Adoption Ceremony in Vietnam: Everything you need to know

The adoption ceremony marks the formalization of an adoption and ensures the legal rights of adoptive parents in relation to their adopted child. This article outlines the steps leading to the adoption ceremony and associated costs.

How does an adoption ceremony take place in Vietnam?

The adoption ceremony is the final step to formalize the adoption. It acknowledges the legal rights and responsibilities of the adoptive parents in the nurturing and development of their adopted child.

Check out: Intercountry Vietnam Adoption Process

Participants of an adoption ceremony in Vietnam

Vietnam’s Adoption Law requires the participation of various parties, including:

1. 1. The adopted child
2. 2. The adoptive parent(s)
3. 3. Representatives from the Department of Justice
4. 4. The representative of the nurturing center, or the biological parents/caretaker of the child (if adopting a specific child).

Is the adoption ceremony the same for international adoption?

For international adoption of Vietnamese children, the process will require additional steps. Here’s a rundown of the procedure to finalize the adoption once your application has been approved:

1. ● Step 1: The government notifies the adoptive parents that their adoption application has been approved.
2. ● Step 2: The adoptive parents submit additional documents to the Department of Justice.
3. ● Step 3: The adoptive parents receive sponsorship to travel from abroad to Vietnam.
4. ● Step 4: Visas are issued for the adoptive parents who have now completed all the required stages of the adoption process.
5. ● Step 5: Responsible parties in Vietnam prepare for the ceremony.
6. ● Step 6: The adoptive parents arrive in Vietnam.
7. ● Step 7: All parties proceed with the ceremony.
8. ● Step 8: The government prepares documents for the adopted child’s exit visa.
9. ● Step 9: The adopted child is granted a visa, a passport, and other essential documents for their exit.
10. ● Step 10: The government issues a certificate to adoptive parents to validate that the adoption adhered to international regulations.
11. ● Step 11: The child follows their adoptive parents to their home country.

Latest costs for holding an adoption ceremony in Vietnam

The required costs for an adoption ceremony in Vietnam are currently not specified in any legal documents. This means the adopters only have to cover the fees for their adoption application.

The required fee will depend on your situation:

For domestic adoption, the application fee is 400,000 VND (~15.74 USD) per case. This fee is exempted for:

1. 📌 Stepmother or stepfather adopting their spouse’s biological child
2. 📌 Relatives adopting their biological niece or nephew
3. 📌 Adopted children with HIV/AIDS or disabilities
4. 📌 Adoptive parents with significant contributions during wartime in Vietnam

For international adoption of Vietnamese children:

1. 📌 For Vietnamese citizens currently residing abroad, the adoption fee is 9 million VND (~354 USD).
2. 📌 For foreigners residing in Vietnam, the adoption fee is 4,5 million VND (~177 USD).
3. 📌 For citizens in neighboring countries who are permanently residing in border areas and adopting Vietnamese children living there, the adoption fee is 4,5 million VND (~177 USD).

Note that these costs are not final: the process may incur additional expenses, including document processing services, travel, accommodations, and legal consultation.

Conclusion

The adoption ceremony in Vietnam embodies the celebration of a lifelong commitment to the child by their new family.

Through the ceremony, both the adopted and the adopters are officially recognized as family members with respective rights and responsibilities under applicable laws.

We hope that this overview will be useful as you navigate through the process of adoption finalization in Vietnam. If you are seeking to adopt a child in Vietnam as a foreign citizen, Thao & Co. is your trusted companion.

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation and a seamless experience.