Adopting a child from Taiwan

Information about how Australian citizens and permanent residents may be able to adopt a child from Taiwan.

About adoption from Taiwan

Taiwan has a bilateral arrangement that follows the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption(Opens in a new tab/window) (Hague Convention).

Australia partners with 2 adoption agencies in Taiwan to make sure intercountry adoption only happens when it is best for the child. The 2 adoption agencies are the Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF)(Opens in a new tab/window) and Chung Yi Social Welfare Foundation (Chung Yi)(Opens in a new tab/window). They follow the principles and standards of the Hague Convention.

Before a child can be adopted by someone overseas, Taiwan will first try to find a home for the child within Taiwan. If this is not possible, the child may be considered for adoption by someone in another country.

Only a small number of adoptions from Taiwan are completed each year.

Eligibility to adopt

Australian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to adopt from Taiwan. At least one applicant in a couple must be an Australian citizen.

You must meet the requirements of your state or territory central authority. They are listed in the intercountry adoption contacts.

You must also meet the 2 Taiwanese adoption agencies requirements, as listed below.

Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF)

You must:

  • be married, and this includes same-sex couples
  • be at least 20 years older, but no more than 50 years older, than the child
  • be at least high school graduates (or of equivalent educational level approved by the state/territory government)
  • be parents of no more than 3 children, including previously adopted children
  • be financially secure
  • have no criminal record that will affect your parenting.

When a family with up to 3 children adopts a child from Taiwan, the adopted child must be at least 1 year younger than their youngest child.

If you don’t meet the age or number of children criteria, you may still be considered for children and sibling groups who couldn’t be placed.

Chung Yi Social Welfare Foundation (Chung Yi)

You must: 

  • have been married for at least 2 years when it is the first or second marriage (including same-sex couples)
  • have been married for at least 7 years if it is a third or fourth marriage (including same-sex couples)
  • be parents of no more than 4 children, including previously adopted children
  • be in good physical and mental health 
  • be at least high school graduates (or of equivalent educational level approved by the state/territory government)
  • be financially secure with a stable job and income
  • have no criminal record that will affect your parenting.

Chung Yi does not accept applications de facto couples. Single applicants may be considered.

Taiwan encourages open adoptions. You must also be willing to maintain contact with the birth family, if they consent. Birth parents or guardians may be involved in the selection of adoptive parents.

Children in need of intercountry adoption

Most children in Taiwan needing intercountry adoption are older or have additional needs. 

In Taiwan, additional needs can include sibling groups of 2 or more, or children with disability or long-term health condition.

Waiting times

Waiting times vary but it can be around 3 years. There are shorter waiting times if you are adopting a child with additional needs.

Cost of adopting 

Australian state and territory adoption application and processing fees vary.

Taiwan’s estimated fees are US$7,000 to US$19,000. Donations are not allowed.

Other fees

You may also need to pay for translation services, travel, visas, accommodation, and daily living expenses.

Travel 

You may need to travel twice to Taiwan.  

It can take 2 to 3 weeks to complete the court adoption process. You may wish to stay in Taiwan until the process is finalised.

Immigration and citizenship 

Before bringing your child to Australia, you must ensure they have the right Australian immigration status. There are 2 possible options:

  • Australian citizen before travel 
  • Adoption visa (subclass 102).

Australian citizenship before travel

After you get the adoption certificate your child is eligible to apply for Australian citizenship. You can then apply for an Australian passport so the child can travel to Australia with you.

Adoption visa 

Your child could also travel to Australia on adoption visa subclass 102(Opens in a new tab/window).

Reporting obligations

You will need to complete reports for your state or territory central authority regularly in the first 2 years.

You should also respond to follow-up requests for updates from Taiwan about progress of the child.

More information

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