Adopting a child from Colombia
About adoption from Colombia
Colombia 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 Colombia to make sure intercountry adoption only happens when it is best for the child.
The Central Authority in Colombia for intercountry adoption is the Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar(Opens in a new tab/window).
Before a child can be adopted by someone overseas, Colombia must first try to find a home for the child within Colombia. If this is not possible, the child may be considered for adoption by someone in another country.
Only a small number of adoptions from Colombia are completed each year.
Eligibility to adopt
Australian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to adopt from Colombia.
You must meet the requirements and be approved by your state or territory central authority. They are listed in the intercountry adoption contacts.
You must also meet Colombia’s requirements and:
- have been married or living together for at least 2 years, including same-sex and de facto couples
- be at least 25 years old
- be at least 15 years older, but no more than 45 years older, than the child
- be in good physical and mental health
- have no criminal record.
Single applicants may be considered to adopt an older child.
You must also have basic Spanish language skills.
Children in need of intercountry adoption
Most children needing intercountry adoption from Colombia are over 10 years old or have additional needs.
In Colombia special needs can include sibling groups of 2 or more, or children with disability or long-term health condition.
There is a pause on new applications for children 0 to 6 years old without special needs.
Waiting times
Waiting times vary. There are more applicants than children, especially for younger children.
Cost of adopting
Australian state and territory adoption application and processing fees vary.
Colombia does not charge a fee for adoption. Donations are not allowed.
Other costs
You may also need to pay for translation services, travel and accommodation, and daily living expenses.
Travel
You will need to travel to Colombia once to meet the child.
You will need to stay in Colombia for 6 to 8 weeks to complete the adoption process.
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 complete follow-up reports for Colombia regarding progress of the child.
More information
- If you are interested in applying to adopt a child from Colombia, contact your Australian state or territory central authority. They are listed in the intercountry adoption contacts
- Learn more about adopting from Australia's Partner countries
- Visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs webpage to read about adoption of children from outside Australia(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Visit the Australian Government ‘smartraveller’ website to learn about safe and lawful travel to Colombia(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Visit the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade webpage for travel and consular support for Colombia(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Learn more about adoption support services and community groups in Australia on intercountry adoption support