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U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS

Intercountry Adoption

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Country Information

Mongolia

Mongolia
Mongolia
Exercise normal precautions in Mongolia.

Reissued after periodic review without changes.

Exercise normal precautions in Mongolia.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Mongolia.

If you travel to Mongolia, you should:

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Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
Yes
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Intercountry adoptions are currently possible between Mongolia and the United States.

Hague Convention Information

Mongolia is a 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); the IAA’s implementing regulations and U.S. adoption-related immigration policies; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Mongolia. Please see below in the Who Can Adopt, Who can be Adopted, and How to Adopt sections for more detail on the intercountry adoption steps involving Mongolia. If adopting a child through the Hague Convention Process, do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Mongolia before a U.S. consular officer issues an "Article 5 Letter." 

The only functioning Adoption Service Provider in Mongolia currently is focusing only on facilitating the adoption of children with special needs and older children who would otherwise likely remain in institutional care.

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Mongolia, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements.  USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.  For more information, please see USCIS webpages on suitability determinations and USCIS policy guidance on adoptive parent suitability determinations.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.

Caution: Although U.S. citizens generally must follow the Hague Convention process to adopt a child from a Hague Convention country, the Family-Based Petition Process (Form I-130) may be an option for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition for their adopted child.  However, U.S. citizens may file a Form I-130 for a child from a Hague Convention country only if they can establish the Convention does not apply to the adoption.  There are significant differences between the Hague and the Family-Based Petition Process.  For more information about specific Form I-130 requirements for adopted children, see the USCIS website and the USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 5

Who Can Adopt

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

  • Minimum Residency: There are no residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents who apply through agencies authorized by the Mongolian Government.
  • Age of Adopting Parents: Prospective adoptive parents may be no more than 60 years of age, and they should be between the ages of 30 and 50 at the time of their application. There must be at least a 22-year age difference between the child and the youngest adoptive parent.
  • Marriage: Couples must be married for at least five years at the time of application. Single women may apply, single men may not. Each couple may have up to two divorces in total.
  • Other Requirements:
    • Parents are required to have at least a high school diploma and must be able to show documentation of their highest level of education.
    • Prospective adoptive families must own their own home.
    • Mongolia has no restriction on the number of children already in the home.
    • Per the Family Law of Mongolia, Section 58.3.2, 8th Regulation on Adoption of Mongolian Children to Foreign Citizens, anyone who meets the following criteria is prohibited from adopting from Mongolia:
      • Individuals who previously have been restricted or deprived of parental rights, who returned a previously adopted child due to his/her own fault, or who seek to gain profit through adoption.
      • Individuals with tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS, mental diseases, and/or addiction to alcohol and/or narcotic drugs/substances.
      • Individuals who have several criminal records and are undergoing an imprisonment term.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Mongolia is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Mongolia 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 Mongolia have determined that placement of the child within Mongolia 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 Mongolia:

  • Relinquishment Requirements: The consent of parents to give their child for adoption must be in writing and certified by a notary public. A child whose parents have given up parental rights may be eligible for adoption after six months from the date when the relinquishment was recognized by the courts.
  • Age of Adoptive Child: Only Children ages between the ages of 4 and 14 are eligible to be adopted in Mongolia by foreigners. 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 and Form I-800 instructions for special rules on filing dates for children aged 15-16 or siblings under 18.
  • Children 7 years of age and older must consent to the adoption; adoption must be deemed in the best interests of the child.
  • Additional information: The initial decision regarding what would be in the child’s best interest is made by the legal guardian of the child, who is typically the director of the orphanage where the child is in care. In accordance with Mongolian law, it is the director of the orphanage who submits the names of children to the Central Authority for intercountry adoption placement consideration. The Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Protection (MFLSP) as the Central Authority then reviews the child’s information to determine if adoption would be in the child’s best interest before matching the child with a prospective adoptive parent. Finally, the Immigration Authority of Mongolia (MIA) reviews the case and interviews the prospective adoptive parents to make the final determination on whether the adoption is in the child’s best interests prior to granting a finalized adoption.

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 not relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

How to Adopt

Warning: Do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Mongolia 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 Mongolia has determined the child is eligible 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.

Mongolia’s Central Adoption Authority
Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Protection (MFLSP) and the Immigration Agency of Mongolia (MIA)

Central Agency for International Adoption:  Adoptions in Mongolia require the consent of two separate agencies. The Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Protection is the official Central Authority and has primary responsibility for placement and approval of adoptions generally. The Immigration Authority of Mongolia is a governmental implementing agency that handles emigration matters for cases of intercountry adoptions. Approval of both agencies is required before the adopted child can immigrate to the United States. 
 
Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Protection (MFLSP) 

Mailing Address: United Nations Street 5, Ulaanbaatar 15160, Mongolia 
Tel: 976-51-266324 

Email: international@mlsp.government.mn 

Immigration Agency of Mongolia (MIA) 
Website: https://www.immigration.gov.mn/en 

The Process
Because Mongolia is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adoptions from Mongolia must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention’s requirements. A brief summary of the U.S. Convention adoption process is provided below. You must complete these steps in the following order to meet all necessary U.S. legal requirements. Completing certain steps 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 That Has Been Authorized by Mongolia’s Central Authority to Operate in Mongolia* 
  2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-800A
  3. Apply to Mongolia’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
  5. Apply for U.S. Visa and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Article 5/17 letter) 
  6. Adopt the Child in Mongolia 
  7. Secure a U.S. Immigrant Visa if You Intend to Reside with Your Child in the United States
  8. Obtain U.S. Citizenship for Your Child

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider to Act as Your Primary Provider That Has Been Authorized by Mongolia’s Central Authority to Operate in Mongolia
* There is currently one accredited Adoption Service Provider in Mongolia.

The accredited agency or approved person you identify as the 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

Only accredited agencies, approved persons, supervised providers, exempted providers, public domestic authorities, and public foreign authorities that have been authorized by Mongolia’s Central Authority to Operate in Mongolia may provide adoption services in intercountry adoption cases.

Learn more about Agency Accreditation.

2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt
In order to adopt a child from Mongolia, you will need to meet the requirements of the Government of Mongolia 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. Please see USCIS webpages on suitability determinations and USCIS policy guidance on adoptive parent suitability determinations. 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 who holds any license or other authorization required by the law of the jurisdiction where the home study is conducted (unless a public domestic or public foreign authority). The home study must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311 and USCIS policy.

3. Apply to Mongolia’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 Mongolia as part of your adoption application. Mongolia’s adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also suitable and eligible to adopt under Mongolia’s law.

Receive a Referral for a Child from the Central Authority
If both the United States and Mongolia determine that you are suitable and eligible to adopt, and Mongolia’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 Mongolia 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 Mongolia 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 USCIS suitability determination 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 Mongolia. Learn more about this critical decision.

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 Form I-800 Petition to Obtain Provisional Determination on the Child’s Immigration Eligibility
After you accept a match 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. 

5. Apply for U.S. Visa and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Article 5/17 letter)
After provisional approval of the Form I-800 petition, you or your adoption service provider will submit a visa application to the consular section of U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from Mongolia. Your child will need an immigrant visa if you intend to reside in the United States with your child. If instead you intend to continue residing overseas with your child but still seek naturalization of your child by application (Form N-600K), you will not need an immigrant visa, but you may need a different type of visa to complete that process. Please discuss this with the consular officer handling your case and consult the USCIS website for more information. 

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 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, advise 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 Mongolia’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Mongolia if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform Mongolia’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 of a child in Mongolia 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. 

6. Adopt the Child in Mongolia

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

The role of key organizations in Mongolia includes the following: 

  • Role of Adoption Authority: The MFLSP (former MSWL) is the designated Central Authority on intercountry adoptions for Mongolia. It reviews the documentation of children submitted by the orphanages to determine whether the children meet the requirements for intercountry adoption. It also receives and reviews the prospective adoptive parent’s (PAP’s) adoption dossier (including the home study) to ensure the family meets all the eligibility requirements under Mongolian law, matches the child with the prospective adoptive parents, and grants permission for the match to be submitted to the MIA for approval.
  • Role of the Court: Currently under Mongolian Law, the civil court does not have a role in the intercountry adoption process. The Immigration Agency of Mongolia (MIA – formerly the Office of Immigration, Naturalization, and Foreign Citizens), a governmental implementing agency, receives the match from the MFLSP, reviews the documents, visits the child at the orphanage, interviews the prospective adoptive family, and grants or refuses final approval for the intercountry adoption. After approval is granted, the MIA issues the adoption certificate.
  • Role of Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Providers: The ASP works with prospective adoptive families, determines their eligibility and suitability to adopt under US and Mongolian law, assists families understand the adoption process, provides essential parent training and preparation, conducts and prepares the home study, gathers documents from prospective parents, and prepares a dossier for submission to the Central authority, the MFLSP. After the Central Authority recommends a match and sends the match proposal to the ASP, the ASP submits the proposal to the MIA for final approval. The ASP assists the family with required travel to Mongolia to finalize the adoption (this process normally takes approximately one month). After finalization, the ASP assists the adoptive family obtain the child’s new birth certificate and passport from the State Registration Office. The ASP will prepare and submit the required documents to the US Embassy Immigrant Visa Section on behalf of the adopted child for US visa adjudication. The ASP will assist the family with arranging a visa physical for the child. Once the family returns home, the ASP works with the family to prepare and submit the required post placement reports for the period of time in accordance with Mongolian law.

