Adoption in Singapore: Adopting a child or infant

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Adoption in Singapore: Adopting a child or infant

Adoption is a legal process by which the rights and responsibilities for a child are given up by the biological parents and taken on by the adoptive parents.

Useful online information on adoption in Singapore is available from the Family & Community Development department. 

Requirements of Adoptive Parents

Adoptive parents must be:

• Residents of Singapore
• At least 25 years of age
• At least 21 years older than the child

These rules may be waived if special circumstances justify the adoption (if the prospective parent and the adopted child are blood relatives, for instance).

Requirements the Child must Fulfil

The child must be under 21 years old and a Singapore resident.

A foreign-born child may be adopted, but will need to get a Dependant's Pass from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport (MCYS).

The Adoption Procedure

Permanent residents who intend to adopt a child already resident in Singapore or a child from another country will be supported by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport (MCYS) who will be involved and can provide advice and information.

• MCYS Adoption Service
  At: 512 Thomson Road, 12th Storey MCYS Building, Singapore 298136
  Hotline: 6355 6388
  Fax: 6358 2375
  e-mail

Singapore-born child

There are many reputable adoption agents in Singapore. Once a suitable child has been located file a petition with the Family Court Adoption Petition Service on the Attorney General's Chambers.

The Family Court will appoint the Director of Social Welfare, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) as Guardian In Adoption (temporary legal guardian).

The MCYS then conducts any necessary investigations, draws up the affidavit and prepares the social investigation report.

After the Family Court hears the petition, and assuming everything is satisfactory the Family Court will then grant the Adoption Order and issue a new birth certificate for the child.

• For more information see the Family Court website: Click here 
• Or call the Duty Officer of the MCYS 
  Tel: 6355 6388 from 08:30-17:00, Mondays to Fridays.
• For more information on the adoption process: Click here 

Foreign-born child

The procedure for adopting a foreign-born child is more complex as many more parties are involved. 

• A detailed flow chart is available from the Family & Community Development department: Click here

Briefly, the permanent Singapore residents wishing to adopt a child from another country must: 

• Get a Home Study Report from the MCYS (may take up to five weeks).
• Once a child has been identified, the prospective adopter must submit the Home Study Report and an application for a Dependant's Pass (DP) to the MCYS.
• The MCYS will issue an in-principle approval for a DP and an entry visa for the child (may take up to four weeks).
• The adopter must then go to the child's country of origin and apply for legal adoption there (if necessary), and arrange to bring the child to Singapore.
• When the child arrives in Singapore the adopter must take it to the MCYS to get the DP (and visa, if necessary).
• The prospective adoptive parents must sign a Security Bond to say they will be responsible for the maintenance of the child and pay a Security Deposit.

From here on the process is the same as for a Singapore-born child: the adopter must petition the Family Court for the adoption of the child:

• For details: Click here

The Family Court will appoint the Director of Social Welfare, MCYS, as Guardian In Adoption (temporary legal guardian).

The MCYS then conducts any necessary investigations and draws up the affidavit and prepares the social investigation report.

The Family Court will hear the petition and grant the Adoption Order. This will be sent to the Registry of Births, where the adopters must go to finalise the process and receive the birth certificate. Parents may apply for Singapore citizenship or permanent residency for the child at the same time.

• Different arrangements must be made for adopting a child from The People's Republic of China: Click here

Statutory Declaration

All prospective adoptive parents should be aware that if they are convicted of any offence in obtaining possession of the child for the purpose of adoption in Singapore, the adoption order made by the Court in respect of the child is liable to be set aside. All petitioners are required to sign a statutory declaration to acknowledge that they understand this and that they may also be liable to prosecution if they have acted unlawfully.

All petitioners are also required to declare that the natural parents of the child have given up their child for adoption of their own free will, and have fully understood the implications of the adoption.

• For full information and to download a declaration form: Click here 

Citizenship of the adopted child

The adoption of a child by a permanent Singapore resident does not automatically convey either Singapore citizenship or citizenship of the home country of the adoptive parents. It is advisable to consult the appropriate Embassy or Consulate to determine what options are available and how to pursue them.

Adoption by UK citizens

For citizens of the UK the Consular Centre of the British High Commission can provide information about British nationality or a UK visa for an adopted child. 

• See the British High Commission website: Click here 

Adoption Leave

Adoptive mothers may take four weeks flexible leave to care for adopted children of six months of age and under. 

• For details on Government Paid Maternity Leave: Click here

Further Information

• The Singapore government citizenship website, Family & Community Development, contains much useful information
• The website of Helplinelaw provides information on the legal aspects of adoption, a well as finding a lawyer to act on behalf of the prospective adopters