International adoption country guide
Philippines: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Philippines, 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
WWII destroyed some national civil registration copies; local registrar copies may survive.
For intercountry cases, NACC/ICAB guidance contemplates requests through the receiving-country central authority or foreign adoption agency. PLAS forms are publicly available online, including adoptee and birth family personal-history forms and release-of-information forms.
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 Philippines
What applies: First establish the date and place of the legal adoption in Philippines, and identify the original birth/civil, adoption, court, agency or welfare records separately.
How to look for records: Start with NACC post-legal adoption services and archived adoption records, plus PSA/local civil registration.
How to look for family: Use NACC's Post Legal Adoption Services (PLAS) as the primary process for adult adoptees seeking roots, adoption records, authentication, homeland visits and reunion support. NACC's current guidance says PLAS can assist adult adoptees with root search and reunion, and its intercountry FAQ says tracing and reunions are handled in cooperation with local child-caring agencies and receiving-country authorities/agencies. Once a reliable biological identity and locality are established, use Philippine civil and church records for wider family reconstruction.
Important: Do not assume that access to one Philippines record repository gives access to the whole adoption file. Historic law and record survival may differ from the current adult process.
Born in Philippines and brought to the UK to be adopted
What applies: First establish whether the legal adoption was completed in Philippines 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 Philippines 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: Use NACC's Post Legal Adoption Services (PLAS) as the primary process for adult adoptees seeking roots, adoption records, authentication, homeland visits and reunion support. NACC's current guidance says PLAS can assist adult adoptees with root search and reunion, and its intercountry FAQ says tracing and reunions are handled in cooperation with local child-caring agencies and receiving-country authorities/agencies. Once a reliable biological identity and locality are established, use Philippine civil and church records for wider family reconstruction.
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 Philippines
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 Philippines.
How to look for records: Use civil registration, archives and genealogy resources for Philippines 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: Use NACC's Post Legal Adoption Services (PLAS) as the primary process for adult adoptees seeking roots, adoption records, authentication, homeland visits and reunion support. NACC's current guidance says PLAS can assist adult adoptees with root search and reunion, and its intercountry FAQ says tracing and reunions are handled in cooperation with local child-caring agencies and receiving-country authorities/agencies. Once a reliable biological identity and locality are established, use Philippine civil and church records for wider family reconstruction.
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 NACC post-legal adoption services and archived adoption records, plus PSA/local civil registration.
Looking for family
Use NACC's Post Legal Adoption Services (PLAS) as the primary process for adult adoptees seeking roots, adoption records, authentication, homeland visits and reunion support. NACC's current guidance says PLAS can assist adult adoptees with root search and reunion, and its intercountry FAQ says tracing and reunions are handled in cooperation with local child-caring agencies and receiving-country authorities/agencies. Once a reliable biological identity and locality are established, use Philippine civil and church records for wider family reconstruction.
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
Philippine adoptee-led groups should be treated as peer/community support rather than a substitute for NACC. Live-check current activity and membership before referral.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesStart with NACC PLAS and identify the original child-caring agency, DSWD field office and receiving-country adoption agency/authority. Ask for record retrieval and roots-search support rather than relying first on general genealogy.
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 stalledIf national copies are incomplete, check the local civil registrar, church/parish records, original child-caring agency and regional DSWD/NACC records. WWII and later record losses mean local copies can matter.
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
Civil registration, church records, censuses and court records
Things to check: WWII losses affect some national copies; local copies may survive
Adult adoptee roots search, adoption record retrieval/authentication, homeland visits and reunion support
Things to check: Use current NACC forms and confirm which receiving-country channel applies
Forms for adoptee personal history, release of information, post-legal services
Things to check: Check current forms before use
Explains tracing/reunion, record review, child-caring-agency visits and cooperation with foreign authorities/agencies
Things to check: FAQ reflects intercountry-adoption cases; specific to the case routing still required
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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