|
Approvals |
The
New Zealand Central Authority must approve the applicants |
|
Citizenship |
The
applicants must be habitually resident in New Zealand. One of the
applicants must be either born in New Zealand or a New Zealand Citizen.
If the applicant is a New Zealand Citizen by descent they must apply
first to become a full New Zealand Citizen. Permanent residents can
adopt but there is a different process. |
|
Age of applicants |
Applicants must be aged between 25 and 60 years and at least 20 years
older than the child to be adopted and should not be more than 40 years
older than the child. (Although there is a certain degree of
flexibility) |
|
Applicant couples |
Couples must be legally married for two years (except where one of the
applicants is infertile, in which case there is no minimum duration of
marriage required). Same-sex couples cannot adopt from Chile.
Applicants
must learn enough of the Spanish language to be able to communicate with
the child. |
|
Previously divorced applicant(s) |
If
either applicant has been previously divorced a copy of the divorce
decree is required. |
|
Single applicants |
Single
applicants are not accepted. |
|
Religion |
Not a
criterion. |
|
Infertility |
Not a
criterion. |
|
Health |
Couples
must be in good health, both physically and mentally. If either
applicant has any disabling illness or life endangering illness, they
will not be considered. |
|
Number of children in the family |
There is no
set limit on the number of biological or adopted children, each case is
considered individually. However, if the applicants have more than 3
children, the Chilean Central Authority's (SENAME) position is that they
will be disadvantaged because SENAME gives priority to applicants that
do not have any children at all (who are the majority of the applicants)
or who only have one other child. SENAME’s reasoning for this where
applicants do not have any children is that the adopted child, being the
first child of the family, will be doted on and this would be beneficial
given the deficiencies of the child.
Chile does not allow adoption of a child older than any current children
the applicants may already have. |
|
Description and age of children |
Children aged 5 and over in the care of the State.
Only one child may be adopted at a time unless a sibling
group. Siblings (the definition includes non blood brothers and sisters
who have developed close relationships in the institution) will not be
separated except under extraordinary circumstances where provision must
be made for them to remain in contact. A child younger than 5 years may
be adopted but only if part of a sibling group (the maximum age of the
older child in the sibling group must be stated) or that child has a
disability or special medical need.
As with
many countries, there is likely to be a preference not to place
adolescent boys in the same home as adolescent girls or with younger
girls, or to place adolescent or younger girls in the same home as
adolescent boys. |
|
Waiting Time |
The estimated waiting
time once applicants have been registered on SENAME's database to
receiving a matching proposal is 12-24 months.
The wider the range of
age, gender and number of children applied for reduces the waiting time. |
|
Travel requirements |
Both
applicants are required to travel and the length of stay in Chile is
approximately 8-10 weeks. Both applicants are expected to stay for the
duration and this is viewed as an important part of the bonding process.
Under exceptional circumstances, one of the applicants may remain in
Chile after the adoption order is granted with a Power of Attorney to
obtain exit clearance and travel with the child. |
|
Post placement reports |
Following the placement Chile requires six monthly post placement
reports for two years. |
