Permission administration for adoption applicants
Adoption permissions are granted by the Adoption Board on application by adoption applicants. Adoption permission matters are handled by the Section for Adoption Permission Matters of the Adoption Board.
As a rule, an adoption permission is always required in Finland for adoptions involving a child under the age of 18 (adoption of an unknown child). Where a prospective adopter or a child
under the age of 18 years is or both are habitually resident in Finland, the prospective adopter may not take in the child with a view to adoption, the provider of adoption counselling may not place the child with the prospective adopter with a view to adoption and the service provider may not provide the child with a prospective adopter unless the prospective adopter has been
granted permission for adoption.
To legally adopt a person who is an adult, a written application must be submitted to the relevant District Court. District Courts provide directions for the application. No adoption permission from the Adoption Board is needed for adopting a person who is an adult.
By contrast, an adoption permission is not needed for domestic adoptions in which a married spouse intends to adopt a child of their spouse for sole custody, whether during their marriage or after the marriage has ended due to the death of the spouse. An adoption permission is also not needed if the child has come to live with the applicant for purposes other than adoption and if the child has been established as being provided care and upbringing by the applicant.