Please see our section on Adoptions from the United States for more information on the process for adopting a child from the United States. We urge prospective adoptive parents residing abroad who are considering adoption of a child from the United States to consult with Turkey’s Central Authority, for its determination as to whether it considers the adoption to be subject to the Convention.

Turkey 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 Turkey.

Turkey is not considered a country of origin for intercountry adoption at this time.  While adoption is legally possible, adoptions from Turkey by foreign officials are rare. No child from Turkey has 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 Turkey, including adoptions of children from Turkey by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by U.S. citizens living in Turkey.

The adoption authorities in Turkey give priority to Turkish residents. Foreign nationals generally can only adopt children who cannot be placed with Turkish families. Children available for adoption by foreign nationals are generally older and special needs children. Turkish law requires prospective adoptive parents to spend a year caring for and bonding with the child in Turkey prior to finalizing the adoption. Although Turkish law allows for a child to leave Turkey during the one-year bonding period, the prospective adopting family is not granted legal custody and therefore, a U.S. visa cannot be issued until the probationary period is over and adoption is final. Under these circumstances, prospective adopting parents are expected to remain in Turkey until the bonding period is over and the adoption is finalized.

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

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

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

TURKEY’S ADOPTION AUTHORITY:
Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policies, General Directorate of Children Services
Aile, Çalışma ve Sosyal Hizmetler Bakanlığı Çocuk Hizmetleri Genel Müdürlüğü Address Eskişehir Yolu Söğütözü Mah. 2177 Sokak No:10/A Kat.10.11.12.13 06510 Ankara
Tel: +90 312 705 5059 / 5109 / 5358
Fax: +90312 705 50 60
E-mail: evlatedinme.chgm@ailevecalisma.gov.tr; aydeshd@ailevecalisma.gov.tr; cocukhizmetleri@ailevecalisma.gov.tr
Website: https://www.aile.gov.tr/

U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey 
Address: 1480 Sok No:1 Cukurambar Mah Cankaya 06530, Ankara
Tel: 90-312-294-0000 (emergencies only)
Fax: 90-312-232-7472
Email:  AnkaraIV@state.gov
Internet: https://tr.usembassy.gov/

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov
Website: 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 National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet:  uscis.gov