Adoption Guidelines
Intercountry adoption

Guidelines for inter-country adoption of a Thai child

source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. According to the Child Adoption Act B.E. 2522 (A.D.1979) all inter-country adoption cases have to be processed through the Department of Social Development and Welfare and approved by the Child Adoption Board. The Board mainly comprises representatives of various concerned departments and Ministries. The Director - General of the Department of Social Development and Welfare is the Chairman of the Board. The Director of Child Adoption Center of the Department of Social Development and Welfare is the secretary of the Board.

2. Preliminary qualifications of applicants are as follows:

(a) Applicant for adoption must be at least 30 years of age and be at least fifteen years older than the child.

(b) Applicants must be eligible to adopt a child under the Law of country in which they are domiciled.

3. All applications, including those who want to adopt their step children of relatives, must be submitted directly to the Department of Social Development and Welfare of Thailand or through legally child welfare agencies authorized by the Department of Social Development and Welfare of Thailand. As the first step, the governmental social welfare authority, the governmental agency assigned by the Government or legally authorized child welfare agency of the country where the applicants’ domicile has to furnish the Department of Social Development and Welfare of Thailand or legally child welfare agencies authorized by the Department of Social Development and Welfare of Thailand with the three primary documents as follows:

(a) A Home Study Report which should include details of the applicants’ physical and mental health, family background, assets, liabilities financial standing, personal repute, conditions and details of place of residence, size of family, maturity and ability to give love and care to the child, motivation and any special reasons related to the welfare and interests of the child, and other matters relevant to the applicants.

(b) A statement approving that the family is qualified and appropriate to be adoptive parents of a foreign child.

(c) A statement agreeing to supervise the pre-adoption placement, should the child is granted probation placement for a period of at least six months and to forward bi-monthly reports to the Department of Social Development and Welfare of Thailand.

The case will accordingly be processed between the Department of Social Development and Welfare or legally authorized child welfare agency in Thailand and the applicants --- the governmental social welfare authority, governmental agency assigned by the Government or agency authorized to handle inter-country adoption in their country of domicile.

4. The Department of Social Development and Welfare of legally authorized child welfare agencies will consider these documents, if the family is found qualified, official application forms will be sent to the competent authority in the country of the applicants, to be forwarded to the applicants for completion.

5. The completed application must be returned through the competent authority with the following documents.

(a) Medical certificate verifying good physical health, mentally stability, and infertility of the applicants (if applicable).

(b) Document certifying marriage (if married).

(c) Document certifying occupation and income.

(d) Document certifying financial status.

(e) Document certifying assets.

(f) Letters of recommendations given by at least two references.

(g) Photographs of the applicant and spouse, size 4.5 + 6 centimeters, four each.

(h) Document from the immigration authority of such particular country permitting the immigration of a child.

Every document must be certified by the Thai Embassy or Consulate in that particular country or sent through diplomatic channels.

6. In case the application is made through legally authorized child welfare agency, the Department of Social Development and Welfare is entitled to investigate the background of the child to be adopted in order to confirm that the child is legally free for adoption and is not exploited for the purpose of adoption. This investigation has to be done before the case is presented to the Child Adoption Board for consideration.

7. In case the applicants wish to adopt a child in the care of the Department of Social Development and Welfare, the matching of the child who is legally available for adoption with the prospective adoptive parents will be arranged.

8. After matching, photographs and information about background and health condition of the child will be sent to the competent authority in order to be forwarded to the prospective adoptive parents for consideration. If the prospective adoptive parents accept the child, the case will then be presented to the Child Adoption Board.

9. If the Child Adoption Board granted approval, the case will be submitted to the Minister of Social Development and Human Security for approval of pre-adoption placement.

10. After this approval, a definite appointment will be made by the Department of Social Development and Welfare or authorized child welfare agencies to invite the prospective adoptive parents, to travel to Thailand where they will meet with and be interviewed by the Child Adoption Board. If only one of the prospective adoptive parents can travel to Thailand a written consent of the absent spouse is required.

The issuance of documents necessary for the travel of the child will be facilitated. The prospective adoptive parents will have to stay on for about two weeks in Thailand for this arrangement.

Ministry of Labour of the Kingdom of Thailand

Child Adoption Centre

Department of Social Development and Welfare

Ratchavithi Road

Bangkok 10400 - Thailand

Tel. 66-2-246-8651

66-2-247-9480

Article source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs