Adopting a PRC child in Singapore

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This is an entry about adopting a non-Singaporean child in Singapore.

  • For an entry on adopting a Singaporean/ PR child in Singapore, refer here.
  • For an entry on adopting a foreign (non-PRC) child, refer here.


The adoption process for PRC (People's Republic of China) children is more stringent as there are requirements from both Singapore and China. This arrangement prevent's people from selling their babies under the pretense of adoption. As of 2019, only TOUCH Family Services Ltd (official website) and Fei Yue Community Services (official website) are registered with MSF to provide adoption for PRC children.

Prerequisites

Adoptive parents

To be eligible for child adoption, potential adopters have to fulfil the following requirements set by the China Centre for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA).[1]

Age Citizenship Marital status Finances Education level Others
  • > 29 years old
  • < 50 years old*
  • > 21 years older than the adopted child


*When adopting a special needs child, the age limit is 55 years old

At least one person in the couple should be the following:
  • Singapore Citizen
  • Singapore Permanent Resident
  • Married couples (male-female)
  • No more than 2 past marriages*
  • Max. 5 children in current household


  • *The couple must be in the current marriage for >5 years
  • >US$10,000 (annual household income)
  • >US$80,000 (net assets)
  • A-level certificate OR
  • ITE certificate
  • Good mental and physical health
  • No criminal records involving child abuse, sexual offences, and substance abuse

Reference letters

Potential adoptive parents must also obtain 3 reference letters from their children (only if they are above 18 years old) or teachers of their children.

The agency will determine the adopters' eligibility and contact CCCWA. The agency will then submit the application to CCCWA. A fee will be incurred for additional translation and administrative works.

Pre-adoption

Training

Potential adoptive parents must undergo a minimum of 12 hours of training from a registered adoption centre.

Pre-Adoption Briefing (PAB)[2]

The pre-adoption briefing is the compulsory first-step for potential adoptive parents. Both spouses are encouraged to attend the briefing together.

Location Duration Fee (SGD) Register Notes
TOUCH Family Services Ltd

Fei Yue Community Services

2.5 hours $50 / person Online registration Available in English, Mandarin and Malay. This is a compulsory pre-adoption workshop.

Documents required

The following are the documents needed for adopting a non-Singaporean child (in chronological order).

Letter of Support

For non-Singapore Citizens who want to adopt a foreign child, they must get approval from their home country. The Letter of Support is needed before the Home Study can commence.

Location Registration Notes
Respective embassies or High Commissions Application form This is compulsory for foreigners who want to adopt a foreign child in Singapore.

Home Study Report (HSR)

Potential adoptive parents must pass their HSR before applying for the Dependant's Pass.

Fee (SGD) Register Notes
Home Study Report $1,500 TOUCH Family Services Ltd

Fei Yue Community Services

Lutheran Community Care Services

Apkim Centre For Social Services

The HSR is valid for 2 years and can only be used for 1 adopted child.

Dependant's pass

If the child is not a Singapore citizen in any form, the adoptive parents will have to apply for a Dependant's Pass. This should be done after the Home Study Report (HSR).

Fee(s) (SGD) Register Duration Notes
Dependant's pass $360 Online registration 3 weeks (online registration) The HSR is valid for 2 years and can only be used for 1 adopted child.

Successful applicants need to put down a S$1,000 - S$2,000 security deposit on the collection day. This will be refunded 2 months after the child is adopted.

Applying to the Family Courts

Filing documents

Potential adopters can submit an application to the Family Courts personally or through a lawyer. A lawyer can help with the filing of necessary documents. The adoption forms can be assessed on the website (Family Justice Courts website).

GIA (Guardian In Adoption) Report

Potential adopters will then need to apply for the Director of Social Welfare to be their GIA. The GIA will decide if potential adopters are ready to adopt a child. The potential adopter or their lawyer will need to request for the Director of Social Welfare to be the GIA.

These are the documents required to receive a GIA:

Documents Fee(s) Deliver & deposit Notes
  • Date of Pre-Adoption Briefing (PAB)
  • Originating summons of adoption (Form)
  • Adoption statement (Form)
  • Affidavit in support (Form)
  • Consent for adoption by the relevant parties
  • NRIC of the potential adopters
  • Marriage certificate of potential adopters
  • Birth certificate of the child that they want to adopt
 $250 per application Child Welfare, Child Protective Service (10th floor)


MSF Drop Box, MSF Building Level 1

The cheque should be made payable to ‘AG/MSF’.

The documents have to be sealed in an envelope.

Potential adopters will then be interviewed by a Child Welfare Officer (CWO) from MSF. There will also be a home visit. The responses collected will be used to prepare an affidavit. The adopters have to submit the affidavit to the Family Courts no later than 2 weeks after receiving it. The Family Courts will assess the adoption application based on these findings.

Adoption Order

It is compulsory for the adopter and/or their lawyer to attend the hearings. If the Family Courts grants the Adoption Order, they will inform the Registry of Births & Deaths and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to issue a new birth certificate for the child, which the adopters will be informed to collect.


If the Court dismisses the application, the child will have to be returned to the original family.

Post-adoption

Disclosure workshop

Adoptive parents can attend a Disclosure Workshop which will guide them in breaking the news to their adopted children. This workshop is available at TOUCH Family Services Ltd and Fei Yue Community Services.

Location Duration Fee (SGD) Register Notes
TOUCH Family Services Ltd

Fei Yue Community Services

2.5 hours $50 / person Online registration This is an optional post-adoption workshop.

Post-placement reports

Adoptive parents must submit post-placement reports through the adoption agency. They need to complete 6 post-placement reports throughout 5 years. The reports should be submitted at the following intervals - the 6th month, the 1st year, and the 5th year - upon successful adoption registration in China.

References / Citations

  1. ↑ ‘Adoption: Criteria for adoption of a PRC child’. Ministry of Social and Family Development. Updated February 7, 2018. Accessed on 26 February 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.msf.gov.sg/Adoption/Pages/Criteria-for-adoption-of-a-PRC-child.aspx
  2. ↑ ‘Adoption: How to adopt a child from the People’s Republic of China’. Ministry of Social and Family Development. Updated February 7, 2018. Accessed on 26 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.msf.gov.sg/Adoption/Pages/How-to-adopt-a-child-from-the-Peoples-Republic-of-China.aspx
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