Vietnam Orphanage Adoption for Foreigners: Requirements and Procedures

Thinking about adopting a child from Vietnam? Great choice! This Vietnam orphanage adoption guide has everything you need.

We’ll walk you through the whole process in simple, easy-to-understand terms. From legal requirements to detailed procedures, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, Thao & Co. will break down:

1. • The latest requirements and regulations on intercountry adoption
2. • A list of orphanages in Vietnam
3. • The necessary documents and the procedures involved

Requirements for Vietnam orphanage adoption for foreigners

The intercountry adoption process involves plenty of strict regulations and complex procedures to ensure the rights and safety of the to-be-adopted children.

Here’s a rundown of the basic eligibility requirements for orphanage adoption in Vietnam.

For the orphanage/nurturing center

1. • Operating license: The orphanage or nurturing center must be licensed to operate in Vietnam.
2. • Nurturing environment: The orphanage/nurturing center must provide adequate living accommodation, nutrition, health care, and education for the children,
3. • Frequent reporting: Regular updates and reports on the children under their care are mandatory.
4. • Legal compliance: The orphanage/nurturing center must have a clean legal record, with no previous convictions, especially related to crimes against children.

For the adopter

1. • Nationality: You must be a citizen of a country that is part of The Hague Adoption Convention.
2. • Age: You need to be at least 20 years older than the child you wish to adopt.
3. • Moral fitness: A clean criminal record and good moral character are required.
4. • Capability: You must have the health, financial means, and ability to provide proper care, nurturing, and education for the child.
5. • Legal permission: You must be approved for intercountry adoption in Vietnam by an authorized agency.

In addition, be prepared to cover all adoption-related fees and budget for expenses in advance.

For the child to-be-adopted

1. • The child must be under 16 years of age
2. • The child must be on the Justice Department’s list of children who need an adoptive family.
3. • Proof of no legal guardian or official consent from the child’s legal guardian(s) is required.
4. • Children 9 years old and above must also provide their consent.
5. • The child must be confirmed as eligible for intercountry adoption by an authorized agency.

In cases of adopting a specific child, the to-be-adopted child must also meet one of the following requirements:

1. • The child has disabilities or serious medical conditions that qualify for intercountry adoption.
2. • You have previously adopted a sibling of the child.
3. • The child is your biological niece or nephew.

Understanding these requirements will help you prepare your documents correctly. Learn more about the intercountry adoption procedures in Vietnam to ensure everything is in order.

List of orphanages in Vietnam

Here is a list of orphanages and nurturing centers in Vietnam for your reference.

Ho Chi Minh City

Go Vap District SOS Children’s Village

Address: 697 Quang Trung Street, Ward 12, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City

Little Rose Warm Shelter

Address: 30/31 Lam Van Ben Street, Tan Kieng Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Sun Light Shelter

Address: 76 Tran Quang Dieu Street, Ward 14, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Ky Quang Pagoda 2

Address: Le Duc Tho Street, Ward 16, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City

Long Hoa Nurturing Center

Address: 41 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Phu My Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Hanoi

Hanoi SOS Children’s Village

Address: 2 Pham Than Duat Street, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi

Huu Nghi Nurturing Center

Address: Dong Nhan Hamlet, Dong La Commune, Hoai Duc District, Hanoi

Birla Children’s Village

Address: 4 Doan Ke Thien Street, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi

Hanoi Social Protection Center III

1. • Main office: 3 Sub-quarter 3, Mieu Nha Street, Tay Mo Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi
2. • Branch office 1: 43/42 Lac Trung Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi
3. • Branch office 2: 106 Nguyen Hoang Street, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi

Hanoi Social Protection Center IV

1. • Main office: Cau Ba Hamlet, Tay Dang Town, Ba Vi District, Hanoi
2. • Branch office: Xuan Khanh Hamlet, Xuan Son Commune, Son Tay Town, Hanoi

Other provinces

1. • Hope Center (Hung Yen Province)
2. • Thanh An Orphanage (Xuan Truong District, Nam Dinh Province)
3. • An Lac Shelter (Can Giuoc Town, Long Anh District)
4. • Tien Giang Province Social Protection Center (My Tho District, Tien Giang Province)
5. • Tu Tam Shelter (Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province)

What is included in the Vietnam orphanage adoption dossier?