As noted above, any agency or person providing an adoption service on behalf of prospective adoptive parents in any 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, under 22 CFR 96.2 Definitions:

  • 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.

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

  • The ASP submits the adoption application to the central authority, the MFLSP. 
  • The central authority, the MFLSP, reviews the prospective adoptive parent’s (PAP) dossier and matches a child if they think the PAP is capable of adopting a child according to the profile and conditions that the PAP has stated they are open to.
  • If the PAP agrees to adopt the matched child, and the ASP also determines that the PAP is suitable and eligible for the adoption, the MFLSP will submit their official supportive suggestion to approve the adoption case and transfer the case to the Immigration Agency of Mongolia (MIA).
  • The MIA is the government implementing agency and has a role of providing public service. The intercountry adoption officers of the MIA will review the adoption case, including PAP’s dossier, and the matched child's referral. They will then personally visit the orphanage to check the matched child's health and social condition at the orphanage.
  • The MIA Interview Committee then sets the date for interviewing the PAP. The MIA has the right to refuse to process the case if the PAPs fail the interview. If the PAP passes the interview, then the case will be discussed at a Council Meeting under the MIA Chairman. If Council members approve the case, the MIA chairman will give the final adoption order.
  • After the MIA issues the adoption order, the child can apply for the adoption certificate, a new birth certificate, a passport, and an IV medical check-up at the SOS medical center.
  • The child can then apply for an immigrant visa to travel to the United States with adoptive parents.

Time Frame: Intercountry adoptions from Mongolia may take approximately one to three years to complete. The time frames provided here are intended as guidelines only, and the specific circumstances of each case can significantly impact the length of the process.

  • Adoption Fees:We encourage prospective adoptive parents to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either by them 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 Mongolia, 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 Mongolia 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 IAA makes 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 central 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.

The Mongolian government does not charge specific fees for adoption. Prospective adoptive parents can expect to pay notary fees and/or fees for translation of documents, along with fees for travel documents such as a passport 

Documents Required:

  • Cover letter 
  • Adoption application form 
  • Identification documents (birth certificate) 
  • Passport copy- PAP(s) 
  • Marriage certificate copy 
  • Copy of highest diploma - PAP(s) 
  • Financial statement from Bank & Taxation office (received no later than two months before submission of application) 
  • Medical documents 
  • Medical report - PAP(s) (received no later than two months before application) 
  • Medical analysis on HIV/AIDS 
  • Police clearance document 
  • I-800 approval notification 
  • Police clearance (received no later than two months before submission application) 
  • Home study document (usually 8-15 pages) 
  • Home study Agency or Social worker License 
  • Legal and parent commitment document 
  • Letter from Adoption agency to the MFLSP 
  • Copy of Accreditation from Central authority or State to work in Mongolia 
  • License of Adoption Agency (valid) 
  • Letter from PAP(s) to the ASP Requesting Authorization to adopt 
  • Photos of family & home 

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.

7. Secure a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child If You Intend to Reside with Your Child in the United States
Once your adoption is complete there are a few more steps to take before your child can enter the United States. Specifically, the consular officer will need to issue a Hague Adoption Certificate and grant final approval of the Form I-800 petition. Then you will need to obtain three documents before you secure a visa so your child can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate
You will need to obtain a new or updated birth certificate for your child. 

If you have finalized the adoption in Mongolia, you will need to obtain a new birth certificate for your child with your name on it.

The adoptive parent(s) will need to apply for a new birth certificate for the child, so they can later apply for a passport. Parents who have adopted a child must register their adoption to the State and Civil Registration and Information Center (SCRIC), which then issues a birth certificate and adoption decree. The adoptive parent(s) must be present at the registration. The parents’ names will be added to the new birth certificate.

Mongolia Passport
Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Mongolia. The ASP can assist parents with this process.

U.S. Immigrant Visa
After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you will then need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar if you intend to bring your child to reside in the United States with you. After the adoption is granted, visit U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar for a final review of the case the issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate, the final approval of the Form I-800 petition, and, if applicable, 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 U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar by email at [UlaanbaatarACS@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.

You will have already completed an Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) online at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) after receiving 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. 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 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.

Upon receipt of the case, U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar generally notifies the petitioner. Visa issuance after the final interview generally takes 2 business days. 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 U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar before making final travel arrangements. Additional information on immigrant visa processing can be found on our website.

