Because everyone deserves a loving and caring family, I decided to share this post today about adoption – how to adopt a child in the Philippines? What are the requirements and procedures?
If you are a Filipino citizen or an alien (currently not a citizen of the Philippines) who’s interested to adopt or looking for a foster child to raise and to love as a family, this page is for you.
First, I’d like to give the credits and warm thanks to DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) for sharing the requirements and process of adoption in the Philippines. They recently gave free consultation and entertained free inquiries related to adopting a person.
We all know that the DSWD is currently the generous department assigned and given the power to protect and care for the welfare of neglected and abandoned children. This agency is mandated to find suitable permanent home and loving family for those children so they will live a normal and healthy life and relationship.
The requirements and procedures are based on the Domestic Adoption Law (Republic Act 8552) in case you still want to go deeper the complete article and browse its sections. Domestic adoption is also referred as local adoption.
Who can adopt in the Philippines?
According to this Law, any person can adopt provided he or she is a Filipino citizen or alien residing in the Philippines who:
- Is of legal age.
- Is at least 16 years older than adoptee, except when the adopter is the biological parent.
- Has the capacity to act and assume all the rights and duties incident to the exercise of parental authority.
- Is of good moral character and has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.
- Is in a good position to support, educate and care for his/her legitimate and illegitimate children and the child to be adopted.
- Has undergone the pre-adoption services.
- An alien may adopt if he/she has diplomatic relations with the Philippines, has been certified by his/her diplomatic or consular office or any appropriated agency that he/she is qualified to adopt in his country, and that his/her government will allow the adoption.
- An alien has been living in the Philippines for at least three (3) continuous years prior to the filing of the application for adoption and maintains such residence until the adoption decree is entered
Who can be adopted in the Philippines?
- Any person below 18 who has been administratively or judicially declared available for adoption.
- Legitimate son/daughter of one spouse by the other spouse.
- An illegitimate son/daughter by a qualified adopter/s to improve his/her status to that of legitimacy.
- A person of legal age if, prior to the adoption, said person has been consistently considered and treated by the adopter/s as his/her own child since minority.
- A child whose adoption has been previously rescinded.
- A child whose biological parent/s has died provided that no proceedings shall be initiated within 6 months from the time of death of the said parent/s.
Know more about Domestic Adoption Law in the Philippines by going to R.A. 8552.
Adoption Requirements in the Philippines:
If you are a foster parent or a couple interested to adopt a qualified person, you may prepare the following documents.
- Authenticated Birth Certificate
- Authenticated Marriage Certificate
- Written consent to the adoption of the legitimate, adopted or illegitimate children living with the applicant who are aged 10 years old and above.
- Health Certificates of Couple and family members
- NBI Clearance or Police Clearance
- Latest ITR (Income Tax Return) or any proof of income
- Three Character References
- Statement of Acceptance from Designated Guardian
- Latest Family Picture and Home Picture
- Home Study Report
Adoption Process and Procedure in the Philippines:
- Attendance to Adoption Counseling
- Filing of Application for Adoption
- Preparation of Home Study Report
- Approval/Disapproval of application
- Matching or Family Selection
- Pre-placement of the child with the prospective adoptive parents
- Placement
- Supervised Trial Custody
- Finalization of Child’s Adoption
- Issuance of the Adoption Decree/Certificate of Finality
- Issuance of Amended Birth Certificate
- Provision of Post-Adoptive Services
For inquiries and further details, please contact DSWD at dswd.gov.ph MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
Disclaimer: Any comment, view or message shared in the comments section does not reflect the views or opinion of the author and the admin of this website.
hi po ask ko lng po dito kami sa pilipinas nkatira ,ngaun po ngkaroon po ako ng anak nun 18 ako at nkaapelyido sa unang bf ko ung anak ko , ngaun po ay battered wife po ako nun at kinaso at naipakulong ko po ung ex ko ,kinasuhan ko sya ng violence against women at abandonment sa anak ko, 10 mos palang po ung anak ko wala n po sya supporta binibigay ,recently lang po 2013 kinasal po ako at gusto po ng aswa ko iadopt ung anak ko ,anu po bang mainam na gawin namin dahil po nung kumunsulta ako sa city hall sabi dw po ay kelangan ng pirma ng totoong tatay ng anak ko, hnd nmn n po namin sya nakikita , maari po bang gamitin naming grounds yung kaso niya nun para hind na kelngan pa ng pirma nya sa adoption?magkano din po kaya ang magagastos da pag adopt?
