Stages of an international adoption project

International adoption is a multi-step process. The steps vary depending on the adoptive child’s country of origin.

The process can be broken down into 14 steps.

At this stage, the person who wishes to adopt a child domiciled outside Quebec must choose a country of origin and a certified body. The requirements and procedures by country are a guide to help them make this choice.

To choose the child’s country of origin, the person must check:

• that their personal situation meets the requirements the country of origin;
• that the profile of the children proposed for international adoption in the country of origin matches the profile of the child they can adopt;
• that registration is possible;
• the cost, duration and number of trips abroad.

Depending on the country of origin chosen, the person must also choose an adoption agency that is certified by the Minister of Health and Social Services. The certified body will make the adoption arrangements for them. They must also sign a contract with the certified body. The contract must include a breakdown of the estimated cost of the adoption and a list of the services offered by the certified body.

To find out about certified bodies in Quebec, see the list of certified bodies.

Training to prepare for the adoption of a child domiciled outside Quebec is free. It takes place entirely online. Training is mandatory for anyone domiciled in Quebec who wishes to undertake an international adoption. To obtain their certificate of participation, the person must complete the nine modules of a web series, consisting of readings, activities, questionnaires and audio and video clips.

To access the training, visit the section Preparing for international adoption.

The person who wishes to adopt a child domiciled outside Québec must sign a contract with the chosen certified body. This contract must include details of the estimated costs for adoption and the list of services offered by the organization.

To find out about the certified bodies in Québec, consult the list of approved organizations.

The certified body gives the person the Application to open an adoption file form. They must complete and sign it.

Once the form has been completed, the certified body must send it to the SASIE along with the required documents.

Upon receipt of the application, the SASIE verifies whether Quebec’s requirements have been met, in particular those concerning the person’s age and domicile. The SASIE then sends them a letter authorizing them to undergo a psychosocial assessment.

The psychosocial assessment allows adoption officials in Quebec and the country of origin to ensure that the person has the parenting abilities required to adopt a child and meet their needs. It is mandatory for all adoptions.

At the first assessment meeting, the person gives the evaluator the letter from the SASIE.

Once the assessment process is over, the evaluator or the Director of Youth Protection (DYP), as the case may be, sends the original assessment to the SASIE. The recommendation must be positive for the process to go forward. The assessment is valid for a period of two years. After this time, an update is necessary.

For more information about the psychosocial assessment, go to the Psychosocial assessment of the adopter page.

With the assistance of the certified body, the person prepares their adoption file.

The certified body ensures the file is in compliance and is sent to the foreign country and then follows up with the authorities.

The SASIE informs the foreign authorities that the person has undergone a psychosocial assessment concluding that they are qualified and fit to adopt.

Several years may go by before a child is proposed. Many factors come into play:

• the availability of children for adoption;
• the processing time for foreign adoption applications;
• the child profile recommended in the psychosocial assessment.

Events can also disrupt the usual course of the adoption process, such as:

• changes of government;
• legislative changes abroad;
• moratoriums on international adoption;
• political conflicts;
• natural disasters.

A person who wishes to adopt a child domiciled outside Quebec must inform the certified body of any significant changes in their personal and family situation, for example:

• pregnancy;
• job loss;
• separation or divorce;
• death;
• new live‑in partner;
• illness.

They may be asked to undergo another psychosocial assessment.

The foreign adoption authorities determine the adoptability of children, i.e., whether or not they can be adopted.

After reviewing the file and taking note of the child profile recommended in the psychosocial assessment, the authorities of the country of origin propose a child to the person.

As Quebec’s Central Authority for international adoption under the Act to implement the convention on protection of children and co‑operation in respect of intercountry adoption, the SASIE ensures that the profile of the child proposed by the country of origin matches the profile of the child recommended in the psychosocial assessment on file.

When the adoption arrangements are made with the assistance of a certified body, the adoption proposal is submitted to the SASIE by the certified body for analysis. If the profiles of the child and the person match, the SASIE authorizes the certified body to submit the adoption proposal to the person.

After reading the proposal, the person informs their certified body of their decision to accept or decline the adoption proposal. The certified body informs the SASIE of the decision.

If the person has decided to adopt the child, the SASIE issues the authorization to proceed with the adoption under the terms of section 17 of the Convention.

When the adoption arrangements are made without the assistance of a certified body, the adoption proposal is submitted to the SASIE by the country of origin. If, following the analysis, the profiles of the child and the person match, the SASIE forwards the proposal to the person.

After reading the proposal, the person informs the SASIE of their decision to accept or decline the adoption proposal.

If the person has decided to adopt the child, the SASIE issues the authorization to proceed with the adoption under the terms of section 17 of the Convention.

