Hague Convention Information

Timor-Leste 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).

Intercountry adoptions from Timor-Leste are rare; fewer than five adoptions by American citizen parents have taken place in the last decade.

Below is the limited adoption information that the Department has obtained from the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the adoption authority of Timor-Leste. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Timor-Leste should contact the Ministry of Social Solidarity to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Timor-Leste, who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country, should also contact Timor-Leste’s adoption authority. See contact information below.

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 Timor-Leste and the U.S. Embassy in Timor-Leste’s 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

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SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information[1]

Adopting from Timor-Leste

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