Equatorial Guinea is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the 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 Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions of Equatorial Guinea, which has authority over adoptions.
Very few intercountry adoptions take place in Equatorial Guinea; as a result, laws governing intercountry adoption are inconsistently applied. Additionally, there is no designated adoption authority. All adoptions are conducted through the Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions. U.S. citizens considering adoption from Equatorial Guinea should contact the Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in the United States for information on how to proceed. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Equatorial Guinea who would like to adopt from the United States or from a third country, should contact the Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. See contact information below.
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, with the intention of returning for the child when they are able to do so. In such cases, the birth parent(s) rarely would have relinquished their parental rights or consented to their child(ren)’s adoption.
Please visit the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Equatorial Guinea and the U.S. Embassy Malabo’s website for information on consular services.
