• Foreigners who have domicile in a foreign country should submit their application to the relevant government agency responsible for child adoption matters in the country where they have domicile or to the organization for child welfare authorized by the government of that country to facilitate international adoptions.
• Foreigners residing in Thailand with valid foreign identity documents should submit their application to adopt a child at the Child Adoption Centre, Department of Social Development and Welfare, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Bangkok, Telephone number 02-246-8651, Fax 02-247-9480.
• Foreigners temporarily residing in Thailand with a work permit issued by the Department of Labor, residing in Thailand for at least one year before the date of application, and having fulfilled the prescribed period for fostering a child within the country, should submit their application to adopt a child at the Child Adoption Centre. All documents must be endorsed by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General located in the applicant's home country.

1. The applicant must be over 25 years old and must be at least 15 years older than the child.

2. The applicant must meet the qualifications required by the laws of the country where they have domicile to adopt a child.

1. For Applicants Seeking to Adopt a Child

Applicants seeking to adopt a child must contact the government agency or organization authorized by the government of the country they have domicile in, which handles matters related to child adoption. This is to obtain the following documents:

• A study report and family photographs of the applicant seeking to adopt a child
• A letter certifying suitability to adopt a child
• A letter certifying the commitment to supervise, care for, and submit progress reports to the Department of Public Welfare not exceeding once every two months for a period of six months
• An application form for child adoption
• Health certificate of the applicant seeking to adopt a child from a medical practitioner
• A marriage certificate
• A divorce certificate (if previously married)
• Occupation and income certificate
• Financial statement
• Property certificate
• Letters of two references
• Four passport-sized (4.5 x 6 cm) photographs of the applicant
• Document certifying that the applicant has been granted permission for the child's entry into the country
• If the application is made through a non-governmental organization for child welfare, a copy of the organization's authorization and letters from government agencies certifying the legitimacy of the organization

2. For the Party Giving the Child

• Thai national ID Cards of the guardians
• A Thai House Registration
• A marriage certificate
• A divorce certificate or court order
• Certification from the district office or sub-district administrative organization, according to Form Por Kor.14, certifying that the child's biological parents are not registered as married to each other and that the child's father has not registered paternity and has not canceled his paternity for several years
• Consent letter (Form Bor Tor. 5) from the person with authority to give consent
• Testimonial record, according to Form Por Kor. 14
• One passport-sized (4.5 x 6 cm) photograph of each guardian

3. For the Child Who Will Be Adopted

• Child's birth certificate.
• Child's house registration
• One passport-sized (4.5 x 6 cm) photograph of the child
• Consent letter (Form Bor Tor. 6) from the child who will be adopted

1. Once all the necessary documents are prepared, the social workers or relevant government official will assess whether the applicants meet the legal qualifications. If it is found that the applicant possesses the appropriate qualifications, has a stable living situation, good character, good behavior, a stable source of income, a good family background, as well as physical and mental well-being, and is suitable to provide care and support for the child, the official will compile all the details for presentation to the director before proposing to the committee for the approval of the qualifications of the applicant as a morally adopted child. In cases where the child is being given up voluntarily, the committee will consider the child at the same time.

2. In the case of requesting the adoption of a government welfare child, after the Child Adoption Committee has approved the qualifications of the applicants, the Child Selection Committee will consider selecting a government welfare child for the applicants based on the waiting list.

3. The Department of Social Development and Welfare will provide the child's history along with photographs to the prospective adoptive parents for their consideration through the relevant agency.

4. Once the prospective adoptive parents have confirmed their acceptance of the child, social welfare officers will propose to the Child Adoption Committee to approve the prospective parents to take the child for a trial period. Prior to taking the child outside the Kingdom of Thailand for the trial period, permission from the Minister of the Ministry of Security and Human Resources must be obtained.

5. After receiving approval from the Minister, the Department of Social Development and Welfare will schedule an interview with the Child Adoption Committee and allow the child to be taken for a trial period of at least 6 months. The overseas agency cooperating with the Department will supervise the trial period and submit progress reports to the Department every two months for a total of 6 months.

6. Once the trial period of 6 months is completed, and there are three complete reports on the trial period, and if it is found that the results of the trial period are satisfactory, and the child is living happily with the prospective adoptive family, the officers will summarize the reports and submit them to the Committee for consideration. The Committee will then approve the prospective adoptive parents to proceed with registering the child as their adopted child according to the law.

7. Prospective adoptive parents must proceed to request the registration of the adopted child at the Thai Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence. The Department of Social Development and Welfare will send a letter of cooperation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Ministry of Security and Human Resources to inform the Thai Embassy or Consulate, as well as relevant agencies and the prospective adoptive parents, simultaneously.

8. In the case where prospective adoptive parents are residing in Thailand, the registration can be carried out at the district office or sub-district office, similar to the process for requesting Thai adoption.

9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send a set of copies of photographs of the registration document (Form 14) to the Department of Social Development and Welfare as evidence that the process of adopting the child by the prospective adoptive parents (each case) has been completed in accordance with all legal requirements.

The Child Welfare Act of 1979, Section 6, stipulates that "No person, other than the government officials from the Department of Social Development and Welfare assigned by the Department, or organizations approved by the Director-General, shall engage in any activities, whether directly or indirectly, for the purpose of receiving children as adopted children."

Section 7 of the same Act further states that "Organizations intending to engage in activities for the purpose of receiving children as adopted children must submit an application for a license to the Director-General..."

Currently, there are four private child welfare organizations that have been granted permission to operate for the purpose of receiving children as adopted children under the supervision of the Department of Social Development and Welfare.

• Sahathai Foundation
• Friends for all Children Foundation
• Pattaya Orphanage Foundation
• Thai Red Cross Children Foundation