Adoption Agencies and Information for the Philippines

The adoption procedure differs depending on whether the U.S. citizen adoptive parents are residents in the Philippines or are permanently residing abroad. In general during Inter-country adoptions, custody of the child is granted to the prospective adoptive parents who then bring the child to their home country. The adoption is filed with a court in the adoptive parents'' home country.

The government office responsible for domestic adoptions in Philippines are the Regional Trial Courts, which issue the adoption decrees, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which is also involved in the legal proceedings. For the Inter-country adoptions, the offices responsible for adoption are the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB).

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY (and Consulates) IN THE UNITED STATES:
Embassy of the Philippines
1600 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20086
Tel: 202-467-9300, 202-467-9382

For more information about adoption from this country and about adoption agencies that can assist you, please visit the websites below.  Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any of the adoption agencies they plan to use for adoption services.

Bay Area Adoption Services
Bethany Christian Services
Catholic Charities of Baltimore
The U.S. Department of State: Philippines Adoption and Adoption Agencies
The U.S. Department of State: Authentications Office
Child Citizenship Act of 2000
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Foreign travel registration

*Footnote: The Joint Council for International Children’s Services (JCICS) is one of the oldest and largest membership associations of licensed non-profit international adoption agencies.  All of the above adoption agencies are listed as members of JCICS.