Hague Adoption Convention

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Background

The United States is part of an important treaty on intercountry adoption called the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention).  The treaty governs adoptions between the United States and nearly 75 other nations.

• The Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008.
  
  
• The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authority for the Convention and oversees compliance with the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA).  In this role, the Department of State also serves as U.S. liaison with other adoption Central Authorities around the world.
  
  
• The Hague Adoption Convention protects children and their familiesagainst the risks of unregulated adoptions abroad, and ensures that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children. The Convention also serves to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children.

General Information 

• Laws & Regulations
• Fact Sheet on Accreditation
• U.S. Accredited Adoption Service Providers
• U.S. Adoption Service Providers Denied Hague Accreditation
• Hague Complaint Registry
• Hague Implementation Archive
• Convention Partner Countries
• Helpful Links

For Parents

• Hague Complaint Registry
• Guide for Prospective Adoptive Parents
• Transition Cases and the Hague Adoption Convention
• Prospective Adoptive Parents of Guatemalan Children

For Adoption Services Providers

• Notice Concerning Transfer of Pending Convention Cases to Accredited/Approved ASPs (8/01/08)
• Interim Notice: Accredited/Approved ASPs Working with ASPs that were Denied Accreditation/Approval
• Accrediting Entity Information
• FAQ – Applying for Accreditation or Approval
• FAQ – Primary Providers
• Accreditation Substantial Compliance System
• Accreditation Fees – Council on Accreditation
• Accreditation Fees – Colorado Department of Human Services
• Adoptions Tracking Service (ATS)
  • Adoptions Tracking Service PKI Access Request Form
  • Enter the Adoptions Tracking Service

For State Authorities and Social Workers

• Web-Guide for State Authorities on Outgoing Adoption Cases (PDF)
• Home Studies on Americans Abroad
• Guide for Social Workers to the Hague Adoption Convention

Adoptions from the United States (Outgoing Cases)

• Guide to Outgoing Cases
• Fact Sheet on Outgoing Cases
• FAQ – Outgoing Cases
• FAQ – Outgoing Cases & U.S. Citizens Residing Abroad
• Web-Guide for State Authorities on Outgoing Adoption Cases (PDF)
• Application for U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Custody Declaration
• Federal Reporting Requirements for Outgoing Adoption Cases

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