The Department of State Strongly Recommends Against Adopting from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Last Updated: April 12, 2017

This Alert Supersedes the Alert Issued on April 25, 2016

The Department of State continues to ask adoption agencies not to refer new Congolese adoption cases for U.S. prospective adoptive parents as the ongoing exit permit suspension remains firmly in place. The Department of State strongly recommends against initiating an adoption in the DRC at this time.  

We continue to work with the Congolese government so that Congolese children with finalized adoptions waiting for an exit permit can join their adoptive families as soon as possible. We remain committed to engaging with the Congolese government on long-term adoption reforms.