Angola is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Under the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA), which became effective on July 14, 2014, the requirement that adoption service providers be accredited or approved, and therefore meet the accreditation standards, which previously only applied in Convention cases, now also applies in non-Convention (“orphan”) cases under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The UAA requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case, and that adoption service providers providing any adoption services, as defined at 22 CFR Part 96.2, on behalf of prospective adoptive parents be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider. See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required. Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Convention countries continue to be processed under the Orphan Process with the filing of the Forms I-600A and I-600. However, adoption service providers should be aware of the information on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website on the impact of the UAA on Form I-600A and Form I-600 adjudications, including the requirement that all home studies, including home study updates and amendments, comply with the home study requirements listed at 8 CFR 204.311, which differ from the orphan home study requirements that were in effect before July 14, 2014.

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

• Minimum Residency: Prospective adoptive parent(s) must live in Angola for two years prior to finalizing the adoption.
  
  
• Age of Adopting Parents: Prospective adoptive parent(s) must be at least 25 years old and at least 16 years older than the prospective adoptive child.

• Marriage: Prospective adoptive parent(s) may be married, single, or in a common-law relationship.
  
  
• Minimum Income: None.
  
  
• Other requirements: Prospective adoptive parent(s) must be in good physical and mental health, and financially capable of supporting and providing an education for the adopted child.

Under the INA 101(b)(1)(F), a child can be considered an orphan because of the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from both parents, or in the case where there is a sole or surviving parent who is incapable of providing the proper care and has in writing irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption.

In addition to qualifying as an orphan under U.S. immigration law, the child must also meet the following requirements of Angola:

• Eligibility for adoption: Adoption requires the consent of the prospective adoptive child’s birth parent(s) or the legal guardian. Consent will be waived with regard to a child or adolescent whose parents are deceased, unknown or who have lost their parental rights.
  
  
• Age of Adoptive Child: In Angola, a child is adoptable if he or she is under the age of 18. Please note that for a child to meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law, a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan 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 requirements and immigrated or will immigrate as an orphan 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.

Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are eligible 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).

Angola’s Adoption Authority

Ministry of Assistance and Social Reintegration (MINARS)

The Process

The process for adopting a child from Angola generally includes the following steps:

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-600A)

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

4. Adopt the Child in Angola

5. Apply for Your Child to be Found Eligible to Immigrate to the United States as an Orphan (Form I-600)

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

Before taking steps to adopt a child from Angola, you should select a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service provider to be the primary provider in your 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. See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required. Learn more about Agency Accreditation.

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

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

To meet U.S. immigration requirements, you may choose to file a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, with USCIS, to be found suitable and eligible to adopt. If you have already identified the child you wish to adopt, you may also choose to file the Form I-600 petition for the child and include all the required supporting documentation for the Form I-600A application (i.e., an approved home study) so USCIS can make a determination on your suitability and eligibility to adopt before reviewing the child’s eligibility as an orphan. Please see the USCIS website for more information about filing options. 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 Angola’s Authorities to Adopt, and be Matched with a Child

If you are found suitable and eligible to adopt under U.S. immigration law, Angola requires you to submit an adoption application to the National Office of Children and Adolescents of the Ministry of Assistance and Social Reintegration (MINARS) of Angola to be found eligible to adopt by Angola.

If you are found suitable and eligible to adopt under U.S. law, and a child is available for intercountry adoption, MINARS may provide you with a referral to present to the Family Court within the Ministry of Justice.

The competent adoption authority or other authorized entity in Angola will review your adoption dossier and, if an appropriate match is found, may provide you with a 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 ultimately adhere to the USCIS’ suitability determination (i.e., typically the Form I-600A approval notice) with respect to the number of children you are approved to adopt and the characteristics of the child(ren) ( such as age, gender, nationality, and/or special need, disability, and/or impairment) that you are approved to adopt. Learn more about Health Considerations

The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Angola’s requirements, as described in the Who Can Be Adopted section. The child must also meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law.

4. Adopt the Child in Angola

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

• Role of Adoption Authority or Competent Authority: The provincial and municipal Offices of Social Action, Culture, Youth, and Sports accept adoption requests on behalf of MINARS. MINARS then processes and evaluates applications before forwarding them to the Family Court (a department of the Ministry of Justice).
  
  
• Role of the Court: The Family Court reviews MINARS evaluations, provides permission for the prospective adoptive child to be adopted, and forwards the file to the Assembleia Nacional (National Assembly) for approval. The Family Court of the Ministry of Justice then has final approval.

