International Adoption from Haiti and Vietnam: What Quebec Families Need to Know

Two of the most frequently asked-about countries among Quebec families pursuing international adoption are Haiti and Vietnam. Both have historical significance as adoption corridors for Quebec — and both are currently complicated in ways that families need to understand before investing time and money into a specific program.

This is not a theoretical question. Families have been caught mid-process when programs have been suspended, sometimes after completing their psychosocial evaluation and paying agency fees. Getting a clear picture of the current status before you begin is the most important thing you can do.

How Quebec International Adoption Works

Unlike the rest of Canada, where provincial child welfare authorities have limited control over international adoption, Quebec has its own central authority: the Secrétariat aux services internationaux à l'enfant (SASIE). No international adoption involving a Quebec resident can proceed without SASIE authorization, and in virtually all cases, families must work through a certified body (organisme agréé) — a non-profit organization specifically authorized by the SASIE for their country of interest.

The SASIE also reviews the child's file before the family accepts a match, and issues the "Letter of No Objection" required by federal immigration (IRCC) to bring the child to Canada. From start to finish — including psychosocial evaluation, SASIE authorization, the foreign country's process, and Canadian immigration — a Quebec international adoption typically takes 3 to 7 years.

Haiti: The Current Status

Haiti has been one of the most discussed and most disrupted international adoption corridors over the past decade.

The historical picture: Quebec families, particularly those in Montreal's Haitian diaspora community, pursued adoption from Haiti in meaningful numbers for years. Soleil des nations, the Montreal-based certified body, ran the Haiti program and facilitated many successful placements.

What changed: The Haitian program has been subject to repeated SASIE moratoria — periods during which the SASIE suspends new registrations due to concerns about the integrity of the process in Haiti. These suspensions are driven by a combination of factors: political instability in Haiti, weaknesses in Haiti's child protection infrastructure, international concerns about trafficking and fraud in the adoption process, and humanitarian crises that have created confusion between emergency evacuations and formal adoption.

Current status (2025-2026): Families should contact both the SASIE and Soleil des nations directly to confirm whether registrations for Haiti are currently open. The status changes, and what was accurate six months ago may not be accurate today. The SASIE's official position can be found through the Quebec government's adoption website, and Soleil des nations can confirm whether they are accepting new applicants for the program.

If you have Haitian family connections: The rules are different if you are adopting a close relative — a first-degree family member such as a niece, nephew, or grandchild. Relative adoption does not require a certified body in the same way and may have a different pathway through the SASIE even when the general Haiti program is suspended. This is worth discussing directly with the SASIE if your situation involves kinship.

Realistic expectations: Even if the Haiti program reopens, families should understand that Haiti's adoption system has been under international scrutiny and that the process has become significantly more complex and slower than it was historically. Families with a strong cultural or family connection to Haiti may still find it the right path. Those without such a connection would benefit from understanding the full current picture before choosing Haiti over a more stable program.

Vietnam: The Current Status

Vietnam has been an active and popular international adoption corridor for Quebec families, primarily through Société formons une famille (SFUF), the Ste-Julie-based certified body.

The historical picture: Quebec-Vietnam adoption has operated intermittently for years, with periods of suspension followed by reopening when bilateral agreements were renewed. Vietnam is not a signatory to the 1993 Hague Convention on international adoption, which means the program operates under bilateral agreements negotiated directly between Vietnam and Canada (with Quebec's SASIE playing its coordinating role on the Quebec side).

The absence of Hague Convention status means the protections and oversight frameworks that apply to Hague Convention countries do not automatically apply to Vietnam. The SASIE has historically been more cautious about Vietnamese placements as a result, and the bilateral framework has required periodic renewal and renegotiation.

Current status (2025-2026): SFUF is the only SASIE-certified body currently authorized for Vietnam. Contact SFUF directly to confirm whether their Vietnam program is currently accepting new applications. The program status is contingent on the bilateral agreement between Canada/Quebec and Vietnam remaining in effect.

What to expect from the Vietnam process: For families who are accepted into an active SFUF Vietnam program:

• The child proposed will typically be younger — Vietnam programs have historically served families seeking infant adoption more than older child placements
• The in-country process requires travel; families typically spend several weeks in Vietnam to complete the local adoption formalities
• The SASIE reviews the child's medical and social file before you accept the match
• Immigration to Canada follows through the IRCC process, with the SASIE's Letter of No Objection as a prerequisite

Language and cultural preparation: The SASIE and SFUF both expect families to demonstrate a commitment to supporting the child's Vietnamese cultural identity. This is assessed during the psychosocial evaluation — the evaluator will probe whether you have Vietnamese cultural knowledge, community connections, or a concrete plan to maintain the child's connection to their birth culture as they grow up. This is not a checkbox exercise; it's a substantive part of the evaluation.

Comparing Haiti and Vietnam as Adoption Paths

The Psychosocial Evaluation for International Adoption

Regardless of which country you choose, the psychosocial evaluation for international adoption in Quebec has specific requirements that differ from domestic adoption:

• Must be conducted by a private psychosocial assessor authorized by the SASIE — not a DPJ social worker
• The evaluation explicitly assesses transcultural competency: your ability to support the child's cultural identity and connection to their country of origin
• The evaluation report is submitted to the SASIE as part of your authorization dossier
• Typical timeline: 4 to 8 months for the private assessment process

The SASIE reviews the complete dossier — evaluation report, criminal checks, financial documentation, medical certificates — and issues its authorization before you can formally register with a certified body for your country of interest.

If you're in the early stages of considering Haiti or Vietnam, the Quebec Adoption Process Guide walks through the full SASIE authorization process, the evaluation requirements specific to international adoption, and how to prepare for the cultural competency components of the psychosocial assessment.

See more Canada guides →