Child Adoption in Thailand

In simple words, child adoption is the act of including a child into a family where neither parent is the biological parent of the child. The adoptive parents obtain the parental rights and responsibilities of the natural parents by adopting the child.

When it comes to foreigners, fortunately, they are also allowed to adopt a child. However, this process is very lengthy and incorporates pre-screening process and a thorough investigation.

Kinds of Adoptions in Thailand

In Thailand, there are two kinds of child adoptions. These are listed below:

Domestic Adoption

Domestic adoption is the type of adoption where the adoptive parents (foreign or Thai) whose domicile is in Thailand.

Inter-country Adoption

Inter-country adoption is the type of adoption where the foreigners wish to adopt a Thai child and raise it in any other country but Thailand.
Parents considering to adopt a child in Thailand should meet certain criteria. At the first place, both the parents (applicants) must be of the age of 25 or more and there must be at least 15 years age difference between them and the adopted child. For foreign applicants, they are required to prove the legitimacy of their marriage and must be qualified to legally adopt a child in Thailand.
These are preliminary conditions one has to take into account before taking any action and submitting an application for child adoption in Thailand.

Application Process

Once the foreign adoptive parents are qualified, they can go ahead with the application process in the following way:

• Foreign adoptive parents with domicile outside of Thailand are to submit their application through related authorities in their country or non-governmental child welfare agencies licensed to deal with the Child Adoption Centre of the Department of Social Development and Welfare (DSDW) in Thailand.
• A foreigner permanently having a residence in Thailand with the proof of residency and house registration should apply for adoption at the place of domicile. If they are based in Bangkok or have the domicile of Bangkok, they should apply at Child Adoption Centre in DSDW. If outside of Bangkok, they should apply at DSDW of the relevant province.
• For foreigners temporarily residing in Thailand on an employment basis with a valid work permit should have been residing in Thailand for at least six months prior to applying. They should also be able to complete six month period of pre-adoption placement. They should submit their application at the Child Adoption Centre of DSDW in Thailand.

Need Help? Contact Us

If you are looking to adopt a child in Thailand, you need legal assistance to submit your application in order to get the favorable results. We, at Sunbelt Asia Legal Advisors, are a firm of legal advisors. Our team of legal and accounting experts can help you compile all the relevant documents and submit the application to the best effect. We will help you in each step and make sure that your application is accepted. If you want to know more or want to book a free consultation with us, feel free to contact us at (+66) 02-662-7004.

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