Quebec's Licensed International Adoption Bodies: Société formons une famille, Soleil des nations, and Others

International adoption from Quebec is not something you can arrange independently. Quebec law requires families to work through a certified adoption body — an organisme agréé — that has been specifically authorized by the Secrétariat aux services internationaux à l'enfant (SASIE). These are non-profit organizations that act as the legal intermediary between your family and the child welfare authorities of the country you're adopting from.

Choosing the right body is one of the most consequential decisions in the international adoption process. Each body is authorized for specific countries only, their active programs change as international agreements are suspended or renewed, and their fee structures and wait times differ. This post outlines the main SASIE-certified bodies operating in Quebec and what you need to know before contacting them.

Why You Can't Go Around the Certified Bodies

Under Quebec's International Adoption Act (LAI) and the federal provisions implementing the 1993 Hague Convention, the SASIE maintains direct oversight of every international adoption involving Quebec residents. No international file can proceed without SASIE authorization — and in most cases, that authorization is tied to working through a certified body.

The exceptions are narrow: families adopting a close relative (first-degree) or individuals who are citizens of the country of origin living in Quebec may in some cases proceed without a body. For everyone else, the certified body is not optional.

The SASIE's role is also to review the child's file before the family commits to a match. Once a foreign country proposes a child, the SASIE examines the medical and social dossier. This prevents "blind" acceptances and ensures the family is genuinely prepared for the child's specific needs before they travel or commit to the placement.

Société formons une famille inc.

Based in: Ste-Julie, QC Active programs (as of 2025-2026): Vietnam, Philippines, Burundi

Société formons une famille (SFUF) is one of the longest-standing certified bodies in Quebec. They are most widely known for their Vietnam program, which has been one of the few active corridors for Quebec families in recent years. The Philippines program serves families interested in domestic adoption within the Filipino system, which has its own requirements including country-side residency periods.

SFUF is a non-profit and publishes fee schedules and program information on their website. For families considering Vietnam specifically, SFUF has navigated the complex bilateral arrangements that govern Quebec-Vietnam adoption — including the periodic suspensions and reinstatements that have characterized that program over the years.

Contact SFUF early in your process if Vietnam or the Philippines is your priority country, as their information sessions fill quickly and the pre-application requirements include a home study that must be completed with a SASIE-authorized psychosocial assessor before you formally open a file.

Soleil des nations

Based in: Montréal, QC Active programs (as of 2025-2026): Colombia, Haiti

Soleil des nations focuses on Latin American and Caribbean programs. Their Colombia program has been one of the more stable international corridors for Quebec families — Colombia has a developed child welfare system and a structured matching process that tends to provide more predictable timelines than some other countries.

The Haiti program, however, has faced prolonged suspensions. The SASIE has periodically placed a moratorium on Haiti registrations due to political instability and concerns about the integrity of the local process. As of this writing, the Haiti program through Soleil des nations is subject to the SASIE's current moratorium status — families interested in Haiti should contact both Soleil des nations and the SASIE directly to confirm current status before proceeding.

For families with Haitian or Colombian heritage or ties, Soleil des nations is the appropriate first contact.

Les Enfants du Mandé

Based in: St-Lambert, QC Active programs (as of 2025-2026): Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo

Les Enfants du Mandé specializes in West African adoption programs. These programs involve specific cultural preparation requirements — the SASIE and the body both expect families to demonstrate transcultural competency and a plan for supporting the child's cultural identity from West Africa.

West African programs also tend to have longer timelines than some Asian or Latin American alternatives. Families should ask directly about current wait time estimates, as these shift based on the caseload of the foreign central authority and the bilateral relationship between Quebec and each country.

TDH pour les enfants inc.

Based in: Verdun, QC Active programs (as of 2025-2026): Bulgaria, Ukraine

TDH focuses on European adoption programs. The Ukraine program has been significantly disrupted by the ongoing conflict, and families interested in that country should clarify the current status directly with TDH and the SASIE. Bulgaria's program operates through the Bulgarian State Agency for Child Protection and typically involves children who are older or have special needs.

Enfants d'Orient et d'Occident

Based in: Montréal, QC Active programs (as of 2025-2026): Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan

South Korea's program has historically been one of the most structured and well-documented international corridors for Quebec families. Korea's Holt International is a well-known agency on the Korean side, and the bilateral process is clear. Note that South Korea has been reducing its international adoption program in recent years as a matter of national policy, so wait times have increased and the total number of children placed internationally has declined.

Thailand and Taiwan programs are less commonly pursued but available through this body for families with specific country preferences or connections.

Countries Currently Suspended

Several countries that were once active corridors for Quebec international adoption are currently under moratorium or suspension by the SASIE. This includes:

• China: The China program has been effectively closed to new Quebec applications for several years due to a combination of domestic Chinese policy changes and international concerns about ethical practices.
• Haiti: As noted above, periodically suspended due to instability.
• Ukraine: Disrupted by the conflict.

The SASIE maintains a current list of active and suspended programs on the Quebec government website. Always confirm the status of your country of interest with the SASIE directly before investing time and money in a specific program.

The First Step: SASIE Authorization

Before any certified body can accept your file, you need a décision du secrétariat — authorization from the SASIE to pursue international adoption. This requires submitting a preliminary application that includes basic family information, your jurisdiction of domicile, and your country of interest.

The SASIE also requires your psychosocial evaluation to be completed before they issue the authorization that opens a formal file with a certified body. The evaluation must be conducted by a private psychosocial assessor authorized by the SASIE — a different assessor than the DPJ social workers used in domestic adoption.

The full international adoption process in Quebec — from initial SASIE contact through to the arrival of the child — typically takes 3 to 7 years depending on the country and your specific file. Cost estimates range from $25,000 to $60,000+ CAD, covering SASIE fees, body fees, foreign country fees, travel, legal translation, and immigration processing.

The Quebec Adoption Process Guide includes a detailed breakdown of international adoption costs by program type, a checklist for the SASIE authorization dossier, and guidance on the psychosocial evaluation requirements specific to international files.

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