1. In accordance with the Adoption Law of the People's Republic
of China, foreigners may adopt children in China. Applicants for
child adoption shall be:
A. Childless;
B. Capable of rearing and providing education to the adopted
child;
C. Thirty years old or above;
D. Where an adoptive parent has a spouse, the couple shall adopt
the child together. In case of a spouseless male adopting a baby
girl, he has to be at least 40 years older than the adopted
child;
E. An adopter could only adopt one child.
Notwithstanding the above conditions, adopting an orphan or a
handicapped child need not be subject to the restrictions A, C and
E as specified above.
2. To adopt a child in China, the necessary documents required
are as follows:
A. Written application for adoption (including the pledge of not
maltreating and deserting the adopted child);
B. Personal identifications (including birth and citizenship
certificates);
C. Certificate of marital status;
D. Certificate of occupation and financial status;
E. Health certificate;
F. Certificate of non-criminal record;
G. Document which testifies that the adoption accords with the
current laws applied to adoption in Canada.
H. Family investigation report
During the process of adoption, either party of a couple may act
on behalf of the other in case of absence and subject to the power
of attorney signed by the absentee.
3. All documents mentioned above shall be notarized by a notary
public and be legalized by the Department of Foreign Affairs Canada
or provincial authorities and then be authenticated by the China's
Embassy or Consulates-General.
4. A written agreement shall be reached between the adopting
parents and the person putting the child up for adoption. The
parties shall register in the local Chinese civil affairs
department in person, complete notarial procedures at the
designated notarial agency. Adoptive relations shall come into
force on the day of the notarization.
(Chinaembassycanada.org October 16, 2006)
