Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

Intercountry Adoption

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Country Information

Czech Republic

Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Exercise normal precautions in the Czech Republic.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in the Czech Republic.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Czech Republic.

If you decide to travel to the Czech Republic:

 

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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 to the United States from the Czech Republic and from the United States to the Czech Republic are possible.

Hague Convention Information

The Czech Republic 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 the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic is not considered a country of origin for intercountry adoption at this time.  While adoption is legally possible, children from the Czech Republic are not generally placed for intercountry adoption.  Only three children from the Czech Republic have 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 the Czech Republic, including adoptions of children from the Czech Republic by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by U.S. citizens living in the Czech Republic.

Below is the limited adoption information the Department has obtained from the adoption authority of the Czech Republic.  U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from the Czech Republic should contact the Central Authority of the Czech Republic to inquire about applicable laws and procedures.  U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in the Czech Republic who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact the Czech Republic’s Central Authority.  See contact information below.

Please visit the Department of State’s country page for more information on traveling to the Czech Republic and the U.S. Embassy in Prague’s website for information on consular services.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to the Czech Republic’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen adoptive parents and a child from the Czech Republic if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States.  This letter will inform the Czech 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 the Czech Republic 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.

Contact Information

The Czech Republic’s Central Authority:
Úrad pro mezinárodne právní ochranu detí
(Office for International Legal Protection of Children)
Silingrovo namestí 3/4
60200 BRNO
Czech Republic
Tel:  +420 542 215 522
Fax: +420  542 212 836
Email:  podatelna@umpod.cz
Internet: https://www.umpod.cz/

U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic
Tržiště 15
118 01 Praha 1 - Malá Strana
Czech Republic
Tel: +(420) 257-022-000
Fax: +(420) 257-022-809
Email:  ACSPrg@state.gov
Internet: https://cz.usembassy.gov/embassy/prague/

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
E-mail:  Adoption@state.gov
Internet: http://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
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet:  uscis.gov

Last Updated: January 22, 2019

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy in Prague
Tržiště 15
118 01 Praha 1 - Malá Strana
Czech Republic
Telephone
+(420) 257-022-000
Emergency
+(420) 257-022-000
Fax
+(420) 257-022-809

Czech Republic Map