Qualifications

The adopter is of legal age

The adopter is at least 16 years older than the adoptee
The adopter is of good moral character and has not been convicted of any crime
involving moral turpitude
The adopter is in a position to support, educate, and care for their children and
the child to be adopted in keeping with the means of the family
The adopter has undergone pre-adoption services
The adopter is a citizen of a state which has diplomatic relations with the
Philippines
The adopter is certified by his/her diplomatic or consular office or any appropriate
agency that:
o The adopter is qualified to adopt in their country
o The foreign government of the adopter will allow the adoptee to
enter the adopter`s country and reside there permanently as an
adopted child
The adopter has submitted the necessary clearances and such other
certifications as may be required by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development
Requirements
Authenticated birth certificate
Marriage contract or divorce, annulment, declaration of nullity, or legal separation
documents
Physical and medical evaluation by a duly licensed physicianand when
appropriate, psychological evaluation
NBI/Police Clearance
Latest income tax return or any other documents showing financial capability,
e.g. certificate of employment, bank certificate or statement of assets and
liabilities
Three character references, namely from the local church/minister, the employer,
and a non-relative member of the immediate community who have known the
applicants for at least three years
35 pictures of the applicants and his/her immediate family taken within the last
three months
Certificate of attendance to pre-adoption seminars
Certification that the applicants have legal capacity to adopt in their country
The adopters country should have a policy, or is a signatory of an international
agreement, which allows a child adopted in the Philippines by its citizen.
Certificate of residence in the Philippines issued by the Bureau of Immigration or
Department of Foreign Affairs
The adopters country allows the entrance of the adoptee and permanently reside
in their country as the adopters legitimate child. A certificate of this may be
issued by the foreign countrys diplomatic or consular office or central authority in

inter-country adoption or any government agency which has jurisdiction over

child and family matters**
**In the absence of any of the previously mentioned documents, the Philippine
Intercountry Adoption Board may also certify that the Philippines and the applicants
country have an existing agreement or arrangement on intercountry adoption whereby a
child who has been adopted in the Philippines or has a pre-adoption placement
approved by the Board is allowed to enter and remain as permanent resident in the
foreign country as the adopters legitimate child.

Two character references from a non-relatives who have known the applicant(s)
in the country of which he/she is a citizen or was a resident prior to residing in the
Philippines***

***This does not apply for foreigners who have resided in the Philippines for more than
fifteen years

Police Clearance from all places of residence in the past two years immediately
prior to residing in the Philippines