Adoption in Russia

The British Embassy cannot assist you with your adoption, it can however provide you with  information to help you through the process.
 
You should also be aware from the outset that adopting a child in Russia is not a straightforward process.  We strongly recommend that you take expert advice from a lawyer or a reputable UK adoption agency.

Russian Adoption Law Overview

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, 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 their court hearing as 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.
 
You do not have to stay in Russia during this 10 day period.   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, to begin the visa application process, and escort him or her to the UK. You may wish to refer to the following website for more information regarding the visa application process and estimated consideration times: www.ukvisas.gov.uk / www.ukvac-ru.com . Some parents designate an escort to complete the paperwork, including accompanying the child to any required interviews. However, some regions require that the application for the child’s Russian passport be submitted by a parent, in person. Check carefully with your agency before making a decision on how you want to handle this.

What you must do in the UK before proceeding with any adoption:

The adoption of Children from Overseas regulations 2001 aims to deter people from bringing children into the UK for the purpose of adoption unless they have first been assessed and approved by a local council or a voluntary adoption agency (VAA) and had their suitability endorsed by the Secretary of State.  In order to avoid committing an offence, the Regulations require prospective adoptive parents in England and Wales, to have first:

• Applied for their suitability to adopt a child to be approved by a local council or VAA
• Complied with the assessment process
• Received confirmation, in writing of the agency’s decision to approve them as suitable to be an adoptive parent
• Received written notification from the Secretary of State that he is prepared to issue a certificate of eligibility

How the Process Works in Russia

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. Prospective adoptive parents 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 a child they wish to adopt, they submit a formal adoption application to the local court in the area where the child lives. The documents that must accompany this application are sent out below; they must be translated into Russian, with the translator’s signature authenticated.

The Russian Authorities currently require most of the adoption documents issued in the UK to be legalised before being presented to the Russian courts.  You should seek specific guidance on this from your legal representative and the adoption agency.  For more information on the Legalisation Process

Documents to accompany adoption application:

• The couple’s marriage license. If not married, the prospective adoptive parents submit  their birth certificates; 
• 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; 
• Photographs of the adoptive parents and their family;
• 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
• Letter issued by the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Moscow/British Consulate-General in St Petersburg or Ekaterinburg regarding entry clearance.  Before the Consular Section will issue this letter, it must be certain that prospective adoptive parents have been assessed and approved by a local council or a voluntary adoption agency in the UK and have received written notification from the Secretary of State that he is prepared to issue a certificate of eligibility. The British Embassy/Consulate charges a fee 3a for issuing a letter in English and a fee 3b for a letter in Russian. Please note that payment should be made first. It normally takes one working day to issue. To apply for the letter, you will need to submit the following documents to the Consular Section in Moscow/St Petersburg or Ekaterinburg. 

1.Certificate of eligibility to adopt the child
2. British Passport(s) of adoptive parent(s) (please also provide information about the Russian spelling of full names)
3. Information about the child:
• full name (both in Russian and English)
• date of birth
• place of birth
• information about the place where the child currently lives
4.Information about adoptive parent(s) current residency

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, 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, for official state registration of the adoption. When the adoption has been officially registered, the new parents can apply for the adoption certificate and a new birth certificate (issued in the child’s new name and showing them as the child’s parents), Russian passport from the local Interior Department’s visa and registration division and apply for a visa for the child to enter the UK.

Entry Clearance to the UK for adopted child

A foreign adoption order will only be recognised in the UK if it was made in a country that is included in the Adoption (Designation of Overseas adoptions) order 1973.  This is known as a designated country.  If the adoption order was made in a country that is not designated, the child can apply to come to the UK to be adopted through the courts.  Russia is not a designated country and your child will normally be allowed to stay for 12 months so the adoption process can continue through the UK courts.

To apply for entry clearance for your child you will need

• Completed on-line application form, which you must then print out and submit directly to the British Embassy with your supporting documentation.
  Application forms can be found at the following website www.ukvac-ru.com 
• The child’s valid passport or travel document
• Two recent passport sized photographs
• The visa fee, which is non-refundable
• The child’s original birth certificate showing their name at birth
• A report from the overseas equivalent of the social services department (name) giving the child’s full history and how the adoption came about, or in the case of a relative adoption a full statement in writing from the adoptive parents
• Where the child has been abandoned, a certificate of abandonment from the authorities previously responsible for the child
• The adoption order

Although adoption cases are given priority, visa processing times can take up to 15 working days.   If you are applying from St Petersburg or Ekaterinburg and you choose to apply for the Premium Service it will speed up the delivery of the documents from the Visa Application Centre to the Embassy in Moscow and back, but will not affect the processing time. We suggest you take this into account when submitting your visa application.

For further UK visa advice please contact Visa Section at the British Embassy in Moscow at the following address moscowvisaenquiries@fco.gov.uk

On arrival in the UK

Within 3 days of arrival in the UK, children who are Russian citizens, adopted by foreign citizens must be registered with a Russian Consular office in the adoptive parents’ country of residence.

Within 14 days of the prospective adoptive parents’ arrival in the UK with a child, they must notify their local council of their intention to adopt.  Once this notification has been received, the child will be a protected child under Section 22 of the Adoption Act 1976 and his/her placement will be monitored by the council under Sections 32 and 37.

Please Note the information provided on the Russian adoption process is for general information only.  To check specific details you can contact:
 
The Embassy of the Russian Federation
Consular Section
5 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QS
Tel: 020 7229 8027
Fax: 020 7229 3215

 
USEFUL ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS 
 
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
 
Department for Education (UK main authority for adoptions)
Castle View House
East Lane
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 2GJ
Telephone: 0370 000 2288
Email: info@education.gsi.gov.uk
Website: http://www.education.gov.uk/help/contactus
http://www.education.gov.uk/b0074482/the-process-of-intercountry-adoption/current

Intercountry Adoption Casework Team
Ground Floor Area D, Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington
Co. Durham
DL3 9BG
Telephone: 0370 000 2288
Fax: 01325 391396
Email: ica.darlington@education.gsi.gov.uk
Website: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/adoption/intercountryadoption/a005783/intercountry-adoption-contact-us

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
 
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (the Russian main authority responsible for adoptions in Russia is)
Tverskaya Street, 11
125993, Moscow GSP-3
tel. +7(495) 629 7062
fax. +7(495) 629 0891
website: www.mon.gov.ru
(You are recommended to find a Russian speaker to assist you with translation, since adoption staff of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science do not speak English).
Additional information regarding adoption in Russia can be found at www.usinovite.ru.