Adopting from Gambia, The

Hague Convention Information

The Gambia is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Hague countries are processed in accordance with 8 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 204.3 as it relates to orphans as defined under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(b)(1)(F).

Below is the limited adoption information that the Department has obtained from the adoption authority of the Gambia. U.S. citizens adopting children in rare adoption cases from the Gambia, as well as U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in The Gambia who would like to adopt from the United States or from a third country, should contact the adoption authority of the Gambia to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. See contact information below.

Foreigners are allowed to adopt Gambian children only in exceptional circumstances. Prospective adoptive parents usually must be resident in The Gambia at least six months prior to applying to adopt.

PLEASE NOTE: The U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal issues immigrant visas for Gambian citizens, including adopted orphans.

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.

Please visit the Department of State's Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to The Gambia and the U.S. Embassy Dakar website for information on consular services.

Who Can Adopt

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Residency

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Age of Adopting Parents

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Marriage

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Income

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Other

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Who Can Be Adopted

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How to Adopt

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Adoption Authority

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The Process

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Traveling Abroad

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After Adoption

SOURCE

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