Overview

What’s Involved in Adopting a Child From Taiwan?

In 2001, Americans adopted 32 children from Taiwan. However, more and more people are discovering that adopting from Taiwan is a very simple and uncomplicated process. Thus, expect to see many more international adoptions from Taiwan in the future.

Here’s what you need to do after your homestudy and dossier are completed:

  • First, your adoption agency must submit your application for adoption to the Taiwan Supreme Court, which will designate an office of the Taiwan District Court to process the adoption. This step takes about four to eight weeks.
  • Next, a Taiwanese social worker will review your homestudy and the dossier. You will receive a child referral approximately four to six months after your dossier arrives in Taiwan. About two or three months after you accept a child referral, you will be asked to travel to Taiwan to appear before the District Court.
  • The third (and final) step is to register the adoption at the Taiwan Registrar's office. You must submit the original court ruling, the final ruling, and the power of attorney certified at the Taiwan Foreign Affairs Police Station at the Taiwan Registrar's office. This registration process usually takes only one hour.

All of the original documents from the United States must be notarized by a U.S. notary and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) and must be translated into Chinese.

According to the U.S. Department of State, “Persons wishing to adopt a child in Taiwan must obtain Taiwanese travel documents for the child.” In other words, your child will need a Taiwanese passport and the appropriate visa from the U.S. Embassy. Without the completed adoption and travel documents in order, it is illegal to take the child out of Taiwan.

In a Nut Shell

Children Available: Healthy children, from infants to school-age children, are available for adoption from Taiwan. More boys are available than girls. Special needs children and sibling groups are also available from Taiwan.


Parent Requirements: Married couples, single men, and single women may adopt from Taiwan. Parents must be at least 20 years older than the child to be adopted.

Travel Requirements: Both parents must travel to Taiwan to bring their child home. The average trip length is one week.

Time Frame: Child referral generally happens four to six months after your dossier arrives in Taiwan. You can expect to travel to bring your child home about six months after you accept a child referral.

Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2001: 32

Additional Information: The children available for adoption from Taiwan live in orphanages. Although the birthparents in Taiwan are given the option of choosing the adoptive parents for their child, not all will do this. Post placement reports and supervision are required for seven years following the adoption.

Credits: The International Adoption Guidebook, © Mary M. Strickert