International Adoption in the Dominican Republic: A Practical Guide

Published on April 27, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Adopting a child internationally is often a complex and challenging undertaking, especially when it comes to embarking on such a process in the Dominican Republic. This Caribbean country, rich in culture and history, offers a precise legal framework and specific procedures to follow to make the dream of a family a reality.

Understanding these essential procedures ensures an adoption that respects the rights and international conventions in force. Our article will guide you through the crucial steps of this administrative journey, while providing practical advice for navigating the Dominican system effectively.

Administrative Procedures for International Adoption

Prerequisite Requirements for Adoptive Parents

• Heterosexual couples married for at least 5 years.
• Minimum age of adoptive parents: 30 years old.
• Age difference between the child and the prospective parents: at least 15 years.
• Adoption by a single person is not possible.
• Applicants must be nationals of a country that has ratified the Hague Convention.
• Financial stability and ability to meet the child’s needs are required.

Required Documents

• Complete file according to the requirements of CONANI (Dominican central authority).
• Proof of marriage, birth certificate, financial statements, medical and psychological certificates.
• Approval issued by the competent French authority.

Preliminary Interviews and Evaluations

Applicants are summoned for an interview with the Dominican Republic caseworker after review of the preliminary file.

Selection and Matching Process

Entity Involved	Primary Role
AFA (French Agency)	File support, interface
CONANI	File selection, proposal
Local Judge	Adoption judgment

1. Filing the application with an accredited organization or the AFA
2. Assignment of a case number by CONANI
3. Waiting for a matching proposal with a child
4. Main categories offered:
   • Healthy children aged 3 or 5 and older
   • Children with special needs (treated or untreated disabilities)
   • Rare sibling groups

Legal Obligations, Timelines, and Judicial Procedure

Key points highlighted:

A stay in the country is mandatory for approximately six months for the entire local phase:

• Presence of both adoptive parents required until the judgment (three to four months).
• After the judgment, one parent may return home, but the other must stay until the procedure is fully complete.

The judgment is issued by the Judge for Children and Adolescents.

Official registration then allows the child to legally leave for the adopting country.

Timelines:

• Waiting period before matching can be up to six years depending on the files offered
• Local procedure: approximately six months, including three to four months required for both parents

Judicial Procedures:

1. Hearing before the local judge
2. Issuance of the adoption judgment
3. Legalization allowing departure from the country

Post-Adoption Formalities

List of post-adoption steps:

• Registration with local Dominican authorities
  • Transcription in local civil registries
• International registration with French authorities via AFA
• Post-adoption follow-up required by certain international conventions
  • Regular reports on integration/health/education submitted for several years

Available Resources for Support

Useful contacts:

• French Adoption Agency (Agence Française de l’Adoption): dedicated information/advice service (+33 1 44 78 61 40)
• Competent French departmental council for family/adoption matters

Additional Services:

• Possible redirection to other projects if refused or unable to proceed in this country
• Detailed fact sheet available on the AFA website (“Dominican Republic”)
• Possibility of individual counseling with an AFA advisor

Since July 2025: The single-file rule has been lifted except for certain states requiring exclusivity — it is now possible for some applicants already engaged elsewhere via AFA in France to also submit their application in the Dominican Republic if their other projects do not concern a country imposing this regulatory exclusivity.

Any recent changes mainly concern this partial lifting of the single-file requirement as well as a strict reaffirmation: absolute prohibition of individual procedures outside accredited organizations.

Specific Procedures in the Dominican Republic

Specific Legal Procedures for International Adoption in the Dominican Republic

The international adoption procedure in the Dominican Republic is strictly regulated, both administratively and judicially. It is primarily intended for heterosexual couples married for at least five years who are nationals of a country that has ratified the Hague Convention.

Legal Steps of Adoption:

1. Contacting an accredited organization or the AFA (French Adoption Agency).
2. Compiling the file according to the requirements of CONANI (Consejo Nacional para la Niñez y la Adolescencia), the local central authority.
3. Filing the application with CONANI, assignment of a case number.
4. Waiting for a child proposal (average time: 6 to 6.5 years).
5. Mandatory stay of the adoptive parents in the Dominican Republic for the entire local procedure:
   • Presence of both parents required until the judgment (approximately 3-4 months),
   • One parent may then return home, but the other must stay with the child until the procedure is fully complete,
   • Total estimated time on site: approximately 6 months.
6. Judgment before the Judge for Children and Adolescents.
7. Registration and legalization of the judgment to allow the child to leave the country.

Documents Required for Filing the Application:

All these documents must be authenticated by apostille or through the Dominican consulate, translated into Spanish if necessary.

Document	Specifics
Passports	Authenticated/apostilled
Birth certificate(s)	Authenticated/apostilled/translated
Medical certificate	Less than six months old
Criminal record check	Less than three months old
Proof of marriage	Marriage > five years required

Typical Timelines:

Time between filing and assignment: 6 to 6.5 years

Duration of mandatory stay in the country: approximately 6 months

Judgment: approximately 3–4 months after start of stay

Government Agencies Involved:

CONANI is at the heart of the process:

• Receives the files,
• Evaluates the applicants,
• Proposes a child matching the profile,

The Judge for Children and Adolescents officially pronounces the adoption during a hearing.

No individual adoption is permitted; you must go through an accredited structure recognized in both states involved.

