Intercountry Adoption New Zealand: Rules, Countries, and the 2025 Law Change

Intercountry adoption from New Zealand has always been complex. After September 2025, it became significantly more regulated — and for good reason. If you're considering adopting a child from overseas, you need to understand what changed and why before you take a single step.

What Changed in September 2025

On 16 September 2025, the New Zealand Government passed the Adoption Amendment Act 2025 under urgency. The trigger was evidence that existing loopholes in the Adoption Act 1955 were being exploited. Individuals with criminal or child-protection histories had been able to adopt children through foreign courts and bring them to New Zealand, where some children were subsequently neglected or abused.

The 2025 Act immediately suspended the automatic recognition of overseas adoptions for citizenship and immigration purposes — unless the adoption occurred through either:

1. A Hague Convention country (with a formal Article 23 Certificate of Conformity), or
2. An "exempt country" listed in Schedule 1AAB of the Act

For adoptions finalised in non-exempt, non-Hague countries on or after 18 September 2025, the child cannot automatically enter New Zealand or be registered for citizenship. Those families must instead seek recognition through the New Zealand Family Court or apply for Ministerial discretion — a high bar.

In May 2026, the Associate Minister of Justice introduced the Overseas Adoptions Legislation Bill to make these safeguards permanent beyond the temporary 2025 measure, which is due to expire on 1 July 2027.

Which Countries Are Still Open for Intercountry Adoption

New Zealand is a signatory to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, which means the government treats it as a measure of last resort — only when no suitable placement can be found within the child's home country.

As of 2026, Oranga Tamariki (as the New Zealand Central Authority) facilitates active adoption programmes with a limited number of countries:

• Chile — programme managed through private agencies including Compassion for Orphans (CFO)
• Hong Kong — established Hague pathway
• India — programme available but currently limited by oversight requirements
• Lithuania — rare, but technically available
• Philippines — available through the Hague pathway; involves quota systems and specific eligibility criteria
• Thailand — one of the more active programmes, typically involving private agency support

Adopting from the Philippines: The Philippines programme follows Hague Convention processes. New Zealand applicants typically work with an accredited agency for their home study and then submit documents to the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) in the Philippines. The process is lengthy — typically three to five years — and the Philippines has specific requirements around the age and marital status of applicants. Contact Oranga Tamariki or Adoption First Steps (adoptionfirststeps.org.nz) for current eligibility criteria.

Adopting from Thailand: Thailand operates under a government-run programme. New Zealand applicants must be assessed and approved by both Oranga Tamariki and Thai authorities. Private agencies like Adoption First Steps assist with the home study and Article 15 certificate. The programme has been active but wait times are long.

The exempt countries list (Schedule 1AAB) is broader than the active programme list and includes many Western nations. This matters for relative adoptions — if your child is being adopted from a family member in Australia, the UK, or Canada (all exempt countries), the immigration recognition path is unaffected by the 2025 changes.

The Intercountry Adoption Process in New Zealand

Step 1: Attend an information session Contact Oranga Tamariki (0508 326 459) or an accredited agency like ICANZ (icanz.org.nz) or Adoption First Steps. An initial information session is mandatory.

Step 2: Eligibility assessment and education You complete education modules — sometimes online, sometimes in person — covering the specific country programme you're applying to. For intercountry adoption, these are typically more intensive than for domestic adoption.

Step 3: Home study and Article 15 Certificate A social worker conducts a full suitability assessment, resulting in a home study report. For intercountry adoption, this culminates in an Article 15 Certificate of Eligibility, issued by Oranga Tamariki as the New Zealand Central Authority. The certificate is typically valid for one to two years and must be renewed if a child has not been placed within that timeframe.

The home study for intercountry adoption often requires a psychological report (especially for countries like the Philippines or Thailand), cultural competency assessment, and a detailed financial review.

Step 4: Submission to the sending country Your home study and Article 15 Certificate are submitted to the central authority of the sending country. Matching is controlled by the sending country, not New Zealand.

Step 5: Child referral The sending country proposes a child match. You receive information about the child's background, health, and legal status. You have the right to seek independent medical advice before accepting.

Step 6: Travel and placement You travel to the sending country to meet and adopt the child. Most countries require a period of in-country residency before the adoption is finalised.

Step 7: Article 23 Certificate and return to New Zealand Once the adoption is finalised in the sending country, an Article 23 Certificate of Conformity is issued confirming the adoption complied with Hague Convention requirements. The child is then eligible for an Adoption Visitor Visa (up to six months) or a Dependent Child Resident Visa to enter New Zealand.

Step 8: New Zealand citizenship If the adoption was finalised under the Hague Convention process or via a New Zealand Family Court order, the child receives New Zealand citizenship automatically. If the child entered on a visa and the adoption is not yet fully recognised, they may apply for citizenship by grant after meeting residency requirements.

What It Costs

Intercountry adoption is expensive. Based on the Adoption First Steps fee schedule, baseline costs for a couple in New Zealand are approximately:

This excludes overseas agency fees, travel costs, in-country legal fees, and translation expenses. Total all-in costs for a completed intercountry adoption can reach $30,000 to $60,000 or more depending on the country.

Realistic Timelines

Plan for three to five years from first inquiry to bringing a child home. The 2025 law changes have added uncertainty for families midway through a non-Hague process — if you were pursuing an adoption in a country that is now non-exempt, seek legal advice immediately.

Getting the Detail Right

Intercountry adoption involves navigating two legal systems simultaneously — New Zealand's and the sending country's. The rules change as countries open and close their programmes, and the 2025 reforms created new visa and citizenship risks for families who assumed recognition was automatic.

The New Zealand Adoption Process Guide includes a plain-English breakdown of Schedule 1AAB, what the exempt country list means for different family situations, and how to approach the Article 15 and Article 23 certification process.

See more New Zealand guides →