Spain and the Hague Convention

View of Nativity Façade of Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family (Basí­lica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família) (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Barcelona, Catalonia
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Spain 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 Spain and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.

Spain is not considered a country of origin in intercountry adoption. There are few children eligible for adoption, with a long waiting list of Spanish prospective adoptive parents. Most intercountry adoptions in Spain are by legal residents of Spain who adopt in third countries.

While legally possible, intercountry adoption of a Spanish orphan by foreigners is unlikely. No Spanish orphans have received U.S. immigrant visas in the past five fiscal years. The information provided is intended primarily to assist in rare adoption cases from Spain, including adoptions of Spanish children by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by Americans living in Spain.

NOTE: Special transition provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Learn more.

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