Hi, pano po ba ang gagawin if gusto ako iadopt ng lola ko since sya na ang alaga sakin since i was 2 years old, my mom is willing naman na iadopt ako ni lola. I’m 26 and my lola is 69. matagal po ba ang process nito?
Hi Ms. Karine and Ms. Fehl, I have queries regarding on a legal adoption of a child. Maybe you can help or advice me what are the required documents/exact guidelines to be complied in adopting the child. I am married a year ago with a Canadian but my husband returned to Canada after we got married. I have 3 years old son when I was single. My son’s family name used is my father’s family name. My son and I are waiting for the permanent residency visa approval and we will move to Canada as soon as the visa is approved. My husband and I are planning to adopt my son when we arrived in Canada. Does the biological father needs to sign the adoption consent?What would be the needed documents?
Thanks
For the local adoption if the adoptive mother is already matched, does the process have to go through DSDW or just through the local court system? The baby has not been abandoned, but the birth mother is not wanting to keep the baby and the adoptive mother (former Filipino citizen) have already been matched. Is there going to be a 3 years of residency requirement in this case?
hi good day po,nbuntis po aq s pgkdalaga at the age of 18 ngaun po wla po aq idea on that time about registration ngwowork po aq nun as regular cashier,pinarehistro n po pla ng parents q ang anak q as anak nila w/o informing me,so ngaun po gsto q po ilipat s name q ang anak q kc 13 yrs old n po xa ngaun at nttkot po aq n mgtanong xa balang araw at bka po mgkproblema rn kming mgina pgdting ng araw aq rn po ang nsuporta sknya from A to Z n gastos nya,mgkno po kya ang mggstos q,tnx po Godbless
Hi, i’m currently here in Australia as permanent resident, no kid yet. I want to adopt my nephew, my sister is a housewife with 3 kids and my brother in law has no stable job and suspected to be drug user thats why now he’s mentally unstable. Is it possible for me to adopt him? How can I start? Thanks
Yes, it’s possible. Go to the DSWD nearest your area. They will gladly help you with the process if the child is eligible under the adoption law. God bless!
Greetings to all!
Just for inquiry . My 1st cousin would like us to adopt their baby who is still in her womb, Would it be possible that the moment the baby will be born he will be registered using our own family name?
Thank you for your reply .
God bless.
Jj
You must follow legal adoption law and requirements. It’s a strict process you have to go through. You have to prove that the parents are without capacity to sustain and support the child under law.
Hi! Miss Karine! I have a son whose 13 yrs old now. His father abandoned him since birth. I am married now for 9 years.. My husband wanted to legally adopt my son.. Where do we start? Thanks! Hope you reply me..
Hello, well it depends where you live .. which country ?
Then if you have been married with the father of your son or not… probably not, so he has no right !
If you live outside the Philippines you can ask the agencies related to adoption cases to give you exact guidelines.. once all papers are prepared and ready the agency will send them to ICAB, the inter-country adoption board in Manila for approval.
If you give me more info about where you are then I can maybe help more !
Hello,
If you mean you would like to adopt a child from the Philippines then you either have to go for a local adoption, if you are a resident in the Philippines or you have to go through Inter-country adoption from the country you are from or where you live.
http://www.dswd.gov.ph/faqs/intercountry-adoption-requirements-and-procedures/
In any case the procedure goes via DSWD in the Philippines and depending on your location you should visit the field office where you belong to. you can find their addresses on the internet !
Should you live outside of the Philippines you need to find the agency which can help you to set up all the paperwork, so the internet is also a good source to find them.
In any case you will be asked which age and gender you would like to adopt, and there is always a MATCHING PROCESS done by the authorities, which means they will match the child/baby with the parents which like to adopt.
If you have any specific questions let me know !!
i am married with a 4 year old son..but still wanting and willing to adopt a child.. my question is, can adopting a child be specific? like i would like to adopt a girl pref. less than 12 months of age or it all depends on the institution? thank you and more power po
If you could write in english I can give you the right advice. I am going through an adoption process as well.
There is no lawyer needed, if you do it the right way with the Central authorities.
