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Time and costs

How long does the adoption process take?

Waiting times of several years are not uncommon. Many factors can affect the time the process takes, including:

the number and characteristics of children needing intercountry adoption
the number of applicants the partner country has already received
the age and needs of the child/children you have been approved to adopt
how long the partner country takes to process your application.

You can contact your state and territory central authority (STCA) for current waiting times for each partner country.

How much does adoption cost?

Adopting a child from overseas can be expensive. Fees vary between STCAs and the partner countries.

You should contact your local STCA for detailed costs.

You may also need to pay fees to the partner country, as well as paying for:

document preparation and translation
travel and accommodation costs
incidentals

Further information on fees charged by overseas authorities can be found at partner countries’.

Remember that paying your application fees doesn’t guarantee that a child will be placed with you.

Other costs

Other immigration and documentation fees you will also need to pay include:

Acknowledgement of country

The Australian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water, culture and community. We pay our respects to the Elders both past and present.