International Adoption

Adoption of Iraqi Children

As of October 2005, there is no adoption under Iraqi law, only guardianship, which the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (formerly the INS) and the Board of Immigration Appeals have deemed insufficient for the purposes of immigration under the Immigration and Nationality Act. As defined by the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, guardianship is only granted to extended family or friends who can provide for the child in Iraq. Additionally, a family cannot obtain guardianship over a child of a different religious faith. Iraqi law does not permit foreigners to obtain legal guardianship of Iraqi children. Iraqi nationals living in the United States who are interested in adopting Iraqi orphans are subject to the same guardianship requirements as other foreigners.

For further information on adoptions abroad, please refer to the International Adoption page of the State Department's Web site or the Department of Homeland Security Web site.