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 Malta’s Central Authority, for its determination as to whether it considers your adoption to be subject to the Convention.
Malta is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the Convention; the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations; and all applicable legislation and regulations of Malta.
While adoption is legally possible, children from Malta are not generally placed for intercountry adoption. No child from Malta has received a U.S. immigrant visa based on an intercountry adoption in the past five fiscal years. The information provided is intended primarily to assist in extremely rare adoption cases from Malta, including adoptions of children from Malta by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by U.S. citizens living in Malta.
Below is the limited adoption information the Department has obtained from the adoption authority of Malta. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Malta should contact the Central Authority of Malta to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Malta who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Malta’s Central Authority. See contact information below.
Please visit the Department of State’s country page for more information on traveling to Malta and the U.S. Embassy in Valletta’s website for information on consular services.
The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Malta’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen adoptive parents and a child from Malta if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform the Malta’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 or obtain custody of a child in Malta before USCIS has provisionally approved 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.
