Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

Intercountry Adoption

English

Country Information

Taiwan

Taiwan
Taiwan
Exercise normal precautions in Taiwan.

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.

Exercise normal precautions in Taiwan.

Read the Taiwan International Travel Information page for additional information on travel to Taiwan.

If you decide to travel to Taiwan:

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
No
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Intercountry adoptions to the United States from Taiwan and from the United States to Taiwan are possible.

Hague Convention Information

Taiwan is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention).  Under the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA), which became effective on July 14, 2014, the requirement that adoption service providers be accredited or approved, and therefore meet the accreditation standards, which previously only applied in Convention cases, now also applies in non-Convention (“orphan”) cases under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  The UAA requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case, and that adoption service providers providing any adoption services, as defined at 22 CFR Part 96.2, on behalf of prospective adoptive parents be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider.  See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required.  Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Convention countries continue to be processed under the Orphan Process with the filing of the Forms I-600A and I-600.  However, adoption service providers should be aware of the information on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website on the impact of the UAA on Form I-600A and Form I-600 adjudications, including the requirement that all home studies, including home study updates and amendments, comply with the home study requirements listed at 8 CFR 204.311, which differ from the orphan home study requirements that were in effect before July 14, 2014.

All consular and other representative functions for the United States are handled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a non-profit, private corporation authorized by the Taiwan Relations Act to conduct and carry out programs, transactions, and other relations between the United States and Taiwan.

In January 2013, the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan’s adoption authority, announced its participation in a Pre-Adoption Immigration Review (PAIR) program with the United States. The PAIR program requires PAPs to receive a preliminary determination on the child’s likely immigration eligibility from (USCIS prior to filing an adoption case with a court. This preliminary determination, also referred to as the PAIR process, provides foreign courts and relevant Taiwan authorities with information regarding a child’s likely eligibility to immigrate to the United States before the court enters an order establishing a permanent legal relationship between the U.S. citizen parent(s) and the child.

The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare issued an administrative order effective April 1, 2013, requiring adoption service providers to include a PAIR letter with the filing of an adoption proceeding with a Taiwan court. To enable PAPs adopting from Taiwan to comply with Taiwan’s new administrative order, USCIS issued a policy memorandum allowing PAPs to file a Form I-600 (Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative) before filing an adoption proceeding with a Taiwan court.

Following the receipt of a PAIR letter from USCIS and subsequent issuance of a foreign adoption decree, PAPs must submit the foreign adoption decree and the child’s travel and identity documents to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which will then complete the final approval of their Form I-600 and issue a visa. If AIT finds the case is not clearly approvable, it will return the case to USCIS for further action. PAPs should pay special attention to the process described below as it differs from other non-Hague and Hague countries.

We strongly urge PAPs to work only with licensed adoption facilitators in Taiwan. The use of unlicensed facilitators in Taiwan could result in an adoption being carried out in a manner that does not permit the child to qualify as an orphan, as defined under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 as amended (8 U.S.C. §1101 et seq.). If the child does not qualify as an orphan under U.S. immigration law, then he or she may be found ineligible to immigrate to the United States. It is important for PAPs to confirm that the adoption service provider they choose is authorized to facilitate adoptions in Taiwan by checking with Taiwan’s adoption authority.

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Taiwan, 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.

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

Who Can Adopt

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

  • Minimum Residency:  None.

  • Age of Adopting Parents: Single PAPs must be at least twenty years older than the child to be adopted. If married, one spouse must be at least twenty years older than the child to be adopted and the other spouse must be at least sixteen years older than the child to be adopted.

  • Marriage: A married person who adopts a child shall do so jointly with his/her spouse. Single individuals may adopt from Taiwan.

  • Minimum Income: PAPs must have a stable residence, legitimate employment, and sufficient financial means to support a child. (taking into account income, personal savings, taxes, etc…).    

