Adopting a child from Thailand

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

About adoption from Thailand

Thailand follows the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption(Opens in a new tab/window). Australia has partnered with Thailand to make sure intercountry adoption only happens when it is best for the child.

The Thailand Central Authority for intercountry adoption is the Child Adoption Centre – Department of Children and Youth(Opens in a new tab/window). 

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

Eligibility to adopt

Australian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to adopt from Thailand. At least one applicant 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 Thailand’s requirements and:

  • have been married for at least 1 year and living together
  • be at least 25 years old
  • be in good physical and mental health
  • have no criminal record that will affect your parenting.

People without children may be prioritised over those with 3 or more children.

Thailand does not accept applications from de facto couples. Single female applicants may be considered for a child with additional needs.

Children in need of intercountry adoption

Most children in Thailand needing intercountry adoption are over 4 years old and/or have additional needs.

Thailand defines children with additional needs as:

  • sibling groups where at least one child is over 4 years old 
  • children over 4 years old 
  • children with health or behavioural needs problems 
  • children born to parents with a mental illness
  • children conceived through incest.

Waiting times

Waiting times vary but can be 2 to 3 years from when Thailand accepts an adoption application.

Cost of adopting

Australian state and territory adoption application and processing fees vary.

Thailand does not charge a fee for adoption. Families may choose to make a voluntary donation to the child’s orphanage once the adoption is finalised.

Other costs

There may be extra fees for processing, translation and collection of documents with the assistance of social workers in Thailand.

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

Travel

You will need to travel once to meet your child and appear before the Thai Adoption Board. You will also need to travel to where your child is in Thailand.

You should arrive in Thailand 5 days before you meet with the Thai Adoption Board. Allow 2 to 3 weeks to ensure the adoption and immigration processes in Thailand are finalised.

Immigration and citizenship

Your child will need to travel with you to Australia on an adoption visa subclass 102(Opens in a new tab/window).

Your child will live with you in Australia for a minimum 6‑month trial. During this time, you will need to complete a report every 2 months.

If your placement is going well, your state or territory central authority will send the reports for approval. If concerns are raised during your placement, the trial period may be extended and you will need to continue reporting every 2 months.

Thailand has 2 ways of completing adoptions:

  • you apply to your state or territory court to convert the Thai adoption order to a full adoption
  • a new full and final adoption order can be issued by an Australian court.

You will also need to register the adoption through the Royal Thai Consulate General in Sydney or the Thai Embassy in Canberra.

Once you have converted the adoption to a full adoption in Australia you need to apply for ‘citizenship by conferral’, as soon as possible.

If the adoption order is issued by an Australian court, your child will automatically receive Australian citizenship.

Reporting obligations

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

Thailand encourages you to send information and photos about your child’s progress to the Thailand Central Authority. This is encouraged even after your reporting period has ended.

More information

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