Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world. Nearly 65% of the population lives under the poverty level. As a result, many parents abandon their infants and young children to orphanages or worse, because they simply cannot afford to care for them. Other children end up in orphanages because their parents are victims of natural disaster, civil unrest, or poor health and nutrition. These children are waiting for loving and caring couples and individuals to provide a safe, nurturing environment for them to grow up and succeed in all life has to offer.

Destitute Orphans and Children Safeguarding Foundation Nepal (DOCS Foundation Nepal) is one of the primary sources of information and support for inter-country adoption from Nepal.

About Inter Country Adoption from Nepal

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare is the Central Authority for Inter Country adoption. You may find it helpful to read the most recent legislation governing inter country adoption for more information about restrictions and the adoption process.

Please note, at this time you may not specify a particular child from a specific orphanage to adopt. Based on the information from your application, including desired age range of child, gender, and other characteristics, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare will match you to a child who is available for adoption.

Who May Adopt a Child from Nepal?

The Government of Nepal permits adoption by:

1. Couples married for at least four years, and
2. Single Women who are unmarried, widowed, divorced, or legally separated and between 35 and 54 years of age;

Restrictions on Adoption of a Child from Nepal

The age difference between prospective parent(s) and adoptive child must be at least 30 years. Additionally, if prospective parent(s) already have:

1. More than one child of same gender, they are not eligible to adopt a child from Nepal.
2. One child, they are only eligible to adopt a child of the opposite gender.
3. One adopted child, they are only allowed to adopt a child of the opposite gender who is younger than their son or daughter.

 * DOCS Foundation Nepal is working to remove many of the restrictions on inter country adoption, especially #1 above.

What You Need To Do to Adopt a Child from Nepal

To apply for adoption of a child, you must fill out all paperwork and provide all documents that apply to your situation. Click on the links in the list below to download Application, forms, and sample documentation. You can also visit Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare website (www.mowcsw.gov) to download necessary forms and documents at Inter Country Adoption/Forms and Documentation.

• Complete an Application for Adoption

You will need to obtain the following documents to file along with your completed application; all documents should be notarized before submission:

• Recommendation Letter

Letter from an agency, relatives, friends, or family member other than applicant recommending you as an adoptive parent

• Letter of Consent

Authorization by the appropriate government agency or officer of your home country allowing you to adopt a Nepali child

• Guarantee Letter

Confirmation by appropriate government or Embassy authority of your home country that under the law of the country the status of the adopted child is equal to that of a biological child

• Birth Certificate(s) for each applicant
• Copies of each applicant’s passport
• Marriage Certificate or License (if applicable)
• Description of Family/Household

List of all individuals who are part of your household, relation to you, age, and gender; if you have a biological or adoptive child, you will need to include his or her birth certificate

• Health Certificate

Office documentation issued by a licensed medical practitioner must be submitted for each applicant detailing the status of applicant’s health. 

• Character Certificate

Official documentation issued by a government authority in your home country must be submitted for each applicant(s) attesting that applicant is a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record.

• Financial Statement

Applicant(s) must submit documents proving household financial situation, property(ies) owned, and income source(s) for each applicant

• Social, Psychological and Home Study Report(s)

Official documentation from a government agency that has assessed the applicant(s) and their home environment in preparation for the addition of an adopted child

• Information about Prospective Parent Sheet
• Letter of Request for Adoption

Applicant(s) must submit a letter that speaks to their reason(s) for seeking adoption of a child from Nepal.

• Agreement to Comply with Post Adoption Requirements

Statement signed by applicant(s) attesting to comply with post adoption requirements as determined by Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (see “Once Approval for Adoption of a Child is granted” for more details).

• Photographs of Residence

Include photographs showing exteriors and interiors of residence where adopted child is to live

• Submit your completed Application for Adoption with $300 Wire Payment to Nepal’s Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare through a local agency of your home country.

• Grant Power of Attorney to your enlisted agency’s representative to handle legal issues associated with the adoption on your behalf.

 Once Approval for Adoption of a Child is Granted

The adoptive child is allowed to travel outside Nepal once approval is granted to the applicant(s), but they may not leave the country before approval is granted.

Until the adoptive child attains majority (age 18), the adoptive parent(s) will need to submit a report of the child’s condition each year that includes: height/growth, nutritional status, education level/progress, and state of overall health to each of the following:

• Orphanage/Agency through which the adoption was attained,
• Nepalese Embassy or Mission located in your home country, and
• Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare of His Majesty’s Government in Nepal.

In return, the Nepalese Embassy or Mission located in your home country of the will send you a monitoring report each year until the adoptive child attains majority, based upon the information and documents submitted by the adoptive parent(s) in their annual report as well as sent to them by the Government of Nepal. This report is intended to confirm the height/growth, nutritional status, education level/progress, and status of overall health of the adopted child in accordance with the requirements set forth by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare of Nepal.

We invite you to visit Nepal and DOCS Foundation Nepal. Go to www.infonepaltours.com for information and to handle your travel arrangements, including reservation at better hotels and visits to all the historic and scenic sights across our beautiful countryside.