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Adoptions in the Dominican Republic Foreigners can legally adopt children of all ages. Following are the basics to the procedure: • Adopting parents must reside in-country for at least 60 days. • They must be at least 30 years old and no more than 60 years old. • They must be married for at least five years. • Unmarried couples that can prove at least five years of uninterrupted union can also adopt. • Once a child is identified for adoption, a caretaker and housing are provided at applicants' expense, until the child is released to adoptive parents. • Adoptions in the Dominican Republic are "privileged," in other words; the adopted child will have the same rights as a biological child. • Adoptions are also irrevocable. • International adoptions in the Dominican Republic are governed by Law 136-03 and all adoptions must be done through CONANI (Consejo Nacional para la Niñez y la Adolescencia - National Council for Children and Adolescents). • Age difference between the adopting parents and the adopted child must be at least 15 years. • The adopting parent's biological children who are 12 years old or older must give their opinion on the adoption. • Children 12 years old or more must approve their own adoption. • Applicants must also present to the Dominican authorities evidence of their solvency, good health and good morals. If there are many candidate families waiting for children, the criteria for assignments are as follows: • Dominican families will be preferred to non-Dominican families. • Among non-Dominican families, those coming from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on Adoptions will be preferred. • Finally, the oldest application on file is assigned a child first. |
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