Factsheet, Page 2

THAI ADOPTION PROCDURES : All adoptions in Thailand must be processed through the Child Adoption Center of the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), which is the sole governmental social welfare agency responsible for adoption of Thai children. Four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are licensed to deal with DPW's Child Adoption Center in cases where a child is to be placed abroad, but only three of these NGOs process cases for prospective adoptive parents who reside in the United States. These are:

Holt Sahathai Foundation
850/33 Sukhumvit 71
Bangkok 10110
Mailing Address: P. O. Box Nana Nua 1478, Bangkok 10110
Tel. (66)(2) 381-8834

Thai Red Cross Foundation
Chulalongkorn Hospital
Corner of Rama IV Road and Rajdamri Road
Bangkok 10300
Tel. (66)(2) 252-8181 or (66)(2) 256-4178

Pattaya Orphanage
Pattaya City, Chonburi
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 15, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20151
Tel. (66)(38)422-745

For complete information and application forms, prospective adoptive parents should contact one of the above agencies or DPW directly at:

Child Adoption Center
Department of Public Welfare
Rajvithee Home for Girls
Rajvithee Road
Bangkok 10400
Tel. (66)(2) 246-8651

QUALIFICATIONS : Thai law (Adoption Act, April 1979) stipulates strict requirements and procedures for adoption of children in Thailand. While some of these requirements are currently under review, the U.S. Embassy is not aware of any completed adoption to date in which these basic requirements have been waived. Consequently, inquirers who do not meet the following criteria should contact the DPW before pursuing the matter further. Basic criteria for adoptive parents:

You are married;
Both you and your spouse are at least 25 years of age;
Both you and your spouse are at least 15 years older than the child to be adopted;
You are legally qualified under your state law to adopt a child.

It is not possible to apply for more than one child at a time, except twins, siblings, or in cases of adoption of the children of the applicant's Thai spouse.

Parents adopting from Thailand for a second time may request that a DPW social worker escort the child to the U.S. instead of appearing before the Child Adoption Board as outlined below. All costs of such travel are the responsibility of the adoptive parents.
DPW advises that it is extremely unlikely that an abandoned child under the age of one year would be available for foreign adoption. (NOTE: In the Embassy's experience, it is quite rare for a child under two years of age to be available for foreign adoption.)

Previous Page Next Page

Credits: U.S. Department of State