Role of Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Providers: There are no U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers currently working in Angola. However, given that PAPs must have an adoption service provider for the six required adoption services, they may want to check with an ASP to see if there is interest in opening a program in Angola.

The required adoption services are 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.

Note: See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required.        

• Adoption Application: The following sections outline the major provisions of the law in Angola that apply to adoptions:
  
  
• Adoption by proxy is prohibited;
  
  
• Adoption requires the consent of the prospective adoptive child's birth parent(s) or the legal guardian. Consent will be waived with regard to a child or adolescent whose birth parents are unknown or who have forfeited their parental rights;
  
  
• Prospective adoptive parent(s) apply to adopt a child through the Offices of Social Action, Culture, Youth, and Sports. MINARS will make a determination on the child’s eligibility for adoption. The adoption process can take 6-12 months.
  
  
• The prospective adoptive parent(s) then submit a request to the Family Court requesting approval from the National Assembly to adopt the child. A home study is required and will be evaluated by a Judge of the Family Court from the Provincial Court before requesting the approval of the Parliament (National Assembly);
  
  
• Along with this request, the prospective adoptive parent attaches the following:

1. A copy of the MINARS document finding the child eligible for adoption and thus giving permission for the child to be adopted;
   
   
2.  Birth certificates of the prospective adoptive parent(s);
   
   
3.  Marriage (and proof of termination of any prior marriage) certificate of the prospective adoptive parents(s) (if applicable);
   
   
4. Police clearance of the prospective adoptive parents from their home country and from Angola;
   
   
5. Medical exam attesting good physical and mental health of the PAPs;
   
   
6. Proof of prospective adoptive parents’ ability to provide financial support.

• The process of approval from the National Assembly can take between 12 and 24 months.

Note: Prospective adoptive parents should expect to submit certified copies of all documents.

During the adoption process, the prospective adoptive parent(s) can submit a separate request to the Family Court requesting guardianship of the child. The request for guardianship can be submitted at the same time the request to the National Assembly for the adoption is submitted. The request must be accompanied by the same documents listed above. A hearing will be scheduled at which the prospective adoptive parent(s) must be present. If the child is ten years of age or older, he/she will also be heard by the Trustee at the Family Court. This process may take three to six months to be completed.

If the child still has living birth parents, the prospective adoptive parent (s) will note that on their adoption request, and the Trustee of the Family Court will send a notification to the birth parents to appear in person and consent to the adoption of the child. Their consent will effectively permanently sever their parental rights.

Once the National Assembly approves the adoption and the adoptive parent(s) receive the determination, that document must be submitted to the Family Court, and the Family Court Judge must issue the adoption decree.

• Time Frame: Intercountry adoptions in Angola may take approximately two to three years to complete.
  
  
• Adoption Fees: Prospective adopting parents can expect to pay as much as $3,000 (USD) in government fees to complete the adoption. Attorney fees are estimated to be an additional $10,000 (USD).

We encourage prospective adoptive parents to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either by them directly or through their U.S. adoption service provider, and to raise any concerns regarding any payment that you believe may be contrary to U.S. law, or the law of Angola, with your adoption service provider, and, when appropriate, through the Complaint Registry. Improper payments violate applicable law, or create the appearance of buying a child, and could put all future adoptions in Angola at risk. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, for instance, makes it unlawful to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. Further, the UAA and IAA make certain actions relating to intercountry adoptions unlawful, and subject to civil and criminal penalties. These include offering, giving, soliciting, or accepting inducement by way of compensation 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 functions as a competent authority, 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 adoption service provider will itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process.

Documents Required:

• Initial application can be made by a letter and should include the personal data of the prospective adoptive parent(s) and the personal data of the prospective adoptive child. This letter does not need to be notarized;
  
  
•  Criminal background check and clearance for prospective adoptive parent(s) (The background check done during the USCIS suitability screening is sufficient.);
  
  
• Medical evaluation of prospective adoptive parents (which can be conducted in the U.S. or Angola);
  
  
• Proof of prospective adoptive parent(s) income;

• Birth certificate of the prospective adoptive parent(s);
  
  
• Birth certificate (if available) for the prospective adoptive child or a statement from the institution where the child has been cared for;
  
  
• Marriage certificate and divorce decree(s) of prospective adoptive parent(s), if applicable;
  
  
• Consent from any living birth parent(s) of the child being adopted.

All documents must be translated into Portuguese. The translation must be done in Angola. Any translator in Angola can do the translation. A list of translators is available from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy. The court will ask the translator to appear in court and swear that the translation is correct.

Note: Additional documents may be requested.