  • Other requirements: There is no official policy or law prohibiting adoptions by LGBTQ individuals. On May 16, 2023, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan amended the same-sex marriage law to allow same-sex couples to adopt children to whom they are not biologically related. The new amendment will apply Taiwanese laws on the formation or termination of parental rights. Prospective adoptive parents’ home jurisdictional law must meet Taiwanese laws to be eligible to adopt in Taiwan.  All U.S. citizens considering intercountry adoption must comply with the laws and regulations governing adoption and immigration in the child's country of origin and in the United States. U.S. federal law does not prohibit LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens or same-sex couples from being adoptive parents. However, prospective adoptive parents may also wish to review the section on U.S. state laws maintained by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Who Can Be Adopted

Under INA §101(b)(1)(F), a child may be considered an orphan because of the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from both parents, or in the case where there is a sole or surviving parent who is incapable of providing the proper care and has in writing irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption.

In addition to qualifying as an orphan under U.S. immigration law, the child must also meet the following requirements of Taiwan:

  • Eligibility for adoption:

Relinquishment: Taiwan law stipulates that biological parent(s) who wish to release their child for adoption must entrust the child to an adoption service provider to search for an appropriate PAP/s. However, this provision shall not be applicable in the cases below:

  • PAPs are within six degrees of kinship (for relatives by blood) or within five degrees of kinship (for relatives by marriage).

  • Spouse is adopting spouse’s child from a previous relationship.

The adoptee child’s parent(s) must also provide a written, signed relinquishment document.

Abandonment: A legal determination of abandonment by a court is required.

In addition, no child may be adopted who is:

  • Directly related by blood to the PAPs (for example: grandparents cannot adopt their grandchildren);

  • Directly related by marriage to the PAPs, except in the adoption of the other spouse’s child as a stepchild (for example, a parent-in-law cannot adopt his/her son-in-law or daughter-in-law); or

  • Indirectly related by blood or marriage, such as cousins (unless removed by a certain degree), the spouse of a sibling, or a sibling of your spouse. (Note: Taiwan law is very detailed about what degree of indirect blood relation is precluded from adopting. If PAPs are concerned about possible blood ties with the child they wish to adopt, they should contact AIT for clarification before proceeding with the adoption).

  • Age of Adoptive Child: Other than the age requirements for adoptive parents discussed above, Taiwan law does not stipulate the minimum or maximum age of the adoptee child.

Please note that for a child to meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law, a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan 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 requirements and immigrated or will immigrate as an orphan based on adoption by the same adoptive parent(s)). Please see the USCIS website for special rules on filing dates for children aged 15-16 or siblings aged 17-18.

Caution: PAPs 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 rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

How to Adopt

Taiwan’s Adoption Authority
Ministry of Health and Welfare

The Process

The process for adopting a child from Taiwan generally includes the following steps:

1.  Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider To Act as Your Primary Provider

2.  Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-600A)

3.  Apply to Taiwan’s Authorities to Adopt, and to be Matched with a Child

4.  File a Form I-600 Petition with USCIS to Initiate the PAIR Process to Adopt the Child in Taiwan

5.    Adopt the Child in Taiwan

6.    Receive a Preliminary Determination of your Form I-600

7.    Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

 

1.  Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider to Act as Your Primary Provider 

Before taking steps to adopt a child from Taiwan, you should select a U.S.-accredited or approved adoption service provider to be the primary provider in your case. Your 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.

For more information on primary providers and the UAA, please see the Universal Accreditation Act of 2012. See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required. Learn more about Agency Accreditation.

In addition, your U.S.-accredited adoption service provider must be licensed in Taiwan or work with a licensed adoption agency in Taiwan. Please note that an unlicensed adoption service provider or agency may not assume legal custody of a child for the purpose of intercountry adoption. The use of an unlicensed adoption service provider or agency may result in your child being deemed as ineligible for an immigrant visa. Below is a list of agencies that are currently licensed in Taiwan.

Adoption Service Institutes and Foundations in Taiwan:

Child Welfare League Foundation
6F, No. 66 Ning W. Road, Datong District
Taipei City 103, Taiwan

Chung Yi Social Welfare Foundation
9F, No. 8, , Wanhe Street, Wenshan District
Taipei City 116, Taiwan

Good Shepherd Welfare Services Tainan Babies’ Home
No.12, Lixing Street, North District
Tainan City 704, Taiwan

The Garden of Hope Foundation
8F, No. 75, Section 2,
Roosevelt Road, Da’an Dist.

Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Christian Salvation Services
10F, No. 396, Section1, Keelung Road
Xinyi District, Taipei City 110, Taiwan

Cathwel Service
No. 155, Section 2, Beishen Road
Shenkeng Township
Taipei County 222, Taiwan

2.  Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt

In order to adopt a child from Taiwan, you will need to meet the requirements of the Taiwan authorities and U.S. immigration law.

To meet U.S. immigration requirements, you may choose to file a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, with USCIS, to be found suitable and eligible to adopt. If you have already identified the child you wish to adopt, you may also choose to file the Form I-600 petition for the child and include all the required supporting documentation for the Form I-600A application (i.e. an approved home study) so USCIS can make a determination on your suitability and eligibility to adopt before reviewing the child’s eligibility as an orphan. Please see the USCIS website for more information about filing options. The home study must be prepared by a person who is authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare home studies and must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311.

3. Apply to Taiwan’s Authorities to Adopt, and be Matched with a Child

If you are found suitable and eligible to adopt under U.S. immigration law, Taiwan requires you to submit an adoption application to the central authority of Taiwan to be found eligible to adopt by Taiwan.

The competent adoption authority or other authorized entity in Taiwan will review your adoption dossier and, if an appropriate match is found, may provide you with a 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 ultimately adhere to USCIS’s suitability determination (i.e. typically the Form I-600A approval notice) with respect to the number of children you are approved to adopt and the characteristics of the child(ren) ( such as age, gender, nationality, and/or special need, disability, and/or impairment) that you are approved to adopt. Learn more about Health Considerations

The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Taiwan’s requirements, as described in the Who Can Be Adopted section. The child must also meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law.

4.  File a Form I-600 Petition With USCIS [or Obtain Legal Custody of the Child for Purposes of Emigration and Adoption]

The PAP(s) must file a Form I-600 with USCIS to initiate the PAIR process prior to filing an adoption case with the courts.

Under the PAIR program, the U.S. PAP(s) files a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, with USCIS’s National Benefits Center (NBC) prior to obtaining a final adoption decree from the relevant court authority in Taiwan. After review of the Form I-600 petition and completion of the necessary investigation, NBC will make a preliminary determination on whether the child meets the definition of orphan under U.S. immigration law. If the determination is favorable, NBC will issue a preliminary determination of immigration eligibility to the U.S. PAP(s) in the form of a USCIS PAIR letter. If an unfavorable determination is made, NBC may issue a request for additional evidence or denial letter to the U.S. PAP(s).

Under the PAIR process, PAPs should submit a completed Form I-600 together with all available documentation listed in the Form I-600 Instructions, minus an adoption decree or grant of legal custody, to the NBC through the Dallas Lockbox. This includes the Taiwan Household Registry of both the child and the birth parents and the contract between the birth parents and the Taiwan adoption service provider in cases of relinquishment, showing the placement of the child for adoption. For the address, see the “Where to File” section of the Form I-600 Instructions. All documents originally produced in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation. In addition, the following PAIR-specific documentation must be submitted when the child’s place of origin is Taiwan:

  • Evidence of eligibility for intercountry adoption generated by island-wide database

  • Signed adoption agreement between birth parents and PAPs, where applicable, for use in Taiwan District Family courts

  • Power of attorney appointing the Taiwan adoption service provider (ASP) to represent the PAP(s).

In addition to the documentation required in the Form I-600 instructions pertaining to evidence that the child is an orphan as defined in section 101(b)(1)(F) and 8 CFR 204.3(b), there may be Taiwan specific documentation that can help establish the child’s orphan status. Such documentation may include, but is not limited to:

  • Child’s original household registration,

  • Birth parent-ASP contract showing relinquishment of child,

  • Court order terminating parental rights and placing child into the care of an ASP,

  • Documentation establishing an abandoned child and placing the child with an ASP, and

  • ASP report on the history of the child.

Please note that additional documents may be requested.

USCIS will forward its preliminary determination, together with the PAP’s file, to AIT. USCIS will also forward the original preliminary determination letter to the PAPs for their records. AIT will then issue a letter to the PAPs to be included in the court filing indicating that the preliminary determination regarding the child’s likely immigration eligibility has been completed and will attach a copy of the original USCIS letter.

