International adoption country guide
Honduras: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Honduras, 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
Adoption date, department, municipality, court, institution and whether the file sat with IHNFA, DINAF or SENAF determine the record map. A new RNP certificate is separate from the underlying court and child protection files.
An enquiry can begin from the UK, but Spanish correspondence, certified identity, apostilles, a power of attorney, court involvement or local representation may be required. Obtain any UK receiving, adoption, immigration and nationality file in parallel.
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 Honduras
What applies: Confirm that the legal adoption or guardianship was made in Honduras, and identify the date, place, court or authority and institution.
How to look for records: Identify whether the case began before or after the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for Honduras on 1 July 2019. Then identify SENAF or its predecessor child authority, the competent childhood or family court, the Registro Nacional de las Personas, and any institution or agency. Request the administrative file, court decision, original civil registration and institution record separately.
How to look for family: No verified nationwide specialist origins service for adults was found. SENAF is the current official starting point for identifying the court and the current or predecessor file holder. Use the court and protection records to establish reliable identities and localities before searching or contacting relatives.
Important: Identify whether the case predates 1 July 2019 and whether IHNFA, DINAF or SENAF held the administrative file.
Born in Honduras 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, but Spanish correspondence, certified identity, apostilles, a power of attorney, court involvement or local representation may be required. Obtain any UK receiving, adoption, immigration and nationality file in parallel. Identify whether the case began before or after the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for Honduras on 1 July 2019. Then identify SENAF or its predecessor child authority, the competent childhood or family court, the Registro Nacional de las Personas, and any institution or agency. Request the administrative file, court decision, original civil registration and institution record separately.
How to look for family: No verified nationwide specialist origins service for adults was found. SENAF is the current official starting point for identifying the court and the current or predecessor file holder. Use the court and protection records to establish reliable identities and localities before searching or contacting relatives.
Important: A UK adoption or registration record does not automatically disclose or replace the overseas birth, court, welfare or institution file. Identify whether the case predates 1 July 2019 and whether IHNFA, DINAF or SENAF held the administrative file.
A birth parent was from Honduras
What applies: Start with the records of the country where the person was born and adopted. A parent being from Honduras does not by itself mean that Honduras 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 Honduras, use the relevant civil registration, archive and family history sources there.
How to look for family: Use verified full names, both surnames, dates and municipality with RNP, the court, SENAF or its predecessor and the institution. Keep official records work separate from supported family contact. DNA may be useful as a parallel family finding process in Honduras, although database coverage can vary. A match is a lead, not proof; use shared matches and records, consider consent and unexpected results, and check current provider and cross border sample rules.
Important: Do not assume nationality proves birth, citizenship or registration in Honduras. Confirm full names, spelling variants, dates and an actual locality before making overseas enquiries.
Records and family finding
Start with records
Identify whether the case began before or after the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for Honduras on 1 July 2019. Then identify SENAF or its predecessor child authority, the competent childhood or family court, the Registro Nacional de las Personas, and any institution or agency. Request the administrative file, court decision, original civil registration and institution record separately.
Looking for family
No verified nationwide specialist origins service for adults was found. SENAF is the current official starting point for identifying the court and the current or predecessor file holder. Use the court and protection records to establish reliable identities and localities before searching or contacting relatives.
DNA
DNA may be useful as a parallel family finding process in Honduras, although database coverage can vary. A match is a lead, not proof; use shared matches and records, consider consent and unexpected results, and check current provider and cross border sample rules.
Peer support
ICAV currently lists no Honduras specific group. Its broader Latin American adoptee groups and search guidance may offer peer support; check language, eligibility, privacy and current activity before referral.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesUse the adoption decision, birth document, travel papers and receiving country file to identify the court, protection authority, municipality and institution. Ask SENAF to confirm the current holder and adult access process, including any predecessor file.
If you have a name or placeUse verified full names, both surnames, dates and municipality with RNP, the court, SENAF or its predecessor and the institution. Keep official records work separate from supported family contact.
If the search has stalledAsk each possible holder whether the file survives, was transferred or is restricted and request the applicable review process in writing. Then consider local archives, broader 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
Current child and family authority, adoption information and contact
Things to check: Ask it to identify predecessor holdings and the current adult procedure
Convention date, authority, court and civil record map
Things to check: US guidance is not a Honduran adult access entitlement
Civil registration and new birth certificate services
Things to check: A later certificate is separate from court and protection files
Current Honduras Central Authority and competent authority links
Things to check: Use the current Honduras Convention entry
Convention status and 1 July 2019 boundary
Things to check: Historic pre Convention files may follow predecessor procedures
Check Honduras specific and broader Latin American peer support
Things to check: No Honduras specific group currently listed
General search, contact and DNA safeguards
Things to check: Not a Honduras government 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.
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