Irrespective of whether the adoption arrangements are made with or without a certified body, if characteristics in the profile of the child proposed do not match the profile established in the person’s psychosocial assessment, in particular with respect to the child’s health or life history, the SASIE may not authorize the submission of the adoption proposal to the person or provide authorization to proceed with the adoption process.

A mismatch is a significant vulnerability and risk factor for the child that can compromise both the child’s and the parent’s life plan. In this situation, the child’s best interests must come first and their identity must remain confidential.

The SASIE then informs the country of origin that the proposal does not meet the requirements.

The proposal file submitted may contain certain information about the child, including their:

• name;
• family situation;
• medical file;
• adoptability;
• specific needs.

The file may also contain documents on the child’s health and development, photos and information about the child’s biological parents.

After verifying that the adoption plan and the documents concerning the proposed child are in order, the SASIE provides authorization to proceed with the adoption process and issues a certificate indicating that it does not object to the child entering Canada. This is known as a letter of no objection.

When the adoption arrangements are made with the assistance of a certified body, the certified body must ask the SASIE for the letter of no objection. The person receives a copy. The letter is sent to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration and then to the Canadian Visa Office abroad.

Depending on the country, the person must travel to the child’s country of origin to complete certain administrative and legal procedures. During their stay in the foreign country, they are assisted by the certified body’s representative or by the competent authority in the child’s country of origin.

The length and number of trips vary depending on the requirements of the foreign authorities.

The Guide to good health practices for travellers (in French only) produced by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) provides useful advice for the person before their trip abroad.

Once the procedures in the child’s country of origin have been completed, the person receives the official adoption documents that will allow them, among other things, to attest to the child’s identity and that they have been adopted or entrusted into their care.

Certain documents must be submitted to the Canadian embassy that grants the visa and the passport that allows the child to enter Canada.

All official documents must be submitted to the SASIE. If the documents are in a language other than French or English, they must be accompanied by an official translation into French.

The child must undergo a medical examination by a doctor designated by the Canadian embassy in the country of origin.

The examination takes place only if the person has applied for permanent residence for the child. A medical examination is not required when applying for citizenship, but it is strongly recommended.

The type of examination and blood tests required may vary from country to country.

If the person has any doubts or questions, they may assess the relevance of having the child undergo the medical examination with the certified body. They may also request additional examinations at another clinic or by another doctor.

The person must confirm the date of the child’s arrival in Canada and the date the child was entrusted to their care with their certified body. In turn, the certified body informs the SASIE of these dates.

As soon as it is notified of the child’s arrival in Quebec, the SASIE follows the procedure so that the adopter and their child can obtain post‑adoption services.

In the country of origin, the child may be the subject of an adoption decision or be entrusted to the person for adoption in Quebec.

In both situations, the person must follow the appropriate administrative or legal procedure in Quebec. The procedure varies depending on whether or not the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 (HC) is in force in the country of origin.

Legal proceedings must be submitted to the Youth Division of the Court of Quebec. The person is advised to retain the services of a legal advisor to prepare and submit their application to the court.

The foreign Central Authority issues a certificate attesting that the adoption process complies with the requirements.

The person must submit the certificate of compliance obtained from the Central Authority to the SASIE along with the form for the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec in which they indicate the name they are giving the child. The SASIE ensures that the certificate of compliance meets the requirements of the HC and notifies the child’s adoption to the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec, which draws up a new birth certificate bearing the child’s new surname and first names as well as the names of the new parents.

The person must institute legal proceedings to have Quebec recognize the adoption decision rendered by the child’s country of origin. When the judgement recognizing the adoption decision is issued, the clerk of the court informs the Directeur de l’état civil which then issues the child’s new birth certificate.

The person must, jointly with the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) in their region, institute legal proceedings to obtain a placement decision. The decision must be followed by an application for an adoption judgement.

Once the judgement has been rendered, the clerk of the court issues a certificate of compliance which attests that the adoption process meets the requirements of the HC. The certificate is sent to the SASIE and to the competent authority or Central Authority of the child’s country of origin.

Foreign authorities require the person, directly or through the certified body, to submit periodic progress reports on the child’s adoption and integration into their new family.

The type, frequency, number of reports and duration of this requirement vary from country to country. Therefore, at the start of the adoption process, the person commits to providing the requested reports. For more information, go to the Progress reports page.

The adoption is completed when:

• the notification to the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec has been made or the adoption judgment has been obtained;
• the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec has issued the new birth certificate;
• the child has become a Canadian citizen;
• the progress reports have been sent to the country of origin;
• any post‑adoption administrative procedures have been completed with the authorities in the country of origin.