Adopting from Argentina: Factsheet, Page 3



ADOPTION PROCEDURES: Prospective adoptive parents must file an application with the court having jurisdiction over the adoptive parents' domicile. Their names will be placed on a single nationwide list by filing date and be made public. The Consejo de la Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia will inform them when their turn is reached. Adoptive parents may check his/her status by contacting the Consejo at the address above.

The court will then release a child in guardianship to the prospective adoptive parents. The child will remain under the jurisdiction of the court for the full period of guardianship for his/her own protection and for the prevention of child trafficking. In no case will the child be permitted to depart Argentina. Application for adoption can only be filed after the guardianship period of not less than six months and not more than twelve months has elapsed. Natural parents will lose all rights and obligations. These rights will be transferred to the adoptive parents. The application for adoption must be filed with the court having jurisdiction over the parents' domicile or at the court, which granted the guardianship.

An adopted child can be informed of his/her adoption at a time considered to be convenient by the adopting parents. This is a requirement to be signed at the court at the time of granting adoption. By law, the adoptive parents must inform the child of his adoption before the age of 18. (Adopted children have the right to know their true biological identity and will have access to their adoption file once they have reached the age of 18.)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN ARGENTINA: Proof of Argentine citizenship or legal permanent residence. Argentine citizens and legal permanent residents must also show proof of residence in Argentina for the last five years. Prospective adoptive parents must provide a copy of marriage certificate (if applicable), evidence of good conduct, evidence of financial ability and other such documents required for adoptions.

AUTHENTICATING U.S. DOCUMENTS TO BE USED ABROAD: All U.S. documents submitted to the Argentine government/court must be authenticated. Argentina is a party to the Hague Legalization Convention. Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, must bear the seal of the issuing office and an apostille affixed by the state's Secretary of State (an apostille is a special seal applied to a document to certify that a document is a true copy of an original). Documents must be apostilled in the state where they are issued. Tax returns, medical reports and police clearances should likewise be authenticated. Prospective adopting parents should contact the Secretary of State of the state where documents originated from for instructions and fees for authenticating documents.

Documents issued by a federal agency must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office, 518 23rd St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, (202) 647-5002 Fee: $6.00. For additional information, call the Federal Information Center: 1-800-688-9889, and choose option 6 after you press 1 for touch tone phones. Walk-in service is available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 am Monday-Friday, except holidays and is limited to 15 documents per person per day (documents can be multiple pages). Processing time for authentication requests sent by mail is 5 working days or less.

Please visit our Web site at travel.state.gov for additional information about authentication procedures.

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Credits: U.S. Department of State