Bringing an adopted child into Australia

Adoption is one of the most selfless and overwhelming forms of love.

When a person or couple have decided to start a family, or perhaps been faced with infertility while trying to fall pregnant, adoption is the absolute equal of bearing your own children, in the eyes of endless love and open hearts.

Parents of adopted children usually come to an agreement with the agency or birth parents as to which form of adoption is the best for everyone.

There is open adoption, in which the birth parents still have legal rights to receiving pictures and possibly visiting with their birth child someday.

A closed adoption basically means that as soon as the papers are signed, the child is no longer theirs and the birth parents have no legal rights in seeing or speaking to their child ever again.

Sadly, the process emotional of adoption can be a lengthy one, and depending on where the little one is traveling from, which is most likely always from somewhere overseas when you live in Australia.

There are additional steps on top of approving the actual adoption in order to bring your new child beyond your country’s borders.

In Australia, the process of bringing home your adopted little one is a simple Visa.

An Adoption Visa is usually applied for and sponsored by the new adoptive parents and allows the adoptive child to come into Australia to live with their new family.

The child and family must already be adopted or in the process of adoption, and the child must be outside of the country of Australia while the Visa application is being processed. If the adoption is being processed by a territory or state adoption agency, you are allowed to complete the Visa application before the adoption is finalised.

The Visa provides permanent residency for the child and leaves open the option to apply for citizenship, if they are eligible at that certain time.

The Visa also legally allows and ensures the child to:

When old enough, work and study within the country
Travel within, out of, and back into Australia for a limit of 5 years, in which a renewal will be required
Stay in Australia indefinitely
Apply for Medicare

In order to be eligible and hopefully approved for an Adoption Visa in Australia, the child must have either:

Been in the adoption process under the guidance and supervision of an Australian state or territory agency, or
Adopted privately by an expatriate Australia resident that has been traveling out of the country for 12 months prior to the application being finalized, or
Adopted under the cooperative understanding of two countries hey have been adopted through an arrangement between two countries, other than Australia, that are participants of the Hague Convention.

A child adopted under the Hague Convention will require a special compliance certificate, and the adoption will not be finalized until the certificate is granted and completed.

The cost of an Adoption Visa (Subclass 102) is around $2,370 and does not include additional possible fees to be paid by the parent such as physical assessments, medical tests, and legal certifications for your new child.

When considering the blessed and beautiful process of adoption, sadly, there are a few legal steps to be taken before you can bring your child home.

It is highly advised to researching your country’s adoption laws and making an appointment with one of your state or territory’s adoption agency offices to receive the most thorough and appropriate knowledge and support of how to bring your little one home.

Adoption is such a loving, heartfelt, and life changing decision, and before you can start your magical journey as a parent, there is a legal process.

In order to make the process as quick as possible, follow the country’s adoption guidelines and before you know it, you will be wrapping up your little bundle, and on your way to the rewarding and overwhelming happiness of parenthood.

If medical fertility intervention has failed, or you have always wanted to rescue a child in need, adoption is a beautiful, selfless choice.

Every child deserves to feel the unconditional love and guidance from a parent, and every parent needs that ever lasting bond with their child.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

23 Comments

- - ChiWren said
  - 07 Jan 2024
    10:40 am
Those who open their hearts up to adopt are so admirable. It’s sounds like a difficult, expensive process.

- - Ellen said
  - 11 Sep 2018
    4:21 am
It’s a pity it’s hard to adopt because of strict conditions and financial costs. Every child deserves to feel the unconditional love and guidance from a parent indeed and so many children are without a parent and without that feeling to be safe and unconditionally loved. We have 2 sisters in permanent care under a guardianship order. Because of financial reasons we cannot adopt, because both kids have a disorder / disability, whilst adoption would be good and give so much security to these precious 2.

- - ella12 said
  - 15 Jan 2018
    4:25 pm
Very informative, thank you for sharing.

- - mom81879 said
  - 21 Nov 2015
    8:11 pm
It would be so hard to adopt. I am in awe of those parents who choose to adopt, fir whatever reason. They must be truly selfless giving people

- - smiles said
  - 30 Apr 2015
    1:34 pm
It is just as much and emotional time as someone who has given birth. It is sad that it is so hard to adopt.

- - mom93821 said
  - 04 Dec 2014
    3:48 am
Thanks for sharing this interesting article with lots of information; an interesting read.
- mom94125 replied
  
  18 Oct 2015 , 2:29 pm
  yeah i agree, thanks for the info Tully
- - tam_watters said
  - 12 Nov 2014
    8:27 pm
My fertility clinic warned me that only a very few adoptions occur anymore because of stricter international laws to avoid children being taken from families unnecessarily. I would have loved to have adopted but that comment dashed my dream.

- - mom60497 said
  - 07 Nov 2014
    6:24 pm
Phew, a lot of red tape and rings to jump through. But if you have a sweet little adopted child after it all, it would be well worth all the paperwork

- - mom73211 said
  - 29 Oct 2014
    5:48 pm
I would love to adopt, from here and overseas. One day it will be easier

- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 26 Oct 2014
    9:30 am
great article very informative thank you

- - mom73759 said
  - 25 Oct 2014
    8:20 am
I think any one should be able to adopt a child from any where if the call is needed
- cloverstorm replied
  
  30 Oct 2014 , 2:00 am
  I completely agree. I’m not too sure why not when there are children in need.
- - rachkap said
  - 24 Oct 2014
    2:26 am
Thank you for this great information

- - deangunna said
  - 23 Oct 2014
    10:30 pm
I would adopt, I am not sure about fostering though as I don’t think I could hand them back.
- june11 replied
  
  19 Nov 2014 , 3:30 pm
  I agree it would be hard even if you know right from the beginning that is only temporary.
  I know one couple who fostered children who stayed with them until they were 18, then moved out. Some kept in touch, others they never heard from again.
  I know one couple who fostered identical twins for a few months. The Mum got a job and bought clothes for the twins and money for other items needed. Foster parents got almost no Govt. support them.The parents later married, and moved interstate with their babies and made a fresh start. They have kept in contact, the foster parents received photos every few months when they were babies and as they grew up, and were even invited to the girls’ weddings.
- - cherz said
  - 23 Oct 2014
    10:15 pm
This is a very interesting and helpful article for those interested in international adoption. thanks for sharing and caring.

- - pakeko said
  - 23 Oct 2014
    8:43 pm
Such a amazing thing to do, and such a blessing to be able to welcome another child into your home

- - mom73117 said
  - 23 Oct 2014
    8:29 pm
It sounds like adoption is a very involved and costly process. I can understand why the process exists but some of the costs involved really do isolate many families from entering into adoption. Local adoptions do seem like a less complicated option but they are becoming more rare these days despite the fact many neglected children are placed onto 18 year child protection orders and spend their lives in the foster care system. Such a shame. I applaud all parents of children adopted overseas and congratulate you on building the family you desire.

- - maureen3 said
  - 23 Oct 2014
    7:55 pm
Some important and useful tips to follow

- - rachaelchara said
  - 23 Oct 2014
    4:49 pm
What a wonderful thing to do, I know a few people who have had international adoptions.

- - mom89923 said
  - 23 Oct 2014
    1:59 pm
We are currently in the process of adopting our 3 wonderful foster sons.
- mom57522 replied
  
  23 Oct 2014 , 7:59 pm
  What a beautiful thing you are doing.