An Rómáin
Ireland and the Republic of Romania are signatories to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
Article 2 of the Hague Convention states that the Convention shall apply where a child habitually resident in one Contracting State (for example, Romania) has been, is being, or is to be moved to another Contracting State (for example Ireland) either after his or her adoption in the State of origin by spouses or a person habitually resident in the receiving State, or for the purposes of such an adoption in the receiving State or in the State of origin. The Convention covers only adoptions which create a permanent parent-child relationship.
Under the Convention the following procedures apply –
The Adoption Authority of Ireland* sends an Article 15 Assessment Report on the prospective adoptive parent(s) to the National Central Authority* of the country of origin.
The National Central Authority of the country of origin* matches the child with prospective adoptive parent(s) and sends an Article 16 Child Study report to the Adoption Authority of Ireland* for consideration.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland*sends an Article 17 Child Placement Agreement Notice to the National Central Authority* of the country of origin for the child to be placed with the prospective adoptive parents.
Following the granting of an Adoption Order the National Central Authority* of the country of origin issues an Article 23 Certificate confirming that the adoption has been effected in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 1993 Hague Convention.
* Under Article 22 of the Convention, the functions outlined in Articles 15, 16 and 17 of the Convention may be delegated to approved Accredited Bodies.
- The adopter or one of the adoptive family’s spouses is a relative within the fourth degree inclusive of the child for whom the initiation of the domestic adoption procedure has been approved;
- The adopter or one of the adoptive family’s spouses is also a Romanian citizen;
- The adopter is the spouse of the biological parent of the child whose adoption is sought.
The Central Authority has also advised that the great majority (99.5%) of children eligible for adoption are over 4 years of age. Certain children may display developmental delay (for example, language delay) and certain children may have health problems.
Prospective adoptive parents should expect to spend at least 30 days in Romania in order for the Romanian authorities to analyse the way in which the child bonds with the adoptive family.
WARNING
Prospective adoptive parents should satisfy themselves that any persons acting on their behalf are duly authorised by the appropriate National Central Authority to carry out the functions for which they are engaged.
Prospective adoptive parents proposing to adopt abroad are advised to seek independent legal advice prior to effecting an adoption abroad.
Prospective adoptive parents should not take custody of a child or accept a placement prior to the Adoption Authority of Ireland issuing an Article 17 Placement Approval Notice.
When a child enters the State for the first time after his or her adoption, the adopters must notify Tusla - The Child and Family Agency and the Adoption Authority of Ireland of the child’s entry as soon as practicable and, in any event, not later than three (3) months after the date of entry. Failure to so notify is a criminal offence.
Not later than three (3) months after the date when a child first enters the State after his or her intercountry adoption in another state, the adopters must apply to the Adoption Authority of Ireland to have the particulars of the adoption entered into the Register of Intercountry Adoptions (RICA). Failure to do so is a criminal offence. Applications for an entry in the RICA must be accompanied by an Article 23 certificate issued by a National Central Authority or by an Accredited Body duly authorised to do so by a National Central Authority.
Any adoptions effected outside these parameters will not be recognised by the Adoption Authority of Ireland.
Please here for country specific information table for Prospective Adoptive Parents