If you will reside outside the United States with your child, you should contact the Central or competent authority where you reside for additional information about how to bring your child to that country.

8. Obtain U.S. Citizenship for Your Child
If you obtain an immigrant visa for your child, USCIS will mail your child either a permanent resident card (green card), or a Certificate of Citizenship, after your child enters the United States. If you plan to reside outside the United States with your child (and, therefore, may not benefit from an immigrant visa for your child), please see the relevant section below.

For adoptions finalized abroad before the child’s admission into the United States: A child who was adopted abroad and has satisfied Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 101(b)(1)(E), INA 101(b)(1)(F), or INA 101(b)(1)(G) requirements, who is 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 after admission if the child is under the age of 18 when these conditions are met.

Depending on the visa your child receives, their age, and the other INA 320 requirements, you may not need to take any additional action for your child to acquire U.S. citizenship. However, if your child does not meet the requirements of INA 320 at the time of admission into the United States, you may file a Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, once the requirements are met. More information is available on the USCIS website

For adoptions not finalized until after the child’s admission to the United States: 
If the adoption is not finalized before the child is admitted to the United States, the child’s adoptive parent(s) must complete the adoption (or re-adoption or obtain judicial recognition of the foreign adoption) in the United States before the child turns 18 for the child to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship (if the child otherwise meets the requirements of INA 320). You may file a Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, once the requirements are met. More information is available on the USCIS Fact Sheet: Securing U.S. Citizenship for Your Child

If you reside outside the United States with your child, you may file a Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 with USCIS to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for your child if your child satisfies the requirements of INA 322.

Note: If you are a military service member or U.S. government employee who chooses to seek an immigrant visa for your child versus completing the Form N-600K process, you may need to use Form N-600 to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. Please note, however, that USCIS cannot mail Certificates of Citizenship abroad for children who acquire citizenship under INA 320.

Read more about INA 320 and 322 in the USCIS Policy Manual and USCIS website U.S. Citizenship for an Adopted Child

Traveling Abroad

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 Mongolia
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 Mongolia, see the Department of State’s country page.

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 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 U.S. Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country. Enrollment makes it possible for U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar 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 Mongolia, 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).

After Adoption

Per the Family Law of Mongolia, Section 58.3.2, 15th Regulation on Adoption of Mongolian Children to Foreign Citizens, a foreign citizen adopting a Mongolian child will be responsible for the following duties:

  • To provide the adopted child with all necessary conditions to grow up healthy, to get a proper education, and to have their rights protected;
  • To introduce the child to his/her motherland and birth parents, if needed;
  • To provide the relevant authority of Mongolia with possibility to introduce and visit/check up the living condition of the adopted child, and interview the child as needed.
  • To keep the MIA updated with information about the adopted child’s growth and living condition, the adopting family, with the ASP’s assistance, submits a report and information on the child's development (which can include pictures and videos that the appointed social worker makes). The ASP is responsible for translating the reports into Mongolian and delivering them to the MIA. The report frequency is:
    • For children 1 to 3 years old – two times per year.
    • For children 4 to 8 years old - once every year.
    • For children 8 to 16 years old - once every two years.

In some cases, the MIA may seek to visit adopted children to ensure their welfare. Based on the above regulation, MIA concludes a triple party contract with the ASP and the adoptive parents for the purpose of monitoring post-adoption placement. In the contract, the adoptive parents should support the possibility of MIA visiting the adopted child and seeing their living conditions.    

We urge you to comply with Mongolia’s post-adoption/post-placement requirements in a timely manner. Your adoption service provider may be able to help you with this process. Your cooperation will contribute to Mongolia’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 U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar, 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.

Contact Information

U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar
Denver Street #3
11 Micro District
Ulaanbaatar 14190, Mongolia
Email: ulaanbaatarIV@state.gov
Internet: http://mn.usembassy.gov/

Mongolia’s Adoption Authority
Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Protection (MFLSP)
Mailing Address: United Nations Street 5, Ulaanbaatar 15160, Mongolia
Tel: 976-51-266324;
Email: international@mlsp.government.mn

Immigration Agency of Mongolia (MIA) 
Website: https://www.immigration.gov.mn/en

Embassy of Mongolia
2833 M Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20007
Email: esyam@mongolianembassy.us 
Internet: http://www.mongolianembassy.us/

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th 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 a pending Form I-800A application, Form I-800 petition or related supplements:

Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1-913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For other USCIS-related questions:
USCIS Contact Center 
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov

Last Updated: April 24, 2025

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Denver Street #3
11th Micro-District
Ulaanbaatar 14190
Mongolia
Telephone
+976-7007-6001
Emergency
+976-7007-6001
Fax
+976-7007-6016

Mongolia Map