Applying to the Adoption Board for an adoption permission
The Adoption Board grants the following adoption permissions:
- permission for domestic adoption
- permission for intercountry adoption through a service provider
- permission for international adoption without a service provider
- permission for a child in Finland being adopted to another country.
Adoption applicants must file their application by submitting it to the Adoption Board through our secure form service. You can find the secure forms on the page ‘Adoption application forms’. The Section for Adoption Permission Matters deals with adoption permission applications.
The adoption counsellor will prepare a statement on the provission of adoption counselling for the adoption permission application. If you are receiving intercountry adoption services, the adoption counsellor will send the statement on the providing of adoption counselling directly to that service provider, who will forward it to the Adoption Board with appendices. If you are not receiving intercountry adoption services, the adoption counsellor will send the statement directly to the Adoption Board once they are informed that the adoption permission application has been filed with the Board.
The Adoption Board processes applications for adoption permission and for extensions to permissions already granted. The Adoption Board also considers applications for amending the terms and conditions of an adoption permission, notifications about material changes to an adoption applicant’s circumstances and the revoking of previously granted adoption permissions. The decisions of the Adoption Board may be appealed to the relevant Administrative Court.
The permission for adoption remains valid for a maximum of two years. If necessary, an extension to the validity of the permission must be applied for before the permission expires.
In the event of a material change in the prospective adopter’s circumstances during the validity period, the Adoption Board must be notified immediately. For further information on the notification obligation, see the page ‘Notification obligation in case of a change in circumstances of an adoption applicant’.
In order to be granted an adoption permission, the applicant must satisfy the criteria for granting permission that are specified in the Adoption Act:
- The applicant must have received adoption counselling.
- In intercountry adoptions, it is principally required that the applicant must have been provided intercountry adoption services.
- An adoption of an underage child may be allowed if it is considered to be in the best interests of the child and if it has been established that the child will receive good care and upbringing. The matter must be resolved with a view to the child’s wishes and opinions, in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate manner.
- The age difference between the applicant and the child shall be no less than 18 years and no more than 45 years.
- Also, the applicant must not be older than 50 years of age or younger than 25 years of age.
- These age limits may only be derogated from in special cases specifically provided for in the Adoption Act.
- Married spouses may only adopt a child jointly, not singly. However, either spouse alone may adopt a child of his/her spouse or his/her own child who was previously adopted by someone else. Persons other than married couples may not adopt a child jointly. However, individual persons may apply for adoption as a single parent.
The processing time for adoption permission applications is 1 to 4 months, depending on whether further clarifications are required.
Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Applications for extensions are processed before the permission in question expires, as far as possible. If the Board requests any further clarifications in connection with a particular application, that application shall be processed at the next meeting after such further clarifications are received. Any matters involving a material change in the circumstances of an adoption applicant are dealt with by the Adoption Board as a matter of urgency.
If you are concerned about the processing time of your application, please contact the secretary of the Board. Principally, it is known about one week before each meeting which applications will be discussed at that meeting. You can find the meeting dates of the adoption permission section of the Adoption Board on the page ‘Adoption Board meeting dates’.