What is the Designated List?

  • The Designated List refers to the list of countries that are named on the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) Order 1973. (See also the Home Office leaflet, 'Intercountry Adoption and the Immigration Rules'). The UK automatically recognises an adoption made in any of the countries named on the Designated List.
  • The Designated List is currently being reviewed under the provisions of the Adoption and Children Act 2002. Further information on the progress of the review will appear on this website.

Which countries are on the Designated List?

Commonwealth countries:

  • Anguilla
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Fiji
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Guyana
  • Hong Kong
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Montserrat
  • Namibia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pitcairn Island
  • St Christopher and Nevis
  • St Vincent
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe.

Foreign countries:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • China (but only where the child was adopted on or after 5 April 1993 and was living in England or Wales on or after 10 July 1995 and will be living in Scotland on or after 10 February 1996 and will be living in Northern Ireland)
  • Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroes)
  • Finland
  • France (including Reunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guyana)
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • The Republic of Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • The Netherlands (including the Antilles)
  • Norway
  • Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira)
  • Spain (including the Balearics and Canary Islands)
  • Surinam
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • United States of America
  • Yugoslavia (but none of the states which make up the former Yugoslavia).
     

What will it mean if I adopt from a country that is not on the Designated List?

  • If the child was adopted in a non-designated country, you will need to re-adopt in a UK court. An adoption order made in this country will then automatically confer British citizenship on the child if either you or your partner is a British citizen at the time the adoption order is made.