The Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (HCCH 1993 Adoption Convention) protects children and their families against the risks of illegal, irregular, premature or ill-prepared adoptions abroad. This Convention, which operates through a system of national Central Authorities, reinforces the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Art. 21) and seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights. It also seeks to prevent the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children. For further information, see the Outline of the Convention or the more detailed Brochure on the Convention.
Please note that the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH has no mandate to assist in individual adoption cases. If you have a question relating to intercountry adoption and your country is a Party to the HCCH 1993 Adoption Convention, please contact the Central Authority designated by your country.
Explanatory documents:
- Explanatory Report
- Brochure: 25 Years of Protecting Children in Intercountry Adoption
- Information Brochure
- Preparatory work (history of the Convention)
- Hague Recommendation on Refugee Children (adopted on 21 October 1994)
Information for new Contracting States:
- Checklist of notifications and declarations to be made by States Parties
- Checklist of questions for new Contracting States
Recommended Model Forms:
Guides to Good Practice:
- Guide to Good Practice No 1: The Implementation and Operation of the 1993 Intercountry Adoption Convention
- Guide to Good Practice No 2: Accreditation and Adoption Accredited Bodies
Country profiles:
Special Commissions:
Questionnaires and responses:
Habitual Residence:
Financial Aspects:
- Working / Experts’ Group
- Working Group on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption (2023 onwards)
- Experts’ Group on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption (2012-2016)
- Documentation
Preventing and Addressing Illicit Practices:
- Toolkit for Preventing and Addressing Illicit Practices in Intercountry Adoption
- Working Group on Preventing and Addressing Illicit Practices in Intercountry Adoption (2016-2022)
Domestic adoptions:
- Report on the cross-border recognition of domestic adoptions
- Questionnaire on the recognition of domestic adoptions in other States (November 2016)
Technical Assistance Programme (ICATAP)
Workshops & Seminars:
Adoption during emergency situations:
