International adoption country guide
Moldova: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Moldova, 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
District, court, territorial child protection office, institution, adoption year and Romanian or Russian spellings determine the record map. Transnistria is outside the Moldovan government’s effective control and may require a separate, safety-conscious assessment. The amended birth certificate is separate from the court and welfare files.
If the person came to the UK, obtain the UK receiving or adoption agency file, court papers and immigration and nationality records in parallel. Confirm whether a later UK adoption order was made. UK records do not replace the records held in Moldova.
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 Moldova
What applies: Confirm that the legal adoption or other arrangement was made in Moldova, and identify the date, place, court or authority and institution.
How to look for records: Identify the current central adoption authority within the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the district court, the Public Services Agency civil status office, the territorial child protection body and any orphanage or institution. Request the adoption decision, adoption authority or welfare dossier, original civil registration, consent and social material, and institution record separately. A later birth certificate or adoption certificate is not the whole file.
How to look for family: No verified public nationwide adult origins or tracing service was found. Ask the current central authority to identify the adoption dossier, district court and territorial holder, and ask the Public Services Agency about the original and amended civil status entries. Establish reliable names and places before searching relatives.
Important: Keep the central authority, district court, territorial welfare, ASP civil registration and institution records separate.
Born in Moldova 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: If the person came to the UK, obtain the UK receiving or adoption agency file, court papers and immigration and nationality records in parallel. Confirm whether a later UK adoption order was made. UK records do not replace the records held in Moldova. Identify the current central adoption authority within the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the district court, the Public Services Agency civil status office, the territorial child protection body and any orphanage or institution. Request the adoption decision, adoption authority or welfare dossier, original civil registration, consent and social material, and institution record separately. A later birth certificate or adoption certificate is not the whole file.
How to look for family: No verified public nationwide adult origins or tracing service was found. Ask the current central authority to identify the adoption dossier, district court and territorial holder, and ask the Public Services Agency about the original and amended civil status entries. Establish reliable names and places before searching relatives.
Important: A UK adoption or registration record does not automatically disclose or replace the overseas birth, court, welfare or institution file. Keep the central authority, district court, territorial welfare, ASP civil registration and institution records separate.
A birth parent was from Moldova
What applies: Start with the records of the country where the person was born and adopted. A parent being from Moldova does not by itself mean that Moldova 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 Moldova, use the relevant civil registration, archive and family history sources there.
How to look for family: Use verified full names, spelling variants, dates, locality and institution with the relevant civil registry, adoption authority, court or decision maker and archives in Moldova. Keep official records work separate from supported and consent sensitive family contact. DNA may provide a parallel family finding lead, but database representation for Moldova may be uneven. Check current provider availability and any rules affecting sample collection or export. A match is a lead, not proof; corroborate it with shared matches and records, consider privacy and unexpected results, and obtain consent before testing another person.
Important: Do not assume nationality proves birth, citizenship or registration in Moldova. Confirm full names, spelling variants, dates and an actual locality before making overseas enquiries.
Records and family finding
Start with records
Identify the current central adoption authority within the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the district court, the Public Services Agency civil status office, the territorial child protection body and any orphanage or institution. Request the adoption decision, adoption authority or welfare dossier, original civil registration, consent and social material, and institution record separately. A later birth certificate or adoption certificate is not the whole file.
Looking for family
No verified public nationwide adult origins or tracing service was found. Ask the current central authority to identify the adoption dossier, district court and territorial holder, and ask the Public Services Agency about the original and amended civil status entries. Establish reliable names and places before searching relatives.
DNA
DNA may provide a parallel family finding lead, but database representation for Moldova may be uneven. Check current provider availability and any rules affecting sample collection or export. A match is a lead, not proof; corroborate it with shared matches and records, consider privacy and unexpected results, and obtain consent before testing another person.
Peer support
ICAV currently lists no Moldova specific group. Its general search guidance may help, but it is not a record holder. Check current activity, language, eligibility, privacy and data handling before using any independent group.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesUse the adoption certificate or order, travel papers and receiving country file to identify the authority, court or decision maker, civil registration locality and institution in Moldova. Ask each identified holder for the underlying file and current adult access procedure.
If you have a name or placeUse verified full names, spelling variants, dates, locality and institution with the relevant civil registry, adoption authority, court or decision maker and archives in Moldova. Keep official records work separate from supported and consent sensitive family contact.
If the search has stalledAsk each possible holder in writing whether the record survives, was transferred or is restricted, and what review or court process applies. Then consider archives, verified peer support and carefully corroborated DNA as separate procedures.
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
Identify the official adoption, court, civil registration or welfare process
Things to check: Published information may not state the adult access procedure; confirm it directly
Identify the official adoption, court, civil registration or welfare process
Things to check: Published information may not state the adult access procedure; confirm it directly
Identify the official adoption, court, civil registration or welfare process
Things to check: Published information may not state the adult access procedure; confirm it directly
Identify the official adoption, court, civil registration or welfare process
Things to check: Published information may not state the adult access procedure; confirm it directly
Peer search and reunion safeguards
Things to check: Independent guidance, not a record holder; verify current activity and eligibility
Peer search and reunion safeguards
Things to check: Independent guidance, not a record holder; verify current activity and eligibility
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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