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The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption

The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is designed to protect the rights of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents. This treaty sets up minimum standards and procedures for adoptions between countries that are parties to the convention.

This section provides information on the convention and its implementation in the United States.

Accredited, Temporarily Accredited, and Approved Hague Adoption Service Providers U.S. Department of State List of adoption service providers able to provide adoption services in connection with Hague adoption cases after the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption enters into force for the United States. The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption: A Guide for Prospective Adoptive Parents (PDF – 2841 KB) U.S. Department of State Explains how the intercountry adoption process will change when the Hague Convention goes into full effect in the United States. Guide for Social Workers U.S. Department of State Answers to frequently asked questions about the Hague Convention.

Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption
Hague Conference on Private International Law (1993)
Full text and other explanatory information about the Convention.

Federal Register Notice for Council on Accreditation
United States Department of State (2006)
Memorandum of Agreement in which the U.S. Department of State designated the Council on Accreditation (COA) as an accrediting entity under the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000. Explains the duties of COA as an accrediting entity.

Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption
U.S. Department of State
Overview of the Hague Convention.

Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption: Accreditation/Approval Regulations Published in the Federal Register
U.S. Department of State (2005)
Press release announcing the publication in the Federal Register of the final rules on "Accreditation of Agencies and Approval of Persons Under the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA)" and "Intercountry Adoption - Preservation of Convention Records."

Hague Implementation
U.S. Department of State
Information on Hague regulations and implementation.

Introduction to Hague Accreditation and Approval
Council on Accreditation (COA)
Provides information on the Hague accreditation and approval process for agencies and persons.

What Are the Requirements for Placement and Postplacement Monitoring in Incoming Cases?
U.S. Department of State
Addresses how placement and postplacement monitoring requirements will change with the implementation of the Hague Convention.

Updated on June 24, 2008