Please see our section on Adoptions from the United States for more information on the process for adopting a child from the United States. We urge prospective adoptive parents residing abroad who are considering adoption of a child from the United States to consult with the Ghanaian Central Authority for its determination as to whether it considers your adoption to be subject to the Convention.

Ghana is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Ghana.

Note:  If any of the following occurred prior to January 1, 2017 (the date on which the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for Ghana, the Hague Adoption Convention may not apply to your case:  1) you filed a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, identifying Ghana as the country where you intended to adopt and the approval is still valid; 2) you filed a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, on behalf of a child from Ghana, or 3)  the adoption was completed. Under these circumstances, your adopted child’s adoption could continue to be processed as a non-Convention intercountry adoption, provided the child’s country of origin agrees.  For more information, read about Hague Transition Cases. Please contact adoption@state.gov with the details of the case if this situation applies to you.

More information on the definition of transition cases as applied to adoptions from Ghana is available on the USCIS website.

In addition to being found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS, prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt from Ghana must meet the following requirements imposed by Ghana:

• Minimum Residency:  There is no residency requirement to adopt a child from Ghana.
• Age of Adopting Parents:  Adopting parents must be at least 25 years of age and at least 21 years older than the child.  If one of the adopting parents is a relative of the child, they must be at least 21 years of age. 
• Marriage:  Generally, only married couples may adopt in Ghana.  A single person may adopt only if that person is a citizen of Ghana.  Single males may not adopt unless the child to be adopted is his birth child or the courts determine that special circumstances apply.  Same-sex couples may not adopt from Ghana. 
• Income:  Applicants must be gainfully employed.
• Other:  The Department of Social Development in Ghana requires that applicants must be of sound mind and must undergo a medical exam as part of the pre-approval process.  Applicants must also prove their ability to care for a child that may be socially and culturally different from themselves and who may have experienced trauma due to family deaths, institutionalization, neglect, etc.

Because Ghana is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Ghana must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for intercountry adoption.  For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of Ghana have determined that placement of the child within Ghana has been given due consideration and that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests.

In addition to qualifying as a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law, the child must also meet the following requirements imposed by Ghana:

For a child to be eligible for adoption, he or she must meet at least one of the below criteria:

• There is no known family for the child,
• No family is available or capable of taking care of the child,
• The child’s family is unwilling to take care of the child, or
• The courts have terminated parental rights for reasons of abuse or neglect.

In cases where the family of the child is unknown, reasonable efforts must be made to locate the family for a period of at least three months.  If the family remains unknown after three months, the Department of Social Development may determine that the child is eligible for adoption.

In cases where the family is unwilling or incapable of caring for the child, birth parents must relinquish their parental rights under the Ghanaian legal system (see below).

• Relinquishment:  The Department of Social Development determines the validity of a relinquishment.  The relinquishment of parental rights means the birth parent(s) decide they do not want to or cannot take care of the child and have decided to let the Department of Social Development find other parent(s).  Whatever the reason, they are taken through a series of counseling sessions to ensure they understand the implications of the decision.  If the birth parents decide to continue with the relinquishment, they must execute an affidavit providing consent for their decision to have the child adopted.  In some cases a pregnant mother will notify the Department of Social Development of an unwanted pregnancy and ask to give the child up for adoption after delivery.  The birth mother has the right to change her mind after she gives birth, but if she decides to relinquish the child, she is also required to give formal consent before a notary public. 

Note:  In Ghana, birth parents who relinquish or abandon their child(ren) may change their mind at any point in the adoption process prior to the final adoption order, and in such cases it is possible that the Department of Social Development and the Ghanaian court will reverse their adoptability finding and/or adoptive placement decisions.

• Abandonment:  In the Ghana, legal abandonment means the parent(s) voluntarily leaves the child and does not return.
• Age of Adoptive Child:  In Ghana, a child is adoptable until he or she becomes an adult at 18 years of age.  Please note that for a child to meet the definition of Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law, a Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, must be filed on the child’s behalf while the child is under the age of 16 (or under the age of 18 if the child is the birth sibling of another adopted child who meets the age and other requirements to immigrate based on adoption by the same adoptive parent(s)).  Please see the USCIS website for special rules on filing dates for children aged 15-16 or siblings aged 17-18.
• Sibling Adoptions:  The Department of Social Development makes every effort to ensure siblings are adopted together.  It discourages splitting siblings for adoption, except under special circumstances.
• Waiting Period or Foster Care:  Under Ghanian law, there is a three month bonding or fostering period.  The courts may waive this requirement if it is in the best interests of the child.
• Special Needs or Medical Conditions:  The Department of Social Development determines whether children with special needs or medical issues are available for adoption.  In these cases, the three-month bonding period may be waived, particularly if there is a need for immediate medical attention.