Specific Eligibility Criteria for International Adoptive Parents:

• Heterosexual couples only;
• Married for more than five years;
• Minimum age often around 30 years old;
• Nationals of a State Party to the Convention;
• Proven financial capacity/family stability;
• Mandatory temporary residence throughout the local phase.

Additional restrictions may exist depending on certain foreign jurisdictions, particularly concerning document authentication.

Differences Between Domestic and International Procedures

Criterion	Domestic Adoption	International Adoption
Priority	Dominican citizens	Foreign citizens
Timeline	Shorter	Much longer
Mandatory stay	No	Yes (>75 days minimum)
Oversight	Local	Accredited organization + CONANI

Post-Adoption Requirements

After final placement:

• Semi-annual reports for one year on integration/development,
• Annual reports for an additional four years,
• Written by recognized experts,
• Translation/legalization required before submission to local authorities.

Practical Tips for Navigating the Administrative System

• Contact a specialized association or an experienced local lawyer in international adoption as soon as possible to avoid any administrative pitfalls;
• Prepare your documents well before any travel, as obtaining/validating them can be time-consuming;
• Plan a solid logistical organization to be able to reside on site for several consecutive months;
• Anticipate a significant budget (>22,000 euros estimated, excluding personal travel expenses).

Available Useful Resources

• Specialized associations for international legal/social support,
• French/foreign consular services based in the Dominican Republic,
• Accredited organizations like AFA or equivalent structures depending on your nationality,
• Advisory services offered by certain specialized local law firms.

Important: Effective access to this system remains very restricted given the significant timelines and restrictive policies primarily aimed at favoring domestic adoptions over international ones.

For any specific steps, it is highly recommended that prospective international adoptive parents wishing to adopt in the Dominican Republic systematically consult the official CONANI website as well as that of their national central authority.

Guide for Expatriate Adoptive Parents

Legal Conditions for Expatriates

• Only heterosexual couples married for more than 5 years can adopt.
• Applicants must be nationals of a country that has ratified the Hague Convention.
• Priority is given to Dominican citizens, then to nationals of Convention member countries.
• Mandatory residence in the Dominican Republic for the entire local procedure (approximately 6 months).
• Adoptive parents must demonstrate family stability and sufficient financial capacity.

Required Documents

Indicative list:

• Full copy of birth and marriage certificates
• Proof of identity (passports, national ID cards)
• Recent medical certificates
• Clean criminal record for each adoptive parent
• Adoption approval or clearance issued in the country of residence
• Social file including the couple’s psychosocial study
• Affidavit stating no criminal convictions

Steps to Follow

1. Contact an accredited organization or agency (e.g., French Adoption Agency – AFA).
2. Prepare the file according to the requirements of CONANI (Consejo Nacional para la Niñez y la Adolescencia), the competent Dominican central authority for adoption.
3. Officially file the application with CONANI; a case number is assigned upon filing.
4. Wait for a child proposal — estimated time between 6 and 6.5 years according to current lists.
5. Mandatory stay in the Dominican Republic during the matching phase: presence of both adoptive parents required for approximately 3 to 4 months until the judgment, then at least one parent must stay with the child until full administrative finalization (up to 6 months total).
6. Judgment by the Judge for Children and Adolescents: formally written judicial decision; notification to biological parents if necessary.
7. Registration and legalization of the judgment with the Attorney General’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant consulate so that the child can legally leave the territory.

Step	Average Time	Presence Required
Filing & waiting for proposal	6 – 6.5 years	–
Local phase/matching	approx. 3 – 4 months	Both parents
Administrative finalization	Up to six months	At least one parent

Accredited Agencies & Government Role

CONANI is the central authority that oversees all procedures.
In France: only the public operator like AFA, sometimes accompanied by certain accredited organizations for international adoption.

The Dominican government controls:

• Legal eligibility,
• Psychological/social follow-up,
• Matching between children offered for adoption and prospective families,

and ultimately pronounces any adoption before its specialized courts.

Typical Timelines

Plan for:

• A wait before a proposal that can reach or exceed six years;
• A stay on site ranging from three to six months depending on administrative complexity;
• Mandatory post-adoption reports every six months or annually for five years after adoption.

Specific Challenges for Expatriates

Main obstacles encountered:

Language Barriers:

• All official exchanges are in Spanish; using a sworn interpreter is almost systematically recommended if you do not master this language.

Culture Shock:

• Different approach to administrative pace; importance placed on personal contacts in all official procedures;
• Sometimes lengthy adaptation needed during your local stay with your future adopted child;

Administrative Difficulties:

• Numerous documents require certified translation/consular legalization;
• Rigorous follow-up required after returning to your home country, under penalty of potential disruption of the adoptive bond;

Practical Advice:

• Prepare linguistically before departure with an accelerated Spanish course.
• Contact an experienced agency that has already provided this type of support as soon as possible.
• Financially anticipate all ancillary costs related to the extended stay on site — estimated minimum cost around €22,000 excluding additional fees.
• Quickly build a local network with other expatriate families or French-speaking/foreign associations present in the country.

Firsthand Accounts

A French family supported by AFA reported waiting over seven years between their initial registration on the waiting list and their actual arrival in the Dominican Republic to meet their child proposed by CONANI. Their main advice is to “never underestimate either the length or the emotional difficulty” inherent in the process, but also “the human richness gained throughout the journey.”

Another expatriate notes that “the logistical support offered locally was decisive,” particularly thanks to advice from a French-speaking association established for several years, which allowed them “to navigate more serenely both the administrative delays and the cultural differences.”