Adoption in Russia
This material is provided for general information only and may not be comprehensive or accurate in every detail. All details should be checked by contacting:
The Embassy of the Russian Federation
Consular Section
5 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QS
Tel: 020 7229 8027
Fax: 020 7229 3215
Where further clarification is needed, independent legal advice should be sought.
Russian Adoption Law
Under Russia’s adoption law, local court judges in the area where the child lives approve adoptions. The judge’s decision is based on a review of the various documents in the case (these are listed below), and a closed court hearing which usually lasts about an hour. The law requires adopting parents to attend the hearing, and the overwhelming majority do so. Judges sometimes agree to waive one parent’s presence when there are compelling medical or personal reasons for the request. In a few regions, the parents may be represented at the hearing by an adoption agency employee. Most parents describe that their court hearing was thorough, professional and friendly. Many describe it as one of the most moving and memorable elements of their adoption experience.
Although the judge’s decision is issued the day of the hearing, it does not take effect for ten calendar days, during which time it can be appealed. Many judges waive the ten-day waiting period. This is entirely up to the judge, and seems to depend to some extent on the region and on the judge’s experience with international adoption cases.
If you do have to wait ten days for the adoption to be final, you may elect to return to the UK immediately after the court hearing. One or both of you can return two weeks later to obtain your child’s documents, bring him or her to Moscow for the medical examination and the visa interview, and escort him or her to the UK. It is also possible for one parent to return to UK, while the other remains to escort the child home. Some parents designate an escort to complete the paperwork, including accompanying the child to the visa interview. However, some regions require that the application for the child’s passport be submitted by a parent, in person. Check carefully with your agency before making a decision on how you want to handle this.
How the Process Works
To begin adoption proceedings, prospective parents (or their agency) ask the local Ministry of Education office in the area where they wish to adopt for information on children available for adoption. They must provide personal information about themselves (names, ages, foreign address, occupation, etc.). They may make specific requests for the type of child they wish to adopt (age, gender, disabilities, sibling groups, etc.). In addition to these local inquiries, parents can also receive information on the children listed in the Federal Ministry of Education’s Central Data Bank.
When the prospective parents have identified an orphan they wish to adopt, they submit a formal adoption application to the local court in the area where the child lives. The following documents must accompany the adoption application:
- A copy of the couple’s marriage license. If not married, the prospective adoptive parent submits a copy of his/her birth certificate;
- Recent medical reports on the prospective parents’ health;
- A certificate from their employer(s), verifying their job position and
- income; or, a declaration of their income;
- Evidence that the prospective parents have permanent housing or proof of home ownership;
- The results of a home study conducted by competent state authorities in their country of residence; and
- A letter from the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Moscow stating that a visa will be issued to the child if he/she qualifies for the visa. (The fee of Rbl 1225,- /fee for a standard certificate/ is charged for issuing the letter).
Local child-welfare representatives submit the following material to the judge:
- The child’s birth certificate;
- A medical report on the child;
- Documents confirming the child has been registered with the Central Data bank of orphans at the Ministry of Education and that no Russian citizens have applied to adopt the child;
- A statement from the local child-welfare authorities that the adoption is in the child’s best interest;
- If the child is older than 10, a statement of his/her consent to the
- adoption;
- If the child is younger than 10, a statement from his/her natural parents agreeing to the adoption, or documents explaining why parental consent is not required; and,
- A statement of consent from the director of the institution where the child lives.
The court’s decision is issued on the day of the hearing, and takes effect ten calendar days later unless the judge waives the waiting period. During the ten-day interval, the decision can be appealed. Once it takes effect, the new parents are granted parental rights and full responsibility for the child.
After the decision takes effect, a copy of the court decree must be sent within three days to the local civil registry office known as ZAGS). When the adoption has been officially registered, the new parents can apply for the adoption certificate, a new birth certificate (issued in the child’s new name and showing them as the child’s parents), passport and visa for the child.
For specific UK visa advice please contact Visa Section at the British
Embassy in Moscow on 956 7345/7352.
USEFUL ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS
For information about For information about immigration matters, nationality matters:
Home Office
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
CROYDON
CR9 2BY
Tel: 020 8686 0688
Home Office
Nationality Directorate
3rd Floor
India Buildings
Water Street
LIVERPOOL
L2 0QN
Tel: 0151 237 5200
The Adoption Section
Department of Health
Room 121
Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
LONDON
SE1 8UG
Tel: 020 7972 4014
Fax: 020 7972 4179
Email: www.doh.gov.uk/adoption
TERRITORIAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
For information about adoption law and procedures:
England:
Social Care Group 3B
Department of Health
Wellington House
133 Waterloo Road
LONDON
SE 8 UG
Tel: 020 7972 4347/4084
Scotland:
Social Work Services Group
(Division 3-1)
The Scottish Office
James Craig Walk
EDINBURGH
EH1 3BA
Tel: 0131 244 5480
Wales:
Children and Families Unit
Welsh Office
Cathays Park
CARDIFF
CF1 3 NQ
Tel: 01222 823145
Northern Ireland:
Adoption Unit
DHSS
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownwards Road
BELFAST, BT24 3SF
Tel: 01232 524769
For medical forms and information about adoption:
British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF)
Saffron House
6-10 Kirby Street
LONDON EC1N 8TS
Tel: 020 7421 2600
Email: mail@baaf.org.uk
Website: www.baaf.org.uk
Ministry of Education in the Russian Federation:
Tverskaya Street, 51
125993 Moscow
Tel: 629 0428 / 629 5952 / 629 9897
(You are recommended to find a Russian speaker to assist you with translation, since adoption staff of the Russian Ministry of Education do not speak English).
