What are the eligibility criteria for adopting a child in Thailand?

Thai legislation is particularly demanding when it comes to the adoption of children. It requires compliance with several eligibility criteria to ensure the well-being and safety of the child. Thus, to successfully adopt a child in Thailand, you must meet all of the eligibility criteria listed below.

Age and marital status of adoptive parents

Adopting a child in Thailand is a particularly complex process. So, to understand the whole route to be taken, do not hesitate to read this guide to adoption in Thailand. Indeed, for Thai legislation, adoptive parents must be old enough to assume their parental responsibilities.

Then, in order to guarantee that they will be able to take good care of the child until he becomes independent, it also imposes that the adopters must not be too old either. Therefore, for the country's authorities, all adoption candidates must be at least 25 years old. Similarly, the age of the adopters must exceed that of the child to be adopted by a minimum difference of 15 years and a maximum difference of 48 years.

However, as in all countries in the world when it comes to child adoption, Thailand gives much more importance to couples who have been married for at least three years. The reason is that it guarantees family stability for the adopted child.

However, single people can also apply for adoption. They only need to meet the eligibility criteria and prove their ability to provide a stable and loving home environment.

Financial status and criminal history of adopters

The financial situation is the fundamental element which attests to the competence of the adopters to provide for the needs of the child. Therefore, as adoptive parents, you must be financially stable before submitting your adoption file. To prove it, it will be a question of providing evidence focused on your income, your assets and your debts.

Here, it should be noted that the Thai authorities straddle this criterion. It is therefore necessary to be accompanied by a lawyer specialized in international adoption issues such as Christophe Larrouilh. His help can also be useful concerning the criminal history of the adopters.

Indeed, Thai law states that adoptive parents must not have a criminal history related to child abuse, abuse or neglect. For this, the country's authorities carry out thorough checks to ensure that potential adopters do not represent a danger to the child.

The physical and mental health and pre-adoption training of prospective adopters

To be eligible to adopt a child in Thailand, applicants must be in good physical and mental health. The aim is to ensure that they are able to properly care for the child by guaranteeing him a loving and secure environment. So, to prove it, you must accompany your file with medical certificates attesting to the state of your health.

In addition, adopted children have emotional, social and educational needs. To understand them and respond to them perfectly, as an adoptive parent, you must undergo pre-adoption training. This will allow you to prepare for the specific challenges associated with adoption and to learn about the needs and expectations of adopted children. In the case of France, it is the French Adoption Agency (AFA) and the Authorized Adoption Body (OAA) that provide this training.