Adopting a child

Adoption is a child welfare measure that seeks to find the best possible home for a child without a family. For this reason, prospective adoptive parents must go through an evaluation process called adoption counselling before they can adopt a child. If you are considering adoption, you must apply for it through your wellbeing services county’s social counselling. Adoption counselling is the first phase of the adoption process.

You can also seek support and counselling through peer support networks. Meeting with other families who have chosen to adopt can help you understand what everyday life is like in an adoptive family and whether adoption could be an option for you. Peer support activities for those interested in adoption are available through various organisations, such as Adoptioperheet ry (in Finnish)Opens in a new window..

All Our Children organises preparatory courses (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. for those considering adoption or for applicants at different stages of the adoption process.

The adoption process can also be stressful for a relationship. Low-threshold assistance is available from various organisations, such as the Family Federation of Finland's Parisuhdekeskus Kataja ry (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. and the Family Federation of FinlandOpens in a new window..

Adoption is available to married couples and those living alone who are over the age of 25.

• The age difference between a child aged under 18 to be adopted and the parent may not exceed 45 years, and the applicant may not be aged over 50 years.
• Married couples may only adopt together.
• Married same-sex couples can adopt in Finland and from countries that also allow same-sex parents for adopted children.
• Those who apply for adoption as a single parent must demonstrate that they have strong networks and other forms of support that will aid them in their duties as a would-be parent.

In intercountry adoption, the country from which the child is adopted may also set other criteria for adoptive parents, such as their age, marriage status, health and financial situation.

The social welfare office of your wellbeing services county organises the assessment of adoption applicants, i.e. adoption counselling, either by itself or as an outsourced service. Adoption counselling is a free service, but it may not always be available in the prospective applicant’s own municipality.

Domestic adoptions are the responsibility of the wellbeing services counties and Save the Children Finland.Opens in a new window.

Intercountry adoption services are provided by Interpedia ryOpens in a new window..

The adoption counselling process can focus on either domestic or intercountry adoption. Your adoption counsellor will help you determine which adoption service provider is the right one for you.

The costs of domestic adoption are fairly minimal. Adoption clients must pay the usual social welfare and health care client fees as well as the documentation fees related to the adoption process.

The costs of intercountry adoption vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands of euros, depending on the adoption provider and the country from which the child will be adopted. These costs include various service and adoption fees, such as documentation, travel, translation and interpreter service fees, as well as the costs incurred by the official services provided in the target country.

Read more about Interpedia ry’s adoption fees.Opens in a new window.

The duration of the adoption process varies from case to case, but it can usually take several years. The first phase of the process – adoption counselling – usually takes at least one year to complete.

The duration of the adoption process cannot be determined in advance, as it is influenced by various factors. Its purpose is to find the best possible home for each child, meaning that adoptees are not assigned to prospective applicants on a first come, first serve basis.

As the duration of the adoption process can vary greatly, it can naturally test your resolve and mental well-being. This is why it is vital that you have someone to turn to, such as a family member, as well as peer support from other adoptive parents in waiting from the very start of the adoption process.

Read more about the stages of the adoption process:

• The adoption path - Adoptioperheet ry (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• The adoption process - InterpediaOpens in a new window.

The age range of intercountry adoptees varies from toddlers to school-age children. Domestic adoptees involves placing babies a few months old, but also children of other ages.

Adoptive parents should prepare for the eventuality that their adopted children will require special support. These may be related to specific physical or mental needs.

If you wish to apply for adoption, you must first register for adoption counselling through your wellbeing services county. The adoption process always begins with statutory adoption counselling, regardless of whether you intend to adopt domestically or from abroad.

Registering for adoption counselling will not bind you to anything, and it is not an adoption decision. During the counselling, you will be informed of the special features of being an adoptive parent, and you will receive general information about the adoption process.

The purpose of adoption counselling is also to safeguard the child’s best interests and safety by assessing the applicant’s readiness for becoming an adoptive parent. If you or your partner still have doubts about whether adoption is suitable for you, this may be reflected in the final assessment made by the social worker providing the counselling.

Since the adoption process takes a great deal of time, you should apply for it well in advance. The applicant’s circumstances, such as being near the maximum age limit, will not entitle them to an expedited counselling or permit process.

To apply for domestic, intercountry or intrafamily adoption, you will need an adoption permit. You must submit your adoption permit application to the Adoption Board. Read more about the adoption permit and how to apply for it on Adoption Board's website (in Finnish).Opens in a new window. Adoption applicants are asked to attach various documents to their permit application, such as an extensive medical certificate, a criminal record extract and various documents related to employment and finances.

In international adoption, the adoption service provider instructs applicants on all the documents required by the target country and sends the adoption application to the target country. The service provider also offers support with practices concerning the confirmation of the adoption.

In domestic adoption, an adoption advisor provides advice on what kind of written application to submit to the district court of your municipality of residence for the confirmation of the adoption. Apply for the confirmation of the adoption of a Finnish child by submitting a written application to the District Court of your municipality of residence.

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