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China Alert

The Ministry of Children and Family Development, Adoption Services would like to bring the following information to the attention of Chinese citizens (who are also BC residents) who are considering adoption from China.

  • On January 1, 2006 China officially joined the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention). The Hague Convention also has the force of law in British Columbia and provides the legal structure for adoptions by BC residents.
  • Under the Hague Convention, the central authorities of both countries must approve the adoption. Currently the Central Authority for China, the China Centre of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), does not become involved in adoptions for Chinese citizens who are also BC residents. CCAA considers these adoptions to be domestic adoptions instead of international adoptions.
  • However, without the explicit approval of CCAA to these adoptions, British Columbia cannot issue the necessary documents to Citizenship and Immigration Canada regarding the child's entry into the province.
  • In regard to the adoption of relatives, China has stated relative adoptions are complex and may take time because the CCAA has to obtain documents from the authority in the province where the child resides. These documents are necessary in order to ensure that the relationship is genuine and the adoption is taking place in the best interest of the child. Relative adoption applications have the same procedures as other foreign adoptions and must go through CCAA for the final approval.
  • We will continue to work with CCAA and the Canadian Federal authorities in the hopes of coming to an agreement that meets the legal requirements of both countries.