Slovakia is not currently placing children with U.S. families at this time.
Slovakia 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 Slovakia.
Below is the limited adoption information the Department has obtained from the adoption authority of Slovakia. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Slovakia should contact the Central Authority of Slovakia to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Slovakia who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Slovakia’s Central Authority. See contact information below.
Please visit the Department of State’s country pages for more information on traveling to Slovakia and the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava’s website for information on consular services.
The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Slovakia’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen adoptive parents and a child from Slovakia if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform Slovakia’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 a child in Slovakia 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.