ADOPTING CHILDREN IN INDONESIA
Foreign citizens wishing to adopt a child
in
Indonesia
must fulfill a
variety of requirements set out by the Government of Indonesia. The
Indonesian Department of Social Affairs is the agency designated by
the government to manage the administration of Indonesian adoption
law and regulations.
Important Note: This webpage describes the requirements
that must be fulfilled for the Indonesian government. US citizens wishing to adopt
a foreign child must also meet certain
US
government pre-adoption requirements
in addition to the Indonesian government requirements. These include
a home study by a legal social worker and fingerprinting.These
pre-adoption requirements may take some time, and you are encouraged
to familiarize yourself with the requirements early.
The Department of Social Affairs has
appointed a few agencies through which all foreign adoptions must be
channeled. In
Jakarta
the designated agency is Yayasan Sayap
Ibu. In areas of
Indonesia
where Yayasan Sayap
Ibu is not represented, it is recommended that the prospective
adopters first inquire with the provincial office of the Department
of Social Affairs.
Note: Americans intending to adopt a child in
Indonesia
should not attempt to circumvent the
proper processes.
Adoptions which do not meet the
criteria set out by the Indonesian government for the adoption of
Indonesian children by foreigners will not meet the requirements for
the grant of US permanent residence visas.
Contact the orphanage (in
Jakarta
: Sayap Ibu Foundation, Jalan Barito
II/55, Tel. +62 21
722
1763
) and tell
them you are interested in adopting an Indonesian child. You will be
asked to meet with a social worker for an interview regarding your
motivation and suitability. The basic requirements of the Indonesian
government that adoptive parents must meet are as
follows:
- Prospective adopters must be between the
ages of 30 and 45.
- The couple must have been married for at
least 5 years.
- The couple must be residents of Indonesia
for a minimum of 2 years and have a permit issued by the local
authorities (Rukun Tetangga, Rukun Warga, Kelurahan, Kecamatan),
and a letter from their Embassy in Jakarta (statement of
domicile).
- Couples can be either childless, have
their own natural children, or have previously adopted an
Indonesian child.
- The couple should believe in God.
- Both parents must be able to appear in
Court.
- The adoptive child must be less than 5
years old.
- The adoptive child must be in the care of a registered and
authorized social welfare organization.
Recent legislation also stipulates that
an adoptive child must be of the same religion as the adoptive
parents. Where the religion of the child’s natural parents is not
known, the child will be deemed to be Muslim.
If the Sayap Ibu Foundation determines
that you are suitable, you will have to submit the following
paperwork, which will then be forwarded to the Department of Social
Affairs.
- Letter of no objection to the adoption
from the American Embassy (issued by the Consular section);
- Marriage Certificate which has been
authenticated by the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in the country
of issuance;
- Birth Certificate of both parents which
has been authenticated by the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in the
country of issuance;
- Birth Certificates of previous children,
authenticated by the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in the country
of issuance;
- Reference letters from close relatives of
both prospective adoptive parents stating that they approve of the
prospective parents' desire to adopt an Indonesian child;
- Health statement for husband and wife by a
medical practitioner at an Indonesian government hospital;
- Statement from an Indonesian government
hospital gynecologist regarding involuntary childlessness;
- Income statement;
- Good conduct certificates from the
Indonesian police for both husband and wife;
- Family photos and photos of the home and
surroundings;
- Three photos each of husband and wife.
(3cm x 4cm);
- Statement from the adoptive parents that
they will contact the Indonesian Embassy at future areas of
residence (with US Embassy seal);
- Statement of motivation for adopting an
Indonesian child (with US Embassy seal);
- Statement of domicile from the U.S.
Embassy in Jakarta and from the local authorities
(RT/RW/Kelurahan/Kecamatan);
- Photocopy of Work Permit;
- Photocopies of husband's and wife's
passports and KIMS;
- A letter from the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta stating that the
child will be allowed to enter the United States after the
adoption is granted, and that under U.S. adoption legislation an
adopted child becomes a child of the adoptors as if he/she had
been born to them in marriage.
NOTE: All documents in English must be
translated into Bahasa Indonesia by a sworn
translator
in Indonesia
(Sayap Ibu Foundation can assist if required).
When all the above listed paperwork is
completed, the Department of Social Affairs can authorize the Sayap
Ibu Foundation to release the child to you, provided that you have
been residing in Indonesia a minimum of two and a half years. At
this point you are considered to be the child's foster parents. The
fostering period must last a minimum of 6 months before the adoption
can be finalized in court. An Indonesian social worker appointed by
DEPSOS (Department of Social Affairs) will come to your home at
least once to interview you.
After you have completed the requisite 6 months
of foster parenting, fulfilled the two year residency requirement,
and have delivered all the necessary paperwork, a Court date will be
set. The Court hearing will officially establish that you are the
child's adoptive parents.
In order to obtain a valid court order,
all adoptions must be vetted by an Inter Departmental Committee (Tim
Pertimbangan Perizinan Pangangkatan Anak Antara Warganegara
Indonesia dan Warganegara Asing) which authorizes foreign
adoptions. The court decision must refer to
the approval decision made by this committee.
Approximately 2 weeks after the Court hearing
approving your adoption, you will receive the official court
adoption document.
With that document in hand, you can now apply
for your child's Indonesian passport. The child will not be able to
depart Indonesia, or be issued a U.S. visa, until he/she has a
passport.
Requirements for an Indonesian Passport
include:
- The child's birth certificate;
- Copies of both parents' passports and
residence/work permits;
- Copy of the court adoption decree;
- Letter of domicile from parents' lurah
stating that it is for the child s passport;
- Affidavit from the U.S. Embassy that the
child will not become an American citizen automatically upon
adoption;
- Passport processing fee.
Once you have the passport, you can make
an appointment with the U.S. Embassy to schedule an immigrant visa
interview
.
Still confused? Please check out our most frequently
asked questions page. Or, for more information, please contact one of
our visa assistants by phone at + 62 (21) 3435-9000, by e-mail at
jakiv@state.gov or by fax at + 62 (21)
385-7189
.
