Adoption Board warns: Independent adoptions involve risks
The Adoption Act of 2012 tightened the conditions for adoption. The purpose is to prevent risks associated with independent adoptions, such as child trafficking. The aim is also to ensure that a child actually requires international adoption.
The child's best interest is secured most effectively through an international service provider. International adoptions services are provided by the City of Helsinki, Social Services and Health Care Committee, Interpedia ry and Save the Children.
A person resident in Finland who wants to adopt a child from abroad must, under the Adoption Act, regardless of their nationality obtain permission from the Adoption Board and receive adoption counselling and international adoption services.
Adoption of a child independently, outside the statutory procedure, comprises numerous uncertainty factors and risks. This includes, among other things:
- The adoption is not valid in Finland.
- Helsinki Court of Appeal will not grant an adoption for which permission should have been sought.
- The child will not receive a travel document or a permit to enter Finland.
- The child will not receive Finnish citizenship.
- The child's background has not been clarified and/or irregularities are involved.
Adoption without a service provider
In exceptional cases, an adoption service provider cannot be used. In this context, permission for adoption can be obtained mainly in the event that the child to be adopted is a close relative of the prospective adopter and a Finnish service provider does not operate in the country of origin of the child to be adopted.
In this case, too, the prospective adopter must obtain adoption counselling in Finland before applying for permission.
In order for granting of permission for adoption without a service provider to be considered, the Adoption Board must be provided with clarification that the child is really in need of international adoption (e.g. an orphaned child of a relative).
First, however, it must be ascertained whether the child can remain living in his or her native country, for example, with other close relatives.
Documents
When permission for adoption without a service provider is being sought, the prospective adopter must submit the information required by the Adoption Board. This includes, among other things:
- Requisite documents concerning the prospective adopter him- or herself.
- Documents concerning the child's biological parents and/or siblings
- Documents concerning the child to be adopted
- Report on child's adoption need
- Other information and documents required by the Adoption Board
- DNA testing may be carried out, if necessary, to prove the parties are closely related.
The appropriate documentary evidence is required in the adoption process, when applying for the child's residence permit and for entering the child in the Population Register at the Local Register Office (if permission for adoption is granted).
All foreign documents must be translated into Finnish, Swedish or English and legalised. If necessary, the prospective adopter may have to travel to the country of origin to rectify any deficient legalisations.
The prospective adopter is responsible for obtaining all documents, translation thereof and legalisation as well as related costs him- or herself.
The prospective adopter is also responsible for the costs of other reports that may be required (e.g. DNA tests).
More information:
Adoption/The Finnish Adoption Board: Senior Officer Jonna Salmela, tel. 0295 209 626 and Chairman of the Adoption Board Merja Vuori, tel. 0295 209 623
Passport and Visa Unit/Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland: Legal Officer Karoliina Hyttinen, tel. 0295 350 000
Residence permits/The Finnish Immigration Service: Director Arja Kallakivi, tel. 0295 430 431
Nationality issues/The Finnish Immigration Service: e-mail kany.virkaposti(at)migri.fi