Upon issuance of the PAIR letter, USCIS NBC will forward the petition to AIT for final adjudication following the completion of the Taiwan court process.

5. Adopt the Child in Taiwan 

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

  • Role of Central Authority: The Ministry of Health and Welfare licenses adoption agencies and orphanages. It also oversees legal and legislative developments as they pertain to the welfare of children.

  • Role of the Court: All applications for adoption are first submitted to the Taiwan District Court.

  • Role of Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Providers: Most adoptions are processed through local orphanages or adoption agencies identified by U.S. or other foreign-based adoption agencies. Unlicensed adoption agencies or orphanages in Taiwan may not take legal custody of a child for the purpose of intercountry adoption. We strongly encourage the use of only licensed adoption service providers in Taiwan.

Adoption service means any one of the following six services:

o   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 PAP(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 PAP(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. 22 CFR 96.2 Definitions.

Note: See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required. 

  • Adoption Application: An application for adoption must be first submitted to the Taiwan District Court. As of April 1, 2013, this application must include a letter from AIT indicating that the preliminary determination regarding the child’s likely immigration eligibility has been completed together with a copy of the original USCIS letter. The PAP(s) or a designated representative will receive a notice to appear in one to two months. During this waiting period, a Taiwan social worker from the local Bureau of Social Affairs appointed by the Family Court will review the foreign (U.S.) home study. After a hearing, the court will rule on the adoption case (usually within two months) and publish a final ruling three weeks later.

  • Time Frame: Intercountry adoptions in Taiwan may take up to two years from initial contact with the adoption agency in the United States until the immigrant visa is issued. This time includes approximately 4-6 weeks for the PAIR processing by USCIS following the match. The Taiwan District Family Court will take approximately five to six months to issue the final ruling on the adoption petition.

  • Adoption Fees: 
    The following fees apply to adoptions in Taiwan:

  • Court processing fee – NT 1,000, or about U.S. $30

  • Taiwan passport application fee (regular fee) – NT 1,300, or U.S. $43. The application process can be expedited by paying fees of up to NT 900, or U.S. $30.

  • Taiwan Household Registry (HHR) application fee – NT 15, or U.S. $0.50 per copy 
    (all Taiwan residents are part of an efficient household registry system that tracks events such as births, deaths, marriage, and divorce)

  • Translation fees – Variable

  • Taiwan notary fees – U.S. $50 per document.

We encourage PAPs to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either by them directly or through their U.S. adoption service provider, and to raise any concerns regarding any payment that you believe may be contrary to U.S. law, or the law of Taiwan with your adoption service provider, and, when appropriate, through the Complaint Registry. Improper payments may violate applicable law, or create the appearance of buying a child, and could put all future adoptions in Taiwan at risk. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, for instance, makes it unlawful to make payments to foreign authorities to assist in obtaining or retaining business. Further, the UAA and IAA make 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 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 should itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process.

  • Documents Required:

After a child has been identified and the PAIR process has been completed with USCIS, the PAPs must submit the following documents to the Taiwan authorities to process the local adoption:

  • Power of attorney, in English and Chinese, appointing the Taiwan orphanage or social worker to represent the PAP(s)

  • U.S. home study report and Chinese translation

  • Copy of the law of the U.S. state of domicile of the PAPs pertaining to international adoption with Chinese translation certified by the TECO office (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office) having jurisdiction over the place of the PAPs’ residence in the United States

  • Evidence of PAPs’ suitability to adopt in the United States (included in U.S.-certified home study report)

  • I-797 approval notice (indicating Form I-600A approval) from USCIS

  • Signed adoption agreement notarized by the TECO office having jurisdiction over the place of the parent(s)' residence (in English and Chinese)

  • AIT’s notice of USCIS’ PAIR review with USCIS’ original PAIR letter indicating that a preliminary determination regarding the child’s likely immigration eligibility has been completed

  • Other documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.) as requested by the orphanage, agency, or Taiwan authorities

Please note: All documents originally produced in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Documents issued in the United States that will eventually be submitted to Taiwan courts must be translated into Mandarin, must be certified by the TECO office for that district, and English versions must be notarized by a U.S. notary public.

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.

