In order to adopt a child in Singapore, you (the adoptive parents) need to be eligible according to the Singapore adoption law.
The Singapore Adoption of Children Act states that:
- You need to be above the age of 25
- You need to be at least 21 years older than the child you adopt (An exception may be granted if the adopter is related to the child by blood.)
- They should also not be older than the child by more than 50 years.
- If married, you need to have the approval of your spouse
- You need to be of sound mental health
- The child must be under 21 years old and a Singapore resident. A foreign-born child may be adopted, but will need to get a Dependant’s Pass from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport (MCYS).
- Both married couples and singles can adopt a child. However, a single male is not allowed to adopt a girl unless special circumstances exist.
- They must be Singaporean citizens or permanent residents, or hold passes that the Family Justice Courts deem fit to qualify them as residents in Singapore.
*These rules may be waived if special circumstances justify the adoption (if the prospective parent and the adopted child are blood relatives, for instance).
According to the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF), a couple can look for a child to adopt through their relatives, friends or other parties.
Can local couples adopt a foreign-born child?
Yes, but they must meet the requirements set by the authorities and must complete a home study – which costs about $1,500 – that assesses their eligibility and readiness.
The bulk of foreign adopted babies used to come from Malaysia and Indonesia.
But there has been a growing trend of people turning to online forums to look for babies to adopt as there are fewer babies from these countries up for adoption.
How long does the process take?
According to MSF, it takes between five and seven months from application to approval from the Court.
This could take longer when adopting a foreign child as it involves a home study report and application for a Dependent’s Pass.
What are the costs?
It is illegal to pay the birth parents for giving up their child for adoption, although adopting couples can reimburse them for pre-natal and post-natal expenses, including hospital delivery bills.
If a couple goes through an adoption agent to look for a child, they can incur fees of between $25,000 and $35,000.
A detailed breakdown of all financial transactions, including agent fees and reimbursement to parents, must be provided to the Court.
Key adoption contacts:
# Ministry of Social and Family Development
Tel: 63555000
Email: msf_email@msf.gov.sg
Address:
512 Thomson Rd, 298136
Website: app.msf.gov.sg/
# Controller of Immigration
ICA 24-Hour Hotline: (65) 6391 6100
Email: ica_feedback@ica.gov.sg
Address:
Visitor Services Centre
4th Floor ICA Building
10 Kallang Road
Singapore 208718
Website: https://www.ica.gov.sg
# Family Justice Courts
Tel: (65) 6325 7619 (for adoption enquiries)
Fax: (65) 6435 5116
Address:
Family and Juvenile Court
3 Havelock Square
Singapore 059725
Accredited Agencies for Home Study Report
In order to adopt a child in Singapore, adoptive parents must complete a home study report, which involves interviews with a social worker who probes the couple’s state of marriage, finances, childhood and attitudes to parenting.
The social worker will also visit the home, speak to family members and friends and do background checks for mental illness or any criminal record.
It costs $1,500 to get a report done and may take up to a year to complete.
#TOUCH Family Services Limited
(Accredited to handle China adoptions)
Block 162, Bukit Merah Central
#05-3545 Singapore 150162
TEL: 6317 9995
FAX: 6317 9989
EMAIL: adoption@touch.org.sg
WEBSITE: https://adoption.tcs.org.sg/
#Fei Yue Community Services
(Accredited to handle China adoptions)
Social Service Hub
#03-02 Tiong Bahru Central Plaza
298 Tiong Bahru Road
Singapore 168730
TEL: 6593 6453
FAX: 6274 5453
EMAIL: adoption@fycs.org
WEBSITE: https://www.fycs.org/
#The SBL Vision Family Service Centre
Block 946 Tampines Ave 4
#01-338 Singapore 520946
TEL: 6544 2263
FAX: 6544 2253
EMAIL: sbl@sblvisionfsc.org.sg
#Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society
(Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre)
Block 18 Jalan Membina
#04-01 Singapore 164018
TEL: 6270 6711
FAX: 6270 9663
EMAIL: penghaiying@moralfsc.org.sg
WEBSITE: https://www.thkms.org.sg/
#Singapore American Community Action Council (for expatriates only)
10 Claymore Hill
Singapore 229573
TEL: 6733 9249
FAX: 6733 9321
EMAIL: admin@sacac.com
WEBSITE: sacac.com/
Difficulties Of Adoption In Singapore
After the 2004 ban on the adoption of babies from China, adoption agencies in Singapore have reported a fall in business as the price to adopt a child gradually rose to its presently staggering amount. Checks on prospective parents also become sterner, causing a dip in this sector.
What do the adoption fees comprise?
While it is against Singapore law to pay biological parents to give up their child without the court’s approval, a significant amount of money does change hands in this long and difficult process. Besides paying for hospital bills and check-ups, the adoptive parents also have to bear the costs of pre and postnatal consultations and follow-ups.
Additionally, a token is usually given in appreciation to the birth parents. This is given in a red packet angbao typically valued anywhere between S$10,000 to S$16,000.
Stricter adoption processes
Besides the monetary aspects, the adoption journey includes thorough checks and paperwork that lengthens the already-tedious process. Documents such as the child’s identification papers and notarised consent from the birth parents giving the child up for adoption are required, in addition to a declaration by prospective adopters that the child is not obtained through illegal means.
Legal requirements also include details of the financial transactions involved in the adoption, such as reimbursement for the birth mother’s medical and welfare expenses. The need for such documentation and the hassle that it brings with it has successfully deterred many, both local couples and foreign adoption agents, from undertaking the process in the first place.
In Singapore, although adoption agencies are not regulated by law, the Ministry of Social and Family Development has put in place stringent checks to ensure that the welfare of children are protected.
Is it too difficult to adopt now in Singapore?
Couples in Singapore who are looking at adoption should take heart in the fact that such strict regulation ensures that both families’ interests are safeguarded. Commenting on the prevalence of adoption syndicates that make illegal adoption suspiciously smooth-sailing and easy, Mr Ronnie Tan, an adoption agent in Singapore, warns couples of such frauds.
Like pregnancy and childbirth, bringing an adopted child home is never a simple nor straightforward process. However, the happiness from a new bundle of joy at home would definitely make all the arduous preparation for it more than worth it.
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