As in many countries, it is possible for U.S. citizens to adopt a child in the Czech Republic. In recent years, however, there have been only a few cases in which a child from the Czech Republic was adopted out to the United States. The reasons for this are said to be the declining birth rate (low number of children available for adoption), longer waiting periods, the necessary consent of parents, and so on.

For U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child from a foreign country and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States there are two sets of laws particularly relevant:

1) The laws of the child's country of birth govern all activity in that country including the adoptability of individual children as well as the adoption of children in country in general (see www.umpod.cz ).

2) U.S. Federal immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States (see http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_371.html).

One of the most important principles of intercountry adoption is the principle of subsidiarity. This principle says that the intercountry adoption may be considered as an alternative means of a child's care, if the child cannot be placed in a foster or adoptive family or cannot in any suitable manner be cared for in the child's country of origin. The principle of subsidiarity can be found in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the Hague Adoption Convention.

The list of the contracting states, designated central authorities, and accredited bodies is available on:

http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=69

The Office for International Legal Protection of Children ( www.umpod.cz ) is the only body authorized to mediate in intercountry adoption under the Hague Adoption Convention in the Czech Republic. The Office for International Legal Protection of Children not only mediates the intercountry adoptions but also provides general information and information about Czech law in the field of intercountry adoption.

Mediation in adoption consists of seeking children who are suitable and eligible for adoption and matching them to suitable and eligible adoptive parents. The office for International Legal Protection of Children cooperates with the central authorities of the states that signed and ratified the Hague Adoption Convention in the field of mediation in intercountry adoptions.

Mediation in intercountry adoption for persons living outside the Czech Republic

Both married couples and single persons can apply for adoption in the Czech Republic. Such a couple or person with permanent residence in a contracting state of the Hague Adoption Convention has to apply for an adoption through the central authority or accredited body of the state of his permanent residence. The applicants must submit the following documents:

1. Questionnaire completed by the applicants in their native language with a certified translation into Czech (see http://www.umpod.cz/NOVDOTAJ.DOC)

2. Photographs of the applicants (not more than 6 months old)

3. Social report (Homestudy) in their native language with a certified translation into Czech

4. Criminal record check (not more than 3 months old) in their native language with certified translation into Czech

5. Confirmation of applicants´s employer with regard to income in native language with certified translation into Czech

6. Medical checkup in native language with certified translation into Czech

7. Copy of the marriage certificate in native language certified with an Apostille and with certified translation into Czech

8. Copy of birth certificates in native language certified with an Apostille and with certified translation into Czech

9. Copy of passports

Czech law requires a suitable/adequate age difference between the child and the adoptive parents. The suitable/adequate age difference shall be the same as in the case of biological parenthood.

When the Office for International Legal Protection of Children receives an application for intercountry adoption, it decides whether or not the application will be filed in the register of applications for an adoption. The applicants then receive the relevant decision of the Office for International Legal Protection of Children.

The office for International Legal Protection of Children entrusts the child in the pre-adoption care of the prospective parents and issues the decision about the conformity with intercountry adoption.

Contacts: OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Úřad pro mezinárodněprávní ochranu dětí
Benešova 22
60200 Brno
Czech Republic

Phone:
+420542215443 trough 5
+420542217900 - the intercountry adoptions

Fax:
+420542217900 - the intercountry adoptions

Web site:
www.umpod.cz

Last update: June, 2006