Adopted across borders
Were you adopted outside the UK, or brought to the UK to be adopted?
Were either of your parents from outside the UK?
International adoption can involve several legal systems, different kinds of records and more than one country. The date, the place where the adoption was made, and the records that survive can all affect the route.
The date matters
Adoption law and access to records can change significantly depending on when the adoption happened. Historic cases should not be approached as though today's rules always applied.
Finding adoption records
Birth records, court records, adoption agency files and immigration records can be held by different bodies, sometimes in different countries. Start by working out what records exist and who is likely to hold them.
Tracing family across borders
Once names, dates and places are verified, tracing may involve civil records, archives, intermediary services and independent family-history research across jurisdictions.
ICAV — an adoptee-led resource
InterCountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV) is an independent, adoptee-led international resource offering lived experience, peer and advocacy material for people adopted across borders.
Find your country
Use the map or search to choose from the countries and jurisdictions already covered by the research. Coverage will continue to grow, and some countries contain a second level of state, province or territory research.
Ask the Adoptee Rights Assistant
Choose a dark green country on the map, or search by country below.
Start with the records you already have
Gather copies of any overseas adoption order or certificate, UK adoption certificate, birth certificate, immigration or nationality papers, agency correspondence and any document naming a court, authority, institution or place.
Write down the exact adoption date and place. A certificate or passport can prove an important fact without proving every legal step that happened.
This section will grow
International adoptees often need to navigate several legal systems and record holders. We are adding more countries and historic routes as the research is verified.
If your country is not listed yet, the Assistant can still use the country, date and documents you have to help identify a sensible starting route.