International adoption country guide
Cambodia: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Cambodia, were born there and adopted in the UK, or have a birth parent from there.
Research last refreshed: September 2026
Ask the Adoptee Rights Assistant
Start by identifying the records and rules that apply
War/genocide/displacement mean DNA may be unusually important where documentary records are absent.
Resources have been selected for practical use from the UK where possible. Remote/online availability, ID requirements, fees and current contact details must be checked for current information before the Assistant recommends a resource.
Check the current procedure before applyingThis guide explains the likely process, but forms, contact details, eligibility and access rules can change. Check the linked source before sending identity documents or paying a fee.
Choose the situation that describes you
Adopted in Cambodia
What applies: First establish the date and place of the legal adoption in Cambodia, and identify the original birth/civil, adoption, court, agency or welfare records separately.
How to look for records: Start with any surviving adoption/evacuation/orphanage/NGO/immigration records and establish the exact place and circumstances of separation.
How to look for family: Reconnecting Cambodia is a linked to the UK DNA led family finding initiative for people of Cambodian origin separated by war, genocide, adoption and migration. DC-Cam also runs family tracing relating to Khmer Rouge era separation.
Important: Do not assume that access to one Cambodia record repository gives access to the whole adoption file. Historic law and record survival may differ from the current adult process.
Born in Cambodia and brought to the UK to be adopted
What applies: First establish whether the legal adoption was completed in Cambodia or in the UK. If that is unknown, keep both procedures open rather than assuming where the adoption order was made.
How to look for records: Use the Cambodia birth/civil and before adoption record procedures described for this country, while separately tracing the UK adoption/receiving-agency, local authority, court and immigration trail.
How to look for family: Reconnecting Cambodia is a linked to the UK DNA led family finding initiative for people of Cambodian origin separated by war, genocide, adoption and migration. DC-Cam also runs family tracing relating to Khmer Rouge era separation.
Important: The original birth-country record and the later UK adoption/recognition record are different sources. Nationality of the adopters does not determine where the original birth record is held.
One parent was from Cambodia
What applies: Do not process this as an intercountry-adoption record case unless the user's own adoption occurred there. Start with the verified identity of the parent and the strongest known place/date in Cambodia.
How to look for records: Use civil registration, archives and genealogy resources for Cambodia once the parent's identity and locality are established. Adoption-specific authorities are relevant only if the parent's own adoption/history makes them so.
How to look for family: Reconnecting Cambodia is a linked to the UK DNA led family finding initiative for people of Cambodian origin separated by war, genocide, adoption and migration. DC-Cam also runs family tracing relating to Khmer Rouge era separation.
Important: A parent being from this country does not by itself create an entitlement to adoption records. Living-person privacy and civil registration access rules may restrict what can be obtained.
Records and family finding
Start with records
Start with any surviving adoption/evacuation/orphanage/NGO/immigration records and establish the exact place and circumstances of separation.
Looking for family
Reconnecting Cambodia is a linked to the UK DNA led family finding initiative for people of Cambodian origin separated by war, genocide, adoption and migration. DC-Cam also runs family tracing relating to Khmer Rouge era separation.
DNA
Use DNA as a separate source of evidence, not as proof by itself. Prefer multiple matches/shared match analysis plus documentary evidence. Country-specific DNA programmes are listed where verified.
Peer support
Reconnecting Cambodia is closely connected to lived experience; additional Cambodian adoptee groups should be checked live.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesFirst establish the strongest available identifying information from adoption, birth, court, agency, welfare/institution and receiving-country records.
If you have a name or placeUse the verified name plus place/date to move into civil registration, archives, genealogy databases, local history and specialist tracing processs.
If the search has stalledRe-check alternate repositories and historic jurisdictions; consider DNA and verified specialist/peer organisations; record whether a file was not found, destroyed or transferred.
Verified sources and resources
Official services and independent or adoptee-led resources are shown separately. Check current eligibility, security, costs and capacity before supplying personal information.
Adoptee-led peer and search resources
DNA led family finding for separation by war, genocide, adoption and migration
Things to check: DNA privacy/consent terms must be read; results require documentary interpretation
Other verified resources
Family tracing for Khmer Rouge era separation/disappearance
Things to check: Not adoption-specific
This country guide provides general information, not legal advice or a tracing service. Records and family finding across borders can involve privacy, consent and personal safety considerations. Verify the current official procedure before acting.
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