Chile – Foreign Authorization – Requirements and Procedure

Last Updated: November 10, 2021

To support the viability of intercountry adoption as an option for permanency for children in Chile, the Office of Children’s Issues and the U.S. Embassy in Santiago sought information from the Chilean Central Authority regarding its legal requirements for the authorization of adoption service providers (ASP), pursuant to Article 12 of the Hague Adoption Convention.

Chile ratified the Convention on July 13, 1999, and it came into force on November 1, 1999.

The Chilean Central Authority has confirmed it is undergoing a reorganization and is currently not accepting any new applications for foreign ASPs to work in Chile. 

ASPs with questions about adoptions from Chile should contact the Chilean Central Authority, Servicio Nacional de Menores (National Service for Minors), Huérfanos Nº 587, 5º piso, casilla postal 51230, Correo 1, SANTIAGO, Chile, Phone: +56 (2) 2398 4000, Internet: http://www.sename.cl/.  Contact person: Sra. Rosario Martínez Marín, Directora Nacional, Phone: +56 (2) 2398 4100, E-mail: rosario.martinez@sename.cl, or Mrs. Valeria Holtheuer Diuana, Head of Adoption Department (Jefa del Departamento Adopción), Phone: Tel.: +56 (2) 2398 4447 or +56 (2) 2398 4448, E-mail: valeria.holtheuer@sename.cl.

For additional information, ASPs may wish to review the Chile country-information page.