Intercountry Adoption

The Office has been designated as a Central Authority to discharge the duties which are imposed by the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption (hereinafter referred to as the “Convention”).  No other subject (so-called accredited organisation) is authorized to mediate international adoption from or to the Czech Republic.

Besides acting as a mediator, the Office provides information on Czech law and other related issues.  When dealing with intercountry adoption the Office takes appropriate measures to facilitate, follow and expedite adoption proceedings and to inform the supervising state bodies about its results.

Adoption mediation involves a two step process. The mediator seeks children who are suitable and eligible for adoption and matches them subsequently to suitable and eligible adoptive parents. The process of adoption can be started only by application of a person who wants to be an adoptive parent.When mediating intercountry adoption, the Office cooperates exclusively with the central authorities or dully accredited organizations in the contracting states.
The Office is currently mediating adoptions of Czech children by applicants from abroad, and in one case, adoption by Czech applicants of a child from Slovakia.  Every year the Office successfully completes approximately 30 adoption cases.

Intercountry adoption is a complicated formal procedure aiming to ensure the best interests of the child. The Convention establishes fundamental principles underlying the procedure. Specific details of the procedure may then vary depending on the circumstances and legal framework of the states which cooperate in a particular case.