Inter-Country Adoption Process
Relative Adoption
What is relative adoption?
Relative adoption is the adoption of a Filipino child residing in the Philippines, by a relative within the fourth (4 th ) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity who is habitually residing abroad.
What are the requirements for Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) who
want to adopt a relative child?
PAPs wanting to adopt a relative a child must satisfy the same requirements and qualifications as PAPs adopting through regular adoption.
What is the duration of the "eligibility assessment for adoption"?
The estimated period to complete the eligibility assessment of the child depends on the cooperation of the birth parents/guardians of the child in their submission of the requested documents to the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO).
Are PAPs allowed to apply directly to NACC or RACCO?
All intercountry adoption applications, including relative adoptions, must be coursed
through the Central Authority (CA) or Foreign Adoption Agency (FAA) in the PAPs’ country of residence.
PAPs are prohibited from communicating with NACC or RACCO staff directly about their application for relative adoption. The FAA or CA must forward any follow-up from the PAPs to NACC.
PROCEDUREs
1. Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) inquire with a Foreign Adoption Agency (FAA) accredited by NACC or the Central Authority (CA) in the country where they reside for initial assessment
2. FAA or CA will endorse to NACC the Questionnaire for Relative Adoption Applicants (QRAA) filled up by the PAPs, together with the following supporting documents:
a. Birth Certificate of the Child
b. Birth Certificate/s of the PAP/s
c. Marriage Certificate of the PAPs
d. Divorce Decree of the PAPs, if applicable
e. Copy of the Birth Certificate/s of the birthparent/s or pertinent persons
to establish the relationship of the child/ren with the PAPs (must be within the 4 th degree of consanguinity)
f. Family Genogram
g. Recent close-up pictures of the child, PAPs, the PAPs’ home and their family members
3. NACC reviews the QRAA and supporting documents and coordinates with the FAA or CA to request for additional documents or information regarding the case, if necessary.
4. After NACC’s initial assessment of the case, the child’s eligibility assessment for adoption may be referred to the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) that has jurisdiction on the child’s current residence in the Philippines.
5. The RACCO will assess whether the child is eligible for adoption and may or may not recommend the child depending on the circumstances.
6. If the child is found to be eligible for adoption, the RACCO social worker will coordinate with the child’s custodian to comply with the documentary requirements to support the issuance of the Intercountry Adoption Clearance of the child.
7. The RACCO will submit the child’s case folder to the NACC Central Office – Domestic Adoption Division (DAD), who will review the case and issue an Intercountry Adoption Clearance, if deemed eligible.
8. NACC – Intercountry Adoption Division (ICAD) will review the child’s ICA Clearance and documents and request submission of the PAPs’ adoption application from the FAA or CA.
9. Once ICAD receives both the child and PAPs’ complete documents, the case will be presented to the Child Placement Committee (CPC) for their recommendation. The CPC may recommend the approval, disapproval or deferment of the case.
10. The NACC Executive Director will have the final decision on the adoption placement.
11. If approved, NACC will forward the Placement Proposal to the FAA or CA.
12. If the PAPs accept the proposed placement, the child’s travel documents will be processed by NACC
13. PAPs have to personally come to the Philippines for the child’s entrustment and stay in the country for at least five (5) days to allow bonding to occur between and among them
14. FAA/CA will monitor the reciprocal adjustment of the child and the PAPs abroad within at least six (6) months
15. If a satisfactory pre-adoptive relationship is formed between the PAPs and the child, NACC will transmit to the FAA/CA the Certification of Authority of Consent to Adopt (CACA) to enable the PAPs to finalize the child’s adoption abroad
16. Once adoption has been completed abroad, the FAA/CA has to transmit to NACC a copy of the final Decree of Adoption or its equivalent, including the Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization