APPLY AS AN ADOPTIVE PARENT

Be an adoptive parent and provide a forever family to a child.

Who may adopt?

  1. Any Filipino citizen of legal age, in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, of good moral character, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children, at least sixteen (16) years older than the adoptee, and who is in a position to support and care for his/her children in keeping with the means of the family. The requirement of sixteen (16) year difference between the age of the adopter and adoptee may be waived when the adopter is the biological parent of the adoptee, or is the spouse of the adoptee’s parent.
A mother, father, and their daughter bonding at the park

2. Any foreigner possessing the same qualifications as above stated for Filipino nationals: Provided, that his/her country has diplomatic relations with the Republic of the Philippines, that he/she has been living in the Philippines for at least three (3) continuous years prior to the filing of the application for adoption and maintains such residence until the adoption decree is entered, that he/she has been certified by his/her diplomatic or consular office or any appropriate government agency that he/she has the legal capacity to adopt in his/her country, and his/her government allows the adoptee to enter his/her country as his/her adopted son/daughter.

What are the documents required for adoption?

Applicants must submit the following:

FOR FILIPINO CITIZENS

  • Birth certificate in NSO- SECPA form
  • Marriage Certificate in  SECPA form
    • In case of previously terminated marriage:
      • Annulment Decree with Certificate of Finality, Declaration of Nullity or Legal Separation Documents (for Filipino applicants.
      • Authenticated Divorce papers with copy of court decision and Certificate of Finality (for foreign applicants)
  • Written consent to the adoption of legitimate, adopted, or illegitimate children aged 10 years old and above
  • Physical and medical evaluation from a duly licensed physician
  • Psychological evaluation (whenever necessary )
  • NBI / Police clearance
  • Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) and other documents showing financial capability such as Certificate of Employment, Bank Certificate, duly notarized Financial Statement/Statement of Assets and Liabilities
  • Three  (3) character references  who have known the applicants for at least 3 years
  • Affidavit of Temporary Custody
  • Certificate of Attendance to Adoption Forum
  • Recent photos of applicants and immediate family members, including home (taken within at least 3 months, 3x 5 inch- sizes)

In addition, foreign nationals shall submit the following:

  • Certification that the applicant(s) have the legal capacity to adopt in his/her country and will allow the child adopted in the Philippines to enter his/her country and permanently reside therein;
  • Certificate of Residence in the Philippines issued by the Bureau of Immigration or the Department of Foreign Affairs, as appropriate;
  • Two (2) character references from non-relatives who have known the applicant(s) in the country of which he/she is a citizen or was a resident prior to residing in the Philippines,
  • Police Clearance from all places of residence in the past two years immediately prior to residing in the Philippines.

The Socio-Legal Process of Adoption

Step 1: INQUIRY

Phone call, letter, visit to the agency

Step 2: ATTENDANCE TO A PRE-ADOPTION FORUM

The prospective adoptive parent/s are provided with basic orientation about legal adoption, its process and requirements. NORFIL conducts this forum every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. There is a registration fee of Php 500.00 for couples and Php 300.00 for single applicants which covers kit materials, certificate, and light snacks.

Step 3: APPLICATION

Submission of filled–out Adoption Application Form together with the complete
documentary requirements

Step 4: ASSESSMENT

    • Home visit/individual and joint interviews of applicants
    • Collateral interview of family members and significant others
    • Preparation of Home Study Report (HSR) by an Adoption Social Worker

Step 5: APPROVAL/ DISAPPROVAL OF APPLICATION

If approved:  HSR and complete documents are submitted to DSWD for review and inclusion in the approved list of adoptive families
​
If disapproved:  Applicants will be informed

Step 6: MATCHING/ FAMILY SELECTION

Presentation of the adoptive applicants’ case at the Local Matching Conference at DSWD to match them with a child legally free for adoption

Step 7: PREPARATION FOR PLACEMENT

Information about the child is shared with the PAPs to help them understand the child’s background.

If accepted by PAPs:

  • Submission of PAPs Acceptance Letter to DSWD.
  • Issuance of Pre-Adoption Placement Authority (PAPA) and Affidavit of Consent to Adoption (ACA) by the DSWD

If PAPs declines:

  • Social worker provides the adoptive family with counseling to help them come up with realistic expectations about adoption and resolve any issues that they may still have before another child is again proposed to them.
  • If counselling interventions did not work out, PAPs is required to submit a written explanation for non-acceptance of the child to DSWD- Field Office (which is the basis for the decision on whether to present the PAPs on the next matching conference for another child or put the PAP on-hold for further re-assessment.

Step 8: PLACEMENT

Physical transfer of the child to the adoptive home

Step 9: POST-PLACEMENT VISIT

  • Monthly visits by the Adoption Social Worker for 6 months
  • Submission of Post- Placement reports with photos to the DSWD and Child Caring Agency

Step 10: FINALIZATION OF ADOPTION

  • Filing of Child’s Petition for Adoption in court through the PAP legal counsel, not later than 30 days upon receipt of PAPA and ACA
  • Attendance to court hearing/s

Step 11: ISSUANCE OF ADOPTION DECREE/AMENDED BIRTH CERTIFICATE

  • Issuance of the adoption decree by the court
  • Issuance of the amended birth certificate by the Local Civil Registrar

Who can be adopted?

  • Any person below eighteen (18) years of age who has been administratively or judicially declared available for adoption
  • The legitimate son/daughter of one spouse by the other spouse
  • An illegitimate son/daughter by a qualified adopter to improve his/her status to that of legitimacy
  • A person of legal age if, prior to the adoption, said person has been consistently considered and treated by the adopter(s) as his/her own child since minority
  • A child whose adoption has been previously rescinded
  • A child whose biological or adoptive parent(s) has died: Provided, that no proceeding shall be initiated within six (6) months from the time of death of said parent(s)

Apply Now!

Send us a message so we can reach out to you and start the process of your application. You can also REQUEST us to hold a group/barangay/company orientation regarding DOMESTIC ADOPTION.




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