The documents to be submitted by the applicant from his/her permanent domicile should include:

1. Proof of economic status from a recognized source

2. Police clearance of applicant/s

3. Medical certificate from recognized hospitals, clinics etc.

4. Birth and marriage certificates

5. Two passport-size photographs of the prospective adoption parent/s

6. All the aforementioned documents should be authenticated by the Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate and submitted or forwarded directly by the concerned person/s or agency to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA)

Requirements to be Fulfilled by Foreign Adoptive Parents

The documents to be submitted by the applicant from his permanent domicile should include:

1. Proof of economic status from a recognized source

2. Police clearance of applicant/s

1. Medical certificate from recognized hospitals, clinics etc.

2. Home study report prepared by an authorized institution

3. Birth and marriage certificates

4. The Agency which does the psycho-social study and recommendation on applicants must be accepted by the concerned government body of the respected countries

5. A short statement as to why an Ethiopian child is preferred

6. Two passport-size photographs of the prospective adoptive parent/s

7. "Obligation of Adoption or Social Welfare Agency" form must be forwarded together with the psychosocial study

8. Verification by the adoption agency on qualification for naturalization under the national law of the applicant

9. All the above-mentioned documents should be authenticated by the Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate

10. All the above-mentioned documents should be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ethiopia

11. After being authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ethiopia, the documents should be submitted or forwarded by the

concerned person/s or agency to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA)

Prospective parents can also utilize the following resources:

List of Adoption Agencies Registered in Ethiopia

Adoption information resources provided by the U.S. State Department.

For more information on adoption cotact:
Ministry of Women's Affairs
Bureau of Children living in Difficult Circumstances
Telephone: 251 114 16 63 54