International adoption country guide
Dominican Republic: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Dominican Republic, 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
Province, municipality, court, institution, CONANI case, adoption year and Spanish names with both surnames determine the record map. Hague Convention procedures and later civil registration must not be treated as substitutes for the underlying administrative and court files.
An enquiry can begin from the UK. Spanish correspondence, certified identity, apostilles, a power of attorney, court involvement or local representation may be required. Obtain the UK receiving, adoption, immigration and nationality file in parallel where relevant.
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 Dominican Republic
What applies: Confirm that the legal adoption or other arrangement was made in Dominican Republic, and identify the date, place, court or authority and institution.
How to look for records: Identify the CONANI administrative adoption dossier, the Children and Adolescents Court that handled the judicial phase, the Junta Central Electoral civil registration office, and any institution or protection body. Request the administrative file, court decision and supporting papers, original civil registration material and institution file separately. A later birth certificate is not the whole file.
How to look for family: No verified public nationwide adult origins application was found. The Adoption Department’s Documentary Section at CONANI is the best official starting point for identifying the administrative dossier and competent court, but its public listing does not promise disclosure or tracing. Ask CONANI to confirm the current adult access and supported contact process, then use reliable names and places before family searching.
Important: Keep CONANI’s administrative dossier, the Children and Adolescents Court, JCE and institution files separate.
Born in Dominican Republic and brought to the UK
What applies: Establish whether the legal adoption was made overseas, in the UK, or in both places; keep the two countries’ records processs open until that is known.
How to look for records: An enquiry can begin from the UK. Spanish correspondence, certified identity, apostilles, a power of attorney, court involvement or local representation may be required. Obtain the UK receiving, adoption, immigration and nationality file in parallel where relevant. Identify the CONANI administrative adoption dossier, the Children and Adolescents Court that handled the judicial phase, the Junta Central Electoral civil registration office, and any institution or protection body. Request the administrative file, court decision and supporting papers, original civil registration material and institution file separately. A later birth certificate is not the whole file.
How to look for family: No verified public nationwide adult origins application was found. The Adoption Department’s Documentary Section at CONANI is the best official starting point for identifying the administrative dossier and competent court, but its public listing does not promise disclosure or tracing. Ask CONANI to confirm the current adult access and supported contact process, then use reliable names and places before family searching.
Important: A UK adoption or registration record does not automatically disclose or replace the overseas birth, court, welfare or institution file. Keep CONANI’s administrative dossier, the Children and Adolescents Court, JCE and institution files separate.
A birth parent was from Dominican Republic
What applies: Start with the records of the country where the person was born and adopted. A parent being from Dominican Republic does not by itself mean that Dominican Republic holds the adoption file.
How to look for records: Obtain the adoptee’s own birth and adoption records first. If they confirm the parent’s identity or a locality in Dominican Republic, use the relevant civil registration, archive and family history sources there.
How to look for family: Use verified full names, both surnames, dates, municipality and institution with CONANI, the court, JCE and archives. Keep official records work separate from supported and consent sensitive family contact. DNA can be a useful parallel family finding process, although database representation varies. A match is a lead, not proof; use shared matches, family trees and records, consider privacy and unexpected discoveries, and check current provider and cross border sample rules.
Important: Do not assume nationality proves birth, citizenship or registration in Dominican Republic. Confirm full names, spelling variants, dates and an actual locality before making overseas enquiries.
Records and family finding
Start with records
Identify the CONANI administrative adoption dossier, the Children and Adolescents Court that handled the judicial phase, the Junta Central Electoral civil registration office, and any institution or protection body. Request the administrative file, court decision and supporting papers, original civil registration material and institution file separately. A later birth certificate is not the whole file.
Looking for family
No verified public nationwide adult origins application was found. The Adoption Department’s Documentary Section at CONANI is the best official starting point for identifying the administrative dossier and competent court, but its public listing does not promise disclosure or tracing. Ask CONANI to confirm the current adult access and supported contact process, then use reliable names and places before family searching.
DNA
DNA can be a useful parallel family finding process, although database representation varies. A match is a lead, not proof; use shared matches, family trees and records, consider privacy and unexpected discoveries, and check current provider and cross border sample rules.
Peer support
ICAV currently lists no Dominican Republic specific group. Its broader South and extended Latin American adoptee group and general search guidance may offer peer support. They are not official record holders; check activity, eligibility, language and privacy before referral.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesUse the adoption judgment, birth document, travel papers and receiving country file to identify CONANI’s dossier, the Children and Adolescents Court, JCE office and institution. Ask the Documentary Section for the current adult procedure and holders.
If you have a name or placeUse verified full names, both surnames, dates, municipality and institution with CONANI, the court, JCE and archives. Keep official records work separate from supported and consent sensitive family contact.
If the search has stalledAsk each holder for written confirmation of retention, transfer or restriction and the relevant review or court process. Then consider regional archives, broader Latin American peer support and corroborated DNA.
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.
Other verified resources
Official adoption authority and administrative dossier starting point
Things to check: Published pages do not promise adult disclosure or tracing
Current adoption service and department process
Things to check: Confirm adult access, identity and document requirements
Current CONANI and Adoption Department Documentary Section contacts
Things to check: A contact listing is not a guarantee of disclosure or tracing
Civil registration and birth certificate authority
Things to check: Civil registration is separate from CONANI, court and institution files
Administrative and judicial adoption phases and civil certificate process
Things to check: Verify current local procedure and adult access with Dominican authorities
Preservation and access principle, subject to state law
Things to check: Does not create an unconditional public disclosure process
Broader Latin American peer support and no Dominican specific listing
Things to check: Independent directory; verify activity and eligibility
Practical search, reunion and DNA safeguards
Things to check: General guidance, not an official record or tracing service
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.
← Return to all researched countries