About 2,000 foreign children are adopted by citizens or permanent residents of Canada every year. Citizenship and Immigration Canada works to deal with these adoptions as quickly as possible. However, international adoption can be a long process. In all international adoptions there are separate processes:

	the adoption process; and
	the immigration or citizenship process.

You and your adopted child must complete both processes before you can bring the child to live with you in Canada.

The adoption process

To be eligible for an international adoption, you must meet:

	the adoption requirements of the province or territory or the country where you live,
	the adoption requirements in the child’s home country.

Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for adoptions in Canada. If you live in Canada, your first step should be to contact your provincial or territorial government office to get information about adopting a child. Some provinces and territories use licensed agencies to handle most of the adoption process. If you want to adopt a child from a foreign country, you must obey the laws of that country about adoption. Make sure you understand the laws before beginning the adoption process. Your province or its licensed adoption agency can advise you on these requirements. The Hague Convention governs international adoptions in many countries, including Canada.

As of December 23, 2007, anyone adopted by a Canadian citizen after February 14, 1977 can apply for a grant of Canadian citizenship without first becoming a permanent resident. Some new adoptions will need to use the immigration process.

The Citizenship Process

You can apply for citizenship for an adopted person if:

	at least one adoptive parent is, or was, a Canadian citizen when the adoption took place
	the adoption severs (or severed) all ties with the adopted person’s legal parents
	the adoption was or will be completed outside Canada (except for Quebec).

The adopted person does not meet the requirements for the citizenship process if:

	neither parent was a Canadian citizen when the adoption took place
	the adoption took place before February 15, 1977
	the adoption did not fully sever all ties with the child’s legal parents
	the adoption will be completed in Canada, or

a probationary period is to be completed in Canada before a final adoption order is issued from the child’s birth country.