The adopter needs to prepare the documents both for themselves and for the child to be adopted. Here’s a breakdown of what’s needed:

Dossier for the adopter (02 sets)

1. • A written request for adoption
2. • A copy of your passport, identification card, or a valid substitute document.
3. • A written permission to adopt a child from Vietnam.
4. • Home study report
5. • Health certificate
6. • Proof of stable income and property ownership.
7. • Police check / justice record check
8. • Marriage certificate or written certification of marital status

If adopting a specific child:

1. • A written request for the adoption of a step-child or biological niece/nephew (instead of the abovementioned form)
2. • Documents proving your relationship with the child (if applicable).
3. • Documents showing you have lived in Vietnam for 1 year or more.
4. • and any other necessary documents

If you’re not adopting a specific child, most documents need to be obtained from your home country. Afterward, they must be legalized, translated into Vietnamese, and notarized before submission.

Learn more about Consular Legalization and Notary Translation in Vietnam.

Dossier for the to-be-adopted child (03 sets)

The child’s nurturing center needs to prepare the following documents:

1. • Birth certificate
2. • Health certificate
3. • Two formal full-body photos taken within the past 6 months
4. • Document describing the child’s characteristics, hobbies, habits
5. • Document showing reasonable efforts were made but a domestic adoptive family could not be found
6. • Any other required documents

Vietnam orphanage adoption process for foreigners

The standard intercountry adoption process in Vietnam consists of 6 steps:

1. Step 1: Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements for adoption. Once confirmed, reach out to a nurturing center in Vietnam to start the process.
2. Step 2: Next, gather and prepare all the necessary documents for your adoption application.
3. Step 3: While you’re working on your documents, the nurturing center prepares the child’s dossier.
4. Step 4: Once both dossiers are ready, submit them to an authorized agency in Vietnam and pay the required fees.
5. Step 5: After submission, you’ll need to wait for the results. During this time, you might be asked to provide additional documents or information to support your application.
6. Step 6: Finally, once your adoption is approved, you’ll pay the finalization fee and participate in the child adoption ceremony.

The entire process can take up to 6 months, depending on the complexity of the documents and any additional adoption requirements that might come up.

Intercountry adoption support services

The adoption process can be quite the journey, with its fair share of challenges. But don’t let that discourage you from building your perfect family!

At Thao & Co., our seasoned linguists and experts are here to help you navigate those obstacles, ensuring a smooth sailing experience.

How do we do it?

In-depth consultation

We know that choosing the right service provider for something as important as adoption is a big decision.

To help you make an informed choice, we offer a two-hour consultation. During this session, you can discuss your queries and circumstances with us.

It’s also a great opportunity to experience our services firsthand. We’ll provide detailed guidance and answer all your questions, helping you understand the process inside and out.

Accurate translation

Having precise and legally valid translations for your documents is crucial for a hassle-free application process. We provide translation services in over 50 languages into Vietnamese and vice versa:

• English	• German	• Chinese
• Spanish	• Russian	• Korean
• French	• Thai	• And many more!

Our interpretation services will also help you communicate and connect with locals. Trust us to accurately relay information and deliver your messages throughout all procedures.

Legal support

Local administrative and legal procedures can be daunting if you’re unfamiliar with them. That’s why we offer a comprehensive suite of legal services to save you time and effort:

1. • Consular authentication and notarized translation: We’ll handle the authentication and notarized translation of your documents.
2. • Documents preparation guidance: Get expert advice on preparing all necessary documents.
3. • Submission assistance: We’ll submit your adoption dossier to the local authorities on your behalf.
4. • Regulatory advice: Have all your questions about legal regulations answered.
5. • Progress updates: Stay informed with frequent updates on the progress of your adoption process.

As native experts, we have a deep understanding of the law and extensive experience with administrative procedures in Vietnam.

Our goal is to not only help you navigate the complex adoption process but also to bridge any language and cultural gaps you might encounter along the way.

Ready to Get Started? Reach Out Today! With just a few clicks, you can get the support you need.

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