International Adoption in Cyprus: Hague Convention, Process and Current Reality

If you are living in Cyprus and considering adopting a child from another country, you need to understand the current landscape before investing time, money, and emotional energy. The short version: intercountry adoption from Cyprus has declined sharply and effectively reached zero in recent years. Understanding why -- and what your realistic options are -- could save you years of frustration.

Cyprus and the Hague Convention

Cyprus ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption through Law 26(III)/1994. This is the international framework that governs cross-border adoptions, ensuring that they happen in the best interests of the child and preventing trafficking or exploitation.

Under the Convention, the Social Welfare Services (SWS) act as Cyprus's Central Authority. This means all intercountry adoptions must be processed through the SWS -- private arrangements with foreign agencies or individuals are not legally recognised.

Why Cyprus Is Primarily a "Receiving Country"

Cyprus's small population (approximately 983,000 in the government-controlled areas) and social structures mean there are very few infants available for domestic adoption. Historically, this pushed many Cypriot couples toward intercountry adoption. Cyprus is classified primarily as a "receiving country" rather than a "country of origin" under the Convention.

In practice, this meant that Cypriot families would adopt children from countries with more children available for intercountry adoption -- typically countries in Eastern Europe, Asia, or South America that are also Hague Convention members.

The Numbers Tell a Stark Story

Over the past decade, the number of intercountry adoptions has collapsed:

• 2015: 22 intercountry adoptions (out of 98 total)
• 2018: 24 intercountry adoptions (out of 87 total)
• 2021: 9 intercountry adoptions (out of 57 total)
• 2023: 1 intercountry adoption (out of 26 total)
• 2024: 0 intercountry adoptions (out of 60 total)
• 2025 (through October): 0 intercountry adoptions (out of 20 total)

The decline is not unique to Cyprus. Globally, intercountry adoptions have fallen dramatically as countries of origin have developed their own domestic child welfare systems and as the Hague Convention's subsidiarity principle -- which prioritises keeping children in their country of origin -- has been applied more strictly.

The Process (If You Still Wish to Pursue It)

For those who meet the requirements and are prepared for a potentially lengthy process, the steps are:

1. Suitability assessment in Cyprus. You must first be assessed and approved by the SWS as suitable adoptive parents, just as you would for a domestic adoption. This results in a certificate of suitability.

2. Country selection. You identify a Hague Convention member country that accepts adoption applications from Cypriot residents. Not all Convention countries actively place children internationally.

3. Application to the foreign Central Authority. The SWS transmits your file to the Central Authority of the chosen country. The foreign authority matches you with a child.

4. Travel and placement. If a match is made, you travel to the child's country for the placement. The exact requirements vary by country.

5. Recognition in Cyprus. Adoption decrees issued in Hague Convention member states are automatically recognised in the Republic of Cyprus. For non-Convention countries, you may need to apply to the Cypriot Family Court for recognition.

What the New Legislation Changes

The draft Adoption Law of 2024 introduces several reforms relevant to intercountry adoption:

• Prohibition of private adoptions. All adoptions, including intercountry, must go through the SWS. This eliminates middlemen and ensures compliance with the Hague Convention.
• Official registries. New registries for prospective parents and available children aim to improve transparency and reduce waiting times.
• Mandatory training. Prospective adoptive parents must complete training programmes before being approved.

Common Countries of Origin (Historically)

Before the decline, Cypriot families most commonly adopted from countries in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The specific countries shifted over time as individual nations changed their own intercountry adoption policies. Some countries that were once active sending states have since closed their programmes entirely.

If you are exploring intercountry adoption, the SWS can advise on which countries currently accept applications from Cyprus. Be prepared for the possibility that the list is very short or that wait times are measured in years rather than months.

It is also worth understanding that the costs of intercountry adoption can be substantial. Beyond the SWS assessment (which is free), you may face translation costs, travel expenses, legal fees in the child's country of origin, and agency fees if the foreign country requires you to work through a licensed body. These costs can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of euros depending on the country.

Realistic Alternatives

Given the near-zero rate of intercountry adoption, many Cypriot families are reconsidering their options:

• Domestic adoption remains possible, though the number of available children is limited. In 2024, 60 domestic adoptions were completed. The wait can be long, but it is a functioning pathway.
• Foster care provides an immediate way to care for a child in need, with the possibility (but not guarantee) that long-term fostering may lead to adoption in some cases. Approximately 1,500 children are currently under state care in Cyprus.
• Open adoption under the new legislation allows adoptive families to maintain contact with the biological family, which may make domestic adoption more viable for some children whose parents are willing to consent under these terms.
• Professional foster care is a new option for those with relevant qualifications (nursing, psychology, special education) who wish to care for children with complex needs while receiving a salary.

The shift away from intercountry adoption is not a dead end -- it is a redirection. The children who need families in Cyprus are already here. They are older children, children with disabilities, sibling groups, and children whose biological families cannot care for them. The question is not whether there are children who need you, but whether you are ready for the children who are available.

The decision between adoption and fostering is deeply personal, and the legal and practical distinctions matter enormously. For a thorough analysis of all available pathways in Cyprus -- including the current state of intercountry adoption, domestic adoption timelines, and foster-to-adopt possibilities -- the Cyprus Foster Care and Adoption Guide provides the most comprehensive resource available in one place.

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