6. Receive a Determination on your Form I-600

Under the PAIR program, your Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Adopted Child, is not adjudicated until after your adoption is complete. You will need to submit the final adoption decree issued by the Taiwan District Family Court, as well as the child’s identity and travel documents, to AIT in order to complete the processing of the I-600 and receive a final determination on the immigration eligibility of your child. 
 
You will need to apply for several documents before you submit your decree: 
 
Birth Certificate

If you have finalized the adoption in Taiwan, you will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child. Taiwan birth certificates, once issued, cannot be modified or amended. PAPs can apply for a birth certificate from the hospital of birth and/or from the local Household Registration office where the child was registered at the time of birth. For further information, see the Department of Household Registration, Ministry of Interior website.

If you have been granted custody for the purpose of adopting the child in the United States, the birth certificate you obtain will, in most cases, not yet include your name.

Taiwan Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Taiwan.

For information on how to apply for a new passport in Taiwan, please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website. The fee is NT 1,300 or U.S. $43, and the turn-around time is approximately four days. Expedited processing requires an additional fee of up to NT 900 or U.S. $30. 
 
For further details regarding Taiwan passport application fees, please refer to the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at en.mofa.gov.tw.

7. Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home U.S. Immigrant Visa

If your Form I-600 is approved, you then need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child at AIT. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the AIT must be provided the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child.

Before coming for your child’s immigrant visa interview, please complete an Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) online at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). You will need this information to log into CEAC to file the DS-260 for your child. You 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. 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 or +1-603-334-0700 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.

You may submit your immigrant visa application and medical report when you submit the final, certified adoption decree, birth certificate, and Taiwan passport for final adjudication of your Form I-600. If a consular officer determines that the child is eligible for a visa, visa issuance after the final interview generally takes less than 24 hours. It is usually possible to provide the visa to adoptive parents on the same day as the immigrant visa interview. You can find instructions for applying for an immigrant visa on the adoption page of the AIT website.

U.S. Citizenship 

For adoptions finalized abroad prior to the child’s entry into the United States: An adopted child 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 automatically if the child otherwise meets the requirements of section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including that the child is under the age of eighteen.

For adoptions finalized after the child’s entry into the United States: You will need to complete an adoption following your child’s admission into the United States and before the child turns eighteen for the child (if he or she otherwise meets the requirements of section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship.

*Please be aware that if your child did not qualify to become a citizen upon admission to the United States, it is very important that you take the steps necessary so that your child does qualify as soon as possible. Failure to obtain citizenship for your child can adversely affect many areas of his/her life including family travel, eligibility for education and educational grants, and voting.

Read more about the Immigration and Nationality Act and Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

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 Taiwan
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 Taiwan, see the Department of State’s Information on Taiwan.

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 Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country.  Enrollment makes it possible for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Taiwan, 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 Taiwan, 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

[Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reporting Requirements]

We urge you to comply with Taiwan’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 Taiwan’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 adoptions.  

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 the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei, 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-600/A process.

The Complaint Registry is an internet-based registry for filing complaints about U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers.  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

The American Institute in Taiwan
Consular Section
Immigrant Visa Unit
American Institute in Taiwan
Number 100, Jinhu Road
Neihu District 11461
Taipei City, Taiwan
Tel: (886) 02-2162-2005
Fax: (886) 02-2162-2253
Email: aitadoptions@state.gov
Internet: ait.org.tw  

Taiwan’s Central Authority
Ministry of Health and Welfare

12F, No. 488, Sec. 6
Zhong Xiao E. Road, Nangang Dist.
Taipei City 115, Taiwan
Tel: 886-2-2653-1776/886-4-2250-2850
Internet: mohw.gov.tw

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States
4201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
Tel: (202) 895-1800
Email: tecroinfodc@tecro-info.org

*Taiwan also has offices (consulates) in: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Seattle

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
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 filing a Form I-600A application or a Form I-600 petition with the
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 
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov

Last Updated: February 9, 2024

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

The American Institute in Taiwan
No. 100, Jinhu Road
Neihu District 11461
Taipei City, Taiwan
Telephone
+(886) 2-2162-2000 ext. 2306
Emergency
+(886) 2-2162-2000. 
Fax
+(886) 2-2162-2239

Taiwan Map