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. Overall timing varies widely by country and case; international travel and in-country steps can last weeks to several months.

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): A moratorium on opening new international adoption files with certified bodies is in force. Existing files and limited exceptions are treated separately. Families should contact SASIE and Soleil des nations directly to confirm how the current moratorium applies to their situation.

If you have Haitian family connections: A limited relative-adoption exception may follow a different pathway and may not require a certified body in the same way, even when the general program is suspended. Confirm directly with 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 a significant international adoption corridor for Quebec families, with Société formons une famille (SFUF), the Ste-Julie-based certified body, listed for Vietnam.

The historical picture: Quebec-Vietnam adoption has operated intermittently for years, with periods of suspension followed by reopening when country-specific arrangements and program requirements changed. Confirm Vietnam's current treaty and program status with SASIE; Quebec's international-adoption system follows the 1993 Hague Convention framework where applicable.

The applicable safeguards depend on Quebec's framework, Vietnam's current rules, and the specific file. The SASIE may impose additional requirements, so confirm the current process directly before committing to a program.

Current status (2025-2026): Société formons une famille is listed for Vietnam, but the current moratorium on opening new files with certified bodies applies unless an exception or existing-file rule is relevant. Contact SASIE and SFUF directly to confirm the status of any proposed file.

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; international travel can last weeks to several months depending on the case
• 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.

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