Nauru is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Hague countries are processed in accordance with 8 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 204.3 as it relates to orphans as defined under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(b)(1)(F).
Below is the limited adoption information that the Department has obtained from the adoption authority of Nauru. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Nauru should contact the Magistrate Court of Nauru to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Nauru who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Nauru’s Magistrate Court. See contact information below.
Nauru's adoption legislation does not permit the adoption of Nauruan children by non-Nauruans. However, the judiciary has determined that this legislation conflicts with certain obligations Nauru has undertaken with respect to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The courts have permitted the adoption of Nauruan children by married couples in which only one of the adoptive parents is of Nauruan origin. There have been no applications for adoptions in which neither prospective adoptive parent is of Nauruan origin and it is unclear whether Nauru's courts would permit an adoption in such a case.
Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are adoptable. 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 this becomes possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to their child(ren)’s adoption.
There are no adoption agencies in Nauru. There are several private lawyers practicing in Nauru as well as a volunteer known as the "People's Lawyer" on contract with the Nauru Government. The People's Lawyer may be contacted at:
Office of the People's Lawyer
Government Building, Judiciary
Yaren District
Nauru
Tel: (+674) 444-3133
Alternatively, prospective adoptive parents may seek assistance from the Attorney General's office. The Attorney General's contact information is:
Office of the Attorney General
Government Building, Judiciary
Yaren District
Nauru
Tel: (+674) 444-3133
The nearest immigrant visa issuing U.S. embassy is in Suva, Fiji. Once prospective adoptive parents receive the Form I-171 Notice of approval of relative immigrant visa petition from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the embassy requests that U.S. prospective adoptive parents begin and maintain contact with the Immigrant Visa Unit. Their contact information is: consularsuva@state.gov and (679) 331-4466 (telephone) and (679) 330-2267 (fax).
Note: The U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji cannot issue visas on the same day of the visa interview. Prospective adoptive parents should expect a minimum of two days for the visa to be issued. U.S. families should make their travel plans accordingly, including allowing for the possibility of computer difficulties or other problems that could potentially further delay visa issuance.
Please visit the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Nauru and the website of the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, for information on consular services.
NAURU’S ADOPTION AUTHORITY:
The Magistrate Court
Government Building, Judiciary
Yaren District
Nauru
Tel: (+674) 444-3133