• Authentication of Documents: You may be asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic. The U.S Department of State’s Authentications Office has information on the subject.

5. Apply for Your Child to be Found Eligible to Immigrate to the United States as an Orphan

After you finalize the adoption in Angola, USCIS must determine if the child meets the definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law in order for the child to immigrate to the United States. You will need to file a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, on behalf of the child and unless an exception applies, you must identify a primary provider.

If you have a valid Form I-600A approval, you may file your Form I-600 petition in the United States with the USCIS National Benefits Center, if applicable, or at the U.S. Embassy in Luanda, Angola. Please see the USCIS website for more information about filing options.

When a Form I-600 petition is adjudicated by USCIS in the United States, the consular section in Luanda, Angola must complete a Form I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption (sometimes informally referred to as an orphan determination), to verify the child’s orphan status.

When a Form I-600 petition is filed with the Embassy’s consular section, the consular officer must complete the Form I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption, to verify the child’s orphan status. Conducting the Form I-604 determination is a critical part of the non-Convention adoption process. It can take approximately two to six months to complete, depending upon the circumstances of your case. Consular officers appreciate that families are eager to bring their adopted child home as quickly as possible. Some of the factors that may contribute to the length of the process include prevailing fraud patterns in the country of origin, civil unrest or security concerns that restrict travel to certain areas of the country, and the number of determinations performed by available staff. Consular officers make every effort to conduct them as quickly and thoroughly as possible. You are advised to keep your travel plans flexible while awaiting the results.

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

Once your adoption is complete and the Form I-604 determination has been completed, finding that your child meets the legal definition of an orphan for immigration purposes, 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 Angola, you will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.

Parents can apply for an Angolan birth certificate through the Integrated Citizenship Service (SIAC). Required documents include the child’s birth registration and the parents’ identification. It can take over two weeks to obtain an Angolan birth certificate. The cost is about USD $11.

Angolan Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Angola.

Parents can apply for an Angolan passport at the Angolan Migration Service (SME) which has offices in all 18 Provinces and all Municipalities. Required documents include the passport application form, the child’s birth certificate, three photos, the parents’ identification, and a statement from the parents requesting the issuance of a passport. The parents and child must be present when requesting the issuance of the passport. The fee is about USD $88, to be paid in Kwanzas. It can take two to four weeks to obtain an Angolan passport.

U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child and you have filed Form I-600, you then need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from the U.S. Embassy in Luanda. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, you must provide the consular officer with the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child.

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). If you filed a Form I-600 petition in the United States, you should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the 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. Visa issuance after the final interview generally takes 24 hours. 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 Luanda 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 if the child otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, including that the child is under the age of eighteen.

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 has acquired U.S. citizenship, s/he will need a U.S. passport for any 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 Angola

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 Angola, 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 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 Angola, to contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency. Enrollment is free and can be done online via the Smart Traveler. Enrollment Program (STEP)

Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reporting Requirements

Angola has no post-adoption or post-placement reporting requirements.

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. 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. 

Here are some places to start your support group search:

• Child Welfare Information Gateway
• North American Council on Adoptable Children

Note:  Inclusion of non-U.S. government links does not imply endorsement of contents.

COMPLAINTS

If you have concerns about your adoption process, we ask that you share this information with the Embassy in Luanda, 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-600 petition process.

The Hague Complaint Registry is an internet based registry for filing complaints about U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers. If you think your provider's conduct may have been out of substantial 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 Hague Complaint Registry. 

U.S. Embassy in Angola
Rua Houari Boumedienne #32, Miramar
Luanda, Angola
C.P. 6468
Tel:  (244)(222) 641-000
Fax:  (244)(222) 641-259 
Internet:  https://ao.usembassy.gov/

Angola’s Adoption Authorities
Ministry of Justice, Family Court Room
Sala da Familia, Tribunal Provincial de Luanda
Rua Amilcar Cabral No. 17,  5th and 7th Floor
Luanda, Angola
Tel:  No telephone numbers for the public are available
MINARS - National Institute of the Child and Adolescent 
Rua N’Gola M’Bambi 
Luanda, Angola 
Tel:  244-222 322 611; 222 323 683; 222 322 753
Assembleia Nacional (Parliament)
Rua 1 Congresso do MPLA
Luanda, Angola
Tel:  +244 222 391691; 222 394541

Embassy of the Republic of Angola
2100-2108 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20009
Tel:  202-785-1156
Fax:  202-785-1258
Internet:  angola.org
Angola also has consulates in: New York, NY; Houston, TX.

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9^th Floor
Washington, D.C.  20522-1709
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