I. Department for Acceptance

Shanghai Marriage (Adoption) Registration Center

II. Responsibilities of the Department

The Department is in charge of the adoption registration work concerning foreigners in Shanghai according to law, of promoting the adoption law and the legal adoption process.

III. Regulations and Laws

The “Adoption Law of the People's Republic of China” and the “Measures for registration of adoption of children by foreigners in the People's Republic of China”

IV. Registration Requirements

1. The adopting couple should have reached the age of 30 (not required if the step parents adopt the step child);

2. The adopter(s) should be childless (not required if the adoptee is an abandoned infant or child whose parents cannot be ascertained or found and who is under the care of a social welfare institution; or if the adopter(s) adopt the step child);

3. The adopting couple should be capable of supporting and educating the adoptee (not required if the step parents adopt the step child);

4. The adopting couple should suffer no such disease as is medically regarded as unfit for adopting a child (not required if the step parents adopt the step child);

5. The adopting couple should have an agreement on the adoption; and

6. The age gap between a single male adopter and an abandoned girl should be more than 40 (not required if the adopter(s) and adoptee are collateral relatives by blood of the same generation and up to the third degree of kinship)

V. Documents and Certificates by the Parties Involved

(If the materials provided are in foreign languages, a Chinese version of these materials provided by the adopter’s employer is needed.)

(I). Documents and Certificates by the Adopter(s)

A foreigner who is to adopt a child in China shall, through the government of the country where he or she resides or an adoption organization entrusted by the government of the said country, convey to the China Center of Adoption Affairs the following documents, issued by the competent agencies of the country where the adopter resides and, authenticated by a diplomatic department of the country where the adopter resides or by an agency authorized by the said diplomatic department, and authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the People's Republic of China stationed in that country:

1. An application for transnational adoption;

2. A birth certificate;

3. A certificate of marital status;

4. A certificate of profession, income and of property condition;

5. A certificate of health examination;

6. A certificate indicating whether the adopter has ever been subjected to criminal punishment;

7. A certificate certifying the approval of the transnational adoption by the competent authority of the country where the adopter resides;

8. A family situation report;

9. An Adoption Agreement; and

10. Photos: three 2-inch group photos of the adopter(s) and adoptee.

(II). Documents and Certificates by citizens or institutions who give away the adoptee

1. Registered household booklet and Identity Cards of those who give away children for adoption (the copy of Identity Card of the person-in-charge of such an institution in case a social welfare institution gives away a child for adoption);

2. Certificates certifying that the adoptees are abandoned infants or children issued by the public security organ, and a court certificate certifying the death or the declaration of death of the orphan's parents

VI. Registration Procedures

The adopter applies to an adoption organization of the country where he or she resides and offers the certificates and documents requiredà This said adoption organization shall convey these application materials to the China Center of Adoption Affairs à all the documents and certificates shall be checked and verified by the Centerà The “Notice of Foreign-related Adoption” shall be sent to Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureauà The “Adoption Agreement” shall be submitted by both parties of the adoptionà The adopter(s) and adoptee shall meet and live together for a period of timeà the adoption registration certificate shall be issued by Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau

VII. The Duration and Results

The adoption registration organ shall conduct examination within 7 days from the next day of the receipt of the registration application for adoption of children by foreigners or the Chinese with foreign nationality and the relevant documents related to the adopter, the adoptee and the person placing the child for adoption. Where the requirements above are met, the adoption shall be registered for the parties, and an adoption registration certificate be issued

VIII. The Fee Standard and Relevant Provisions

The “Notice of Adoption Registration Fee of State Price Control Bureau and Ministry of Finance P.R.C.”, [1992] Jia Fei Zi No.349

(1) Application                         RMB20

(2) Cost of Adoption Certificate           RMB10

(3) Registration and Investigation    RMB220

VIIII. Address and Working Hours

Address: 3/F, Wing E, Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center, 82 Caobao Road, Shanghai

Tel: 086-021-64325087

Working hours: 9:00am-11:30am, Monday to Friday

X. Administrative Reconsideration and Administrative Proceeding

If the adopter(s) or adoptee disagrees with the administration, they can apply for the administrative reconsideration or according to the “Administrative Reconsideration Law of the People's Republic of China” and the “Administrative Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China”.

XI. Complaints and Supervision

If the adopter(s) or adoptee finds any misconduct or illegal activity by registration organ or its officers, they can complain or report to the Supervision Office of Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

Complaint hotline: 086-021-63214261

Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau 

August 2005