Caution:  Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are available for adoption.  In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardship, intending that the child return home when possible.  In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

Warning: Do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Ghana before:  1) USCIS has approved your Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, 2) the Central Authority of Ghana has determined the child is available for intercountry adoption, 3) USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, and 4) a U.S. consular officer has issued an “Article 5/17 Letter” in the case.  Read on for more information.

Ghana’s Adoption Authority

Department of Social Development of the

Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection

The Process

Because Ghana is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adoptions from Ghana must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention’s requirements.  A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is provided below.  You must complete these steps in the following order to meet all necessary legal requirements.  Adoptions completed out of order may cause significant delays or result in the child not being eligible for an immigrant visa to the United States.

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider To Act as Your Primary Provider
2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-800A)
3. Apply to Ghana’s Authorities to Adopt and be Matched with a Child
4. Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee (Form I-800) and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Art. 5/17 letter)
5. Adopt the Child in Ghana
6. Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider to Act as Your Primary Provider That Has Been Authorized by Ghana’s Central Authority to Operate in Ghana.

The first step in adopting a child from Ghana is to select an adoption service provider in the United States that has been accredited or approved to provide intercountry adoption services to U.S. citizens and that has been authorized by the Government of Ghana.  A primary provider must be identified in each Convention case and only accredited or approved adoption service providers may act as the primary provider in your case.  Unless a public domestic authority is providing all adoption services in your case, a primary provider is required in every intercountry adoption case. Your primary provider is responsible for:

• Ensuring that all six adoption services defined at 22 CFR 96.2 are provided consistent with applicable laws and regulations;
• Supervising and being responsible for any supervised providers, and otherwise complying with the requirements regarding the provision of adoption services using other providers (see 22 CFR 96.14); and
• Developing and implementing a service plan in accordance with 22 CFR 96.44.

For more information on primary providers and the UAA, please see Universal Accreditation Act of 2012.  Learn more about Agency Accreditation.

2.  Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt

In order to adopt a child from Ghana, you will need to meet the requirements of the Government of Ghana and U.S. immigration law. 

After you choose an accredited or approved adoption service provider, you must be found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS by submitting Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country.  You will need to submit a home study, provide biometrics, and cooperate in a background check as part of this application.  Read more about Suitability and Eligibility Requirements. Unless an exception applies, the home study must be prepared by a person who is authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare home studies and must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311.

3.  Apply to Ghana’s Authorities to Adopt and be Matched with a Child

Submit Your Dossier to the Central Authority 

After USCIS determines that you are suitable and eligible to adopt and approves the Form I-800A application, your adoption service provider will provide your approval notice, home study, and any other required information to the adoption authority in Ghana as part of your adoption application.  Ghana’s adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also suitable and eligible to adopt under Ghana’s law.

Receive a Referral for a Child from the Central Authority 

If both the United States and Ghana determine that you are suitable and eligible to adopt, and Ghana’s Central Authority for Convention adoptions has determined that a child is eligible for adoption and that intercountry adoption is in that child’s best interests, the Central Authority for Convention adoptions in Ghana may provide you with a referral.  The referral is a proposed match between you and a specific child based on a review of your dossier and the needs of the child.  The adoption authority in Ghana will provide a background study and other information, if available, about the child to help you decide whether to accept the referral.  We encourage families to consider consulting with a medical professional and their adoption service provider to understand the needs of the specific child but you must decide for yourself whether you will be able to meet the needs of, and provide a permanent home for a specific child.  You must also adhere to the recommendations in the home study submitted to USCIS with respect to the number of children and capacity to deal with any special needs of an adoptive child.  Learn more about Health Considerations. If you accept the referral, the adoption service provider communicates that to the Central Authority in Ghana. 

4. Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption

Submit a Petition for a Determination on the Child’s Immigration Eligibility 

After you accept being matched with a particular child, you will apply to USCIS for provisional approval for the child to immigrate to the United States by filing the Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative.  USCIS will make a provisional determination as to whether the child appears to meet the definition of a Convention adoptee and will likely be eligible to be admitted to the United States.

Submit an Immigrant Visa Application 

After provisional approval of Form I-800 petition, you or your adoption service provider will submit a visa application to the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Accra responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from Ghana. 

You should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assigning a case number and an invoice ID number.  Use this information to log into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) to file the Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) for your child.  An adoptive parent should fill out these forms in your child's name.  Answer every item on the form.  If information is not applicable, please write “N/A” in the block.  Please review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact the NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov or +1-603-334-0700 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.  A consular officer will review the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and the visa application and, if applicable, advises you of options for the waiver of any ineligibilities related to the visa application.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Ghana’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Ghana if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States.  This letter will inform Ghana’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.

