in foster-homes will review the applications for adoption, conduct the home study and will start looking for a child matching the criteria indicated by the prospective adoptive parents. This committee meets four times per year, on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December.

6. The application remains open for two years from the date of registration and will be reviewed during each quarterly session if no decision has yet been made. The prospective adoptive parent(s) will be notified in writing of the final decision.

To meet U.S. immigration requirements, you may also file an I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to be found eligible and suitable to adopt.