Requirements and Documents Required when Submitting an Application for Adoption
Requests must be petitioned through a lawyer stating the reason why you wish to adopt a child/adolescent and specifying the age and sex of the child you wish to adopt.
- Socioeconomic and psychological studies practiced by a public or private institution, acknowledged by the country or a suitable professional.
- Criminal and police records.
- Clean bill of health -mental and physical-of the adoptive parent (s) issued by a health state-institution.
- Work history indicating position, pay, seniority on the job and social benefits derived from the labor relation. A notarized and authenticated copy of the last two income tax returns or bank statements will be accepted in its place.
- Birth certificate and when applicable, a copy of the marriage certificate or proof of the union of people legally enabled to contract marriage that fulfill the requirements stated on Article 53 of this Code. http://www.legalinfo-panama.com/legislacion/familia/codfam_Ia.pdf
- Two sworn affidavits of persons who know the adoptive parent/parents. In case of a marriage or a union in fact, these affidavits or sworn declarations will refer to their relation like marriage or people who have coexisted in union in fact.
- Color pictures - postal card size each- of each and every room that conforms the home and also the exterior or facade.
- A recent color picture of each adopter as well as the rest of the family member panel that reside habitually in the house where the minor will be living and whose adoption is asked for.
- Acknowledged acceptance in which a follow up period of three years from the adoption declaration will be executed when the adoptee is a minor and which regularity will be determined by the ruling Judge.
- Acknowledge acceptance of a temporary coexistence with the boys/girls/adolescents in adoption.
- If the adoptive parents are Panamanian citizens, a training as adoptive parents's certification is required. If foreign, certificates issued by the central authority of that country or in its place, what is established by the National Directorial Office of Adoption of the Ministry of Social Development.
- In case the adoptive parents reside in a foreign country, a full authenticated copy of the passport and an authorization/document to adopt, issued by the central authority of country of origin of the applicant, is required.
- If the adoptive parents reside abroad, a properly authenticated copy of authorization to enter said country is also required.
Point of Importance in Relation to Adoption
International adoptions are governed by what was established in the The Hague Convention in 1993 regarding the protection of children and the cooperation in the matter of international adoption. Therefore, any foreigner who wishes to adopt a Panamanian child/adolescent must contact his/her Central Authority in his/her country. The Department of State has been designated the Central Authority of the United States. Website at www.travel.state.gov/adoption_panama.
All documents issued abroad must be submitted, properly authenticated and bearing the apostille seal (The Hague Convention of October 5th, l96l). In the latter requirementÕs place, it may also be authenticated by the Consulate or Embassy of Panama in the country of which the application is being issued.
All documents that are not in the Spanish language, must be accompanied by corresponding translations conducted by a qualified interpreter/translator certified to work in the Republic of Panama.
When some of the parties in the adoption process do not speak Spanish, the Judge will assign a certified interpreter or name one ad hoc who will perform and signed the due document.
The Director of the National Directorial Office of Adoptions for the Ministry of Social Development is Maria Roquebert. Both she and Anna Karina Salerno are available for assistance.
Telephone: (507) 500-6079. Email:
adopciones@mides.gob.pa