Warning:  Do not attempt to adopt a child in Ghana before you receive provisional approval of your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case.

Remember:  The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.

5.  Adopt the Child in Ghana

Remember:  Before you adopt a child in Ghana, you must have completed the above four steps.  Only after completing these steps can you proceed to finalize the adoption.

The process for finalizing the adoption in Ghana generally includes the following:

• Role of Adoption Authority: The Department of Social Development determines whether or not a child is eligible for adoption under Ghanaian law.  In addition, the Regional Department of Social Welfare is responsible for preparing a social inquiry report for the court hearing. 
• Role of the Court:  An application for an adoption may be made to the High Court, within the jurisdiction where the applicant or the child resides at the date of the application.
• Role of Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Providers: Unless a public domestic authority is providing all adoption services in your case, there must be a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service provider acting as the primary provider in every case.  Also, any agency or person providing an adoption service on behalf of prospective adoptive parents in any Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case must be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider.  Adoption service means any one of the following six services:
  • Identifying a child for adoption and arranging an adoption;
  • Securing the necessary consent to termination of parental rights and to adoption;
  • Performing a background study on a child or a home study on a prospective adoptive parent(s), and reporting on such a study;
  • Making non-judicial determinations of the best interests of a child and the appropriateness of an adoptive placement for the child; 
  • Monitoring a case after a child has been placed with prospective adoptive parent(s) until final adoption; or
  • When necessary because of a disruption before final adoption, assuming custody and providing (including facilitating the provision of) child care or any other social service pending an alternative placement. 22 CFR 96.2 Definitions.

• Time Frame:  Intercountry adoptions in Ghana may take approximately one year or more. It is still uncertain how long the new Hague process will take to complete.
  
  
• Adoption Fees: Fees for adoption in Ghana vary depending on the circumstances. Attorney fees usually range from GHC 2,000 to GHC 3,000 and they generally include court costs. Passport fees range from GHC 50 to GHC 200, depending on the age and background of the applicant. Re-issued birth certificates cost approximately GHC 50.

Prospective adoptive parents are advised to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either directly or through your U.S. adoption service provider, and to raise any concerns regarding any payment that you believe may be contrary to the Convention, U.S. law, or the law of Ghana with your adoption service provider, or, when appropriate, the Hague Complaint Registry. For more information in this regard, please refer to information concerning the Hague Complaint Registry. Improper payments may violate applicable law or create the appearance of child buying, and could put all future adoptions in Ghana at risk. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, for instance, makes it unlawful to bribe foreign government officials to obtain or retain business. Further, the IAA makes certain actions relating to intercountry adoptions unlawful, and subject to civil and criminal penalties. These include offering, giving, soliciting, or accepting inducement intended to influence or affect the relinquishment of parental rights, parental consent relating to adoption of a child, or a decision by an entity performing a central authority function, or to engage another person as an agent to take any such action.

In the adoption services contract that you sign at the beginning of the adoption process, your agency will itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process.

Some of the intercountry non-relative fees designated by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection specifically associated with adopting from Ghana include, but are not limited to, the following (USD):

• Application Form:  $100.00
• Administrative Fees:  $70.00
• Processing Fees:  $210.00
• Child Background Investigation and Report:  $210.00
• Child Study Report:  $210.00
• Update of Child Study:  $140.00
• Review of Home Study Report:  $140.00
• Certificate Declaring Child Adoptable:  $21.00
• Pre-Adoption Care and Protection of Child:  $70.00
• Preparation of Child for Pre-Adoption Placement:  $140.00
• Supervision of Pre-Adoption Placement:  $280.00
• Preparation of Post Placement Report:  $56.00
• Preparation of Post Placement Report Outside the Regional Capital:  $105.00
• Preparation of Social Enquiry Report for the Court:  $70.00
• Post-Adoption Monitoring and Reporting Fee for Intercountry Adoption:  $140.00
• Preparation and Issuance of Certificate of Conformity:  $35.00
• Certificate to Travel with a Child Outside Ghana:  $35.00
• Request for Any Other Document:  $70.00

6.  Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

Once your adoption is complete there are a few more steps to take before your child can head home.  Specifically, you need to apply for three documents before your child can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate

You will need to obtain a birth certificate for your child.

If you have finalized the adoption in Ghana, you will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child.  Your name will be added to the new birth certificate. The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection will issue a letter authorizing the Registry of Births and Deaths to issue your child a new birth certificate. Birth certificates cost approximately GHC 50.

Ghana Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Ghana.  Passports are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. In order to apply for a passport, adoptive parent(s) will need to submit an updated birth certificate with their names on it, as well as identification. Passport applications cost GHS 50, or GHS 100 for an expedited application. More information about the passport application process can be found at the MFA’s website.

