SINGLES

Domestic Adoption:

Who may adopt:

Who may be adopted:

Inter-country Adoption:

Who may adopt?

Who may be adopted?

1.Any Alien;
2. Filipino citizens,
residing abroad.

1.Only a legally free child may be the subject of intercountry adoption. (Legally-free child means a child
who has been voluntarily or involuntarily committed
to the Department of Social Welfare and Development,
in accordance with the Child and Youth Welfare Code.)
2.A child means a person who is below fifteen (15) years
of age unless sooner emancipated by law.
3.Children available for inter-country adoption
placement are those who cannot be placed with an
adoptive family in the Philippines. (For relative
adoption only up to the 4th degree of consanguinity)
a. All children have to be cleared for inter-country
adoption by the Competent Authority - Programs and
Projects Bureau of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (PPB DSWD)-Central Office.
b. Children of either sex are usually available but
there may be longer waiting period for girls because of
the Filipino culture whereby families hold on to their
daughters since they are generally more submissive,
less difficult to parent and can be relied upon to care for
their family of origin even until parental senescence
occurs.
c. The allowable age of Filipino children for Intercountry Adoption (ICA) is below 15 years old. A child
who is above 15 years old may be processed for ICA
when the following circumstances prevail:
i. When the child is a part of a sibling group where

both

permanently

may adopt by filing an application for inter-country

adoption of a Filipino child if they have the following

CONDITIONS:
1.

The adopter is at least twenty-seven (27) years

of age and at least sixteen (16) years older than
the child to be adopted, at the time of the
application, unless the adopter is the parent by
nature of the child to be adopted or the spouse of
such parent;

2.

If married, their spouse must jointly file for the

adoption;

3.

Has the capacity to act and assume all rights

and responsibilities of parental authority under
his national laws, and has undergone the
appropriate counseling from an accredited
counselor in his/her country;

4.

Has not been convicted of a crime involving

moral turpitude;

5.

Is eligible to adopt under his/her national law;

6.

Is in a position to provide the proper care and

support and to give the necessary moral values
and example to all his children, including the
child to be adopted;

7.

Agrees to hold the basic rights of the child as

embodied under Philippine laws, the U.N.
Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to
abide by the rules and regulations issued to
implement the provisions of R.A. 8043.

8.

Comes from a country with whom the

Philippines has diplomatic relations and whose
government maintains a similarly authorized
and accredited agency and that adoption is
allowed under his/her national laws;

9.

Possesses all the qualifications and none of the

disqualifications provided in R.A. 8043 and in
other applicable laws.

one or more is below 15 years old;

ii. Special Home Finding was initiated before the
childs 15th birthday;
iii. Other situations where the intent to adopt was
manifested before the child reached 15.
d. The general ages of children cleared for intercountry adoption usually ranges from 6 months to 10
years old.
e. Special Needs or Hard to Place children include:
i. older children (usually boys or girls age 6 to 15
years
old);
ii.
Sibling groups of three (3) or more;
iii.
Children with major medical/physical
problems;
iv.
Children
with
major
developmental/neurological delay/handicap.