Adoption Agencies and Information for
South Africa

The following is intended as a very general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child from a foreign country and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. Two sets of laws are particularly relevant: 1) the laws of the child’s country of birth govern all activity in that country including the adoptability of individual children as well as the adoption of children in country in general; and 2) U.S. Federal immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States.

The government offices responsible for adoption in South Africa are the following:

Commissioner of Child Welfare
Private Bag X61
Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Tel: 012-328-4026

Department of Social Development
Registrar of Adoptions
Private Bag X901
Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Tel: 012-312-7592

SOUTH AFRICA EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES:
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa
3051 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: 202-232-4400

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.

Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children
The U.S. Department of State: South Africa 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.

[ Return to International Child Adoption ]
[ Return to International Child Adoption Agencies ]
[ Return to Domestic Child Adoption Agencies ]
[ Return to the Home Page of Adoption Services ]