U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child you need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from the U.S. Embassy in Accra.  After the adoption is granted, visit the U.S Embassy in Accra for a final review of the case, and if applicable, the issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate, the final approval of the Form I-800 petition, and to obtain your child’s immigrant visa.  This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you and be admitted to the United States as your child.  Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Accra by email at AdoptionAccra@state.gov to schedule your child’s immigrant visa appointment.  As part of this process, you must provide the consular officer with the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child if you did not provide it during the Form I-800 provisional approval stage.  Read more about the Medical Examination.

Before coming for your child’s immigrant visa interview, please complete an Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) online at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).  You should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assignment of a case number and an invoice ID number.  You will need this information to log into CEAC to file the DS-260 for your child. You should fill out these forms in your child's name.  Answer every item on the form.  If information is not applicable, please write “N/A” in the block.  Print and bring the DS-260 confirmation page to the visa interview.  Review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov or +1-603-334-0700 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.

Upon receipt of the case at post, the Consular Section generally notifies the petitioner. It is not usually possible to provide the visa to adoptive parents on the same day as the immigrant visa interview.  You should verify current processing times with the U.S. Embassy in Accra before making final travel arrangements.  Additional information on immigrant visa processing can be found on our website.

Child Citizenship Act

For adoptions finalized abroad prior to the child’s admission into the United States:  An adopted child residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence generally will acquire U.S. citizenship automatically if the child otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, including that the child is under the age of eighteen.

For adoptions finalized after the child’s admission into the United States: You will need to complete an adoption following your child’s admission into the United States and before the child turns eighteen for the child (if he or she otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000) to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship.

Read more about the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

U.S. citizens are required to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport.  Once your child acquires U.S. citizenship s/he will need a U.S. passport for international travel.  Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.

Getting or renewing a passport is easy.  The Department of State’s Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.

Obtaining a Visa to Travel to Ghana

In addition to a U.S. passport, you may also need to obtain a visa.  Where required, visas are affixed to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation.  To find information about obtaining a visa for Ghana, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.

Staying Safe on Your Trip

Before you travel, it is always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country.  The Department of State provides Country-Specific Information for every country in the world about various issues, including health conditions, crime, currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip

When traveling abroad during the adoption process, we encourage you to enroll with the Department of State through our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country.  Enrollment makes it possible for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Ghana, to contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.  Whether there is a family emergency in the United States or a crisis in Ghana, enrollment assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.

Enrollment is free and can be done online via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reporting Requirements

We urge you to comply with Ghana’s post-adoption/post-placement requirements in a timely manner.  Ghanaian law requires updated reports on children adopted through the Hague process every six months during the first two years, and one a year during the following three years. Your adoption service provider may be able to help you with this process.  Your cooperation will contribute to Ghana’s positive experiences with U.S. citizen adoptive parents.

Post-Adoption Resources

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption.  There are many public and private nonprofit post-adoption services available for children and their families. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek out other adoptees from the same country of origin.  You may wish to take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.  Your primary provider can provide or point you to post- placement/post-adoption services to help your adopted child and your family transition smoothly and deal effectively with the many adjustments required in an intercountry adoption. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains a website, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, which can be a useful resource to get you started on your support group search.

COMPLAINTS

If you have concerns about your intercountry adoption process, we ask that you share this information with the U. S. Embassy in Accra, particularly if it involves possible fraud or misconduct specific to your child’s case.  The Department of State takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously.  Our Adoption Comment Page provides several points of contact for adoptive families to comment on their adoption service provider, their experience applying for their child’s visa, or about the Form I-800/A petition process.

The Complaint Registry is an internet based registry for filing complaints about the compliance of U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers with U.S. accreditation standards.  If you think your provider's conduct may not have been in compliance with accreditation standards, first submit your complaint in writing directly to your provider.  If the complaint is not resolved through the provider's complaint process, you may file the complaint through the Complaint Registry. 

U.S. Embassy in Ghana
24 Fourth Circular Road
Accra, Ghana
Tel:  +233 30 274 1000
Email: ConsularAccra@state.gov
Internet:  gh.usembassy.gov

Ghana’s Adoption Authority
Central Adoption Authority Department of Social Development
Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection
Post Office Box MBO 186
Ministries, Accra, Ghana
Tel:  +233 30 268 8181
Fax:  +233 30 268 8188
Email:  info@mogcsp.gov.gh
Internet:  mogcsp.gov.gh

Embassy of Ghana 3512 International Drive, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-686-4520
Email: consular@ghanaembassydc.org
Internet: www.ghanaembassydc.org

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9^th Floor
Washington, D.C.  20522-1709
Tel:  1-888-407-4747
Email:  Adoption@state.gov
Internet:  adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC):
Tel:  1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel:  1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet:  uscis.gov