Adoption Requirements

The Intercountry Adoption System in Australia

The following is meant ONLY as a guide, and due to the changing nature of national, international and State policies the following may no longer be correct.

For full and current requirements you should contact your State/Territory Department.

The Attorney Generals Dept have considerable information now available as to Country Requirements, status of programs and legislative references.

People who want to apply to adopt need to satisfy BOTH the requirements set by Ethiopia and the requirements set by their State/Territory.

Requirements to adopt from Ethiopia (reference)

Age of Applicants	Minimum age of 25 years There is a restriction of a maximum of 40 years between the age of the adoptive parent and the age of the child. Although.. This appears to be more leniant in the case of older children This ruling is very flexible for second time Ethiopian adopters.
Religion	Ethiopia is a highly religious country... Applicants are required to provide a reference from their minister Applicants must be members of a mainstream religion.
Marriage	Couples must be married for at least 2 years
Single Parents	No longer accepted
Nationality	One applicant must be Australian

AND

	NSW	Vic	Qld	SA	WA	Tas	ACT	NT
Min. age of applicant	21 years and at least 18 years older than adoptee.	None	21 years and at least 18 years older than adoptee.	None	18 years.	At least 18 years older than adoptee	None	At least 25 years older than adoptee.
Max. age of applicant	None	None	None	None	45 years older than adoptee.	40 years older than adoptee.	None	40 years older than adoptee.
Can singles apply?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
*Can de facto* couples apply?**	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Can same sex couples apply?	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Min. length of relationship	3 years continuously	2 years	2 years marriage	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	2 years marriage
Family restrictions	Other children at least 2 years older	None	Max. of 4 children	None	Other children at least 1 year older	None	None	2 years between placements
Infertility treatment	Precludes assessment	No specific requirements	Relevant to assessment	Relevant to assessment	Precludes placement, but not assessment	Precludes assessment	Application must state likelihood of children being born in future	Relevant to assessment
Applicant pregnant	Precludes or suspends assessment &/or placement	No specific requirements	No specific requirements	Precludes allocation	Precludes placement but not assessment	Precludes assessment	Application must state likelihood of children being born in future	Adoption process suspended
Citizenship	At least one parent an Aust citizen or same citizenship as adoptee	None	At least one parent an Aust citizen	At least one parent an Aust citizen	Parents are Aust citizens	At least one parent an Aust citizen	None	At least one parent an Aust citizen

Contact your State/Territory Department for information on:

the requirements your State has for applying to adopt
the processes and costs for adopting in your State
to find out more information on applying to adopt.