Notice on the process for an international adoption

In Québec, the Secrétariat à l’adoption internationale (SAI), under the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), coordinates activities related to international adoption.

To adopt a child who is residing abroad, all residents of Québec must obtain authorization from the Secrétariat à l’adoption internationale (SAI) before beginning the process in the child’s home country.

These rules are valid both for permanent residents who do not yet have their Canadian citizenship as well as for Canadian citizens and individuals with dual citizenship. Furthermore, even if the child you are adopting is related to you, the process is still an international adoption.
 
If the adoption is finalized abroad before the adoptive parents have permanently settled in Québec (before they have obtained permanent residence), the adoption judgment from abroad must terminate the pre-existing filial relationship between the child and his or her original family and create a new filial relationship with the adoptive parent (plenary adoption).

In December 2007, the Citizenship Act was amended to make it possible for a large proportion of children adopted overseas to obtain citizenship without being subject to the immigration process.

However, adoptive parents who cannot request citizenship for the child overseas who they wish to adopt are required to sign a sponsorship undertaking with Québec immigration services and the application for a selection certificate for the child before the child can settle in Québec.

For more information on international adoption procedures or to find out if you can apply for citizenship for your adopted child, please contact the Secrétariat à l’adoption internationale.

To obtain the necessary forms to apply for sponsorship and citizenship for a child overseas who you wish to adopt, please visit the Internet site of Citizenship and Immigration Canada or contact the Telecentre at 1 888 242-2100.