Hello po.. Ask me lang.. Nag ka anak ako last 2005 s ka live-in partner ko, and pumirma siya sa 2nd pages ng birth certificate ng anak ko kaya apelyido niya ang gamit ng anak but nagka hiwalay kami.. After that ikinasal naman ako sa isang Japanese citizen last 2009.. We live here in japan for almost 5 years from now together with my daughter.. And also the namatay din ang dating ka live-in ko, the father of my daughter last 2009 too.. Dito na sa japan nag kinder at nag elementary ang anak ko.. She is now grade 3, turning grade 4 next year of April.. And gamit niya ang apelyido ng husband ko since kinder until now.. Sa japan kasi, allowed ng government na pwedeng gamitin ng anak ang apelyido ng step father para hindi ma bully ang aking anak. Pero sa birth certificate and passport niya ay yung sa dati kong kinakasama ang apelyido ang gamit niya.. But every time na umuuwi kami sa pinas ay lagi akong nasisita sa immigration about my daughter kasi mag ka iba kami ng apelyido.. Palagi kong sinasabi na dati akong single mother kaya I always bring may daughter birth certificate and my birth certificate to prove it.. And now my husband and my daughter want change her last name, bukod kasi na sanay na ang anak ko sa pag gamit ng apelyido ng asawa ko, ngayon ay gusto naming mag asawa na maging legal na siyang anak ng aking asawa ngayon.. Ano po ba ang pwede naming gawin? Pano po ba ma adopt ng asawa ko ang anak ko? Ano po ba ang mga requirements for adoption? We plan next year ayusin namin diyan sa pinas about my daughter adoption.. Sana po matulungan nyo kami and maraming salamat po..
You need a lawyer for this and I’m sure maaayos naman agad yan since you have been together with your Japanese spouse for many years.
Hi. Ask ko lng po if gusto I adopt ng friend ko ung baby ko. Shes single, 24yrs old, American. What will be the procedures and requirements. Nka lagay po sa isang site na dapat daw kappa single ang mag aadopt kelangan 25yrs old. But the site was last updated a year ago. So does it counts? Please reply thankyouu
Hi Annie. A foreigner can only adopt if she’s a resident of the Philippines for continuous 3 years. And she can only adopt a child if the parents have died or if the DSWD and law here declared the child is eligible for adoption. Read more about the complete law at RA 8552
Section 4. Who may adopt. – The following may adopt:
(1) Any Filipino citizen of legal age, in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, of good moral character, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; who is emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children, at least sixteen (16) years older than the adoptee, and who is in a position to support and care for his children in keeping with the means of the family. The requirement of a 16-year difference between the age of the adopter and adoptee may be waived when the adopter is the biological parent of the adoptee or is the spouse of the adoptee’s parent;
(2) Any alien possessing the same qualifications as above-stated for Filipino nationals: Provided, That his country has diplomatic relations with the Republic of the Philippines, that he has been living in the Philippines for at least three (3) continuous years prior to the filing of the petition for adoption and maintains such residence until the adoption decree is entered, that he has been certified by his diplomatic or consular office or any appropriate government agency to have the legal capacity to adopt in his country, and that his government allows the adoptee to enter his country as his adopted child. Provided, further, That the requirements on residency and certification of the alien’s qualification to adopt in his country may be waived for the following:
(i) a former Filipino citizen who seeks to adopt a relative within the fourth (4th) degree of consanguinity or affinity; or
(ii) one who seeks to adopt the legitimate child of his Filipino spouse; or
(iii) one who is married to a Filipino citizen and seeks to adopt jointly with his spouse a relative within the fourth (4th) degree of consanguinity or affinity of the Filipino spouse.
I have fulfilled all the requirements mentioned in your post, but there is one more missing.. which is an alien, not resident in the Philippines needs to be resident in the country for 3 continuous years before he he can do a local adoption ! This is a very important detail for all foreigners to know… otherwise there is the inter-country adoption process necessary tells me the DSWD…
Please inform yourself very well in order not to have surprises
Thanks for the heads up 🙂
hi! wala kaming anak ng asawa ko pero nagkaanak siya sa ibang babae.. ibinigay ng babae ang anak nya sa asawa ko total anak naman nya yong bata.. gusto ko ilagay sa pangalan ko as her mother.. magkano kaya magastos namin kung sakali?? thx and best regards..