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Adoptions

International Adoption - Iceland

DISCLAIMER:  The information in this circular relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only.  Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign legal counsel.

PLEASE NOTE: Only a handful of Icelandic children are available for adoption each year.  Demand far exceeds availability and foreign adoptions are rare.  Under the 1999 Adoption Act (Law no. 130), only foreigners who are resident in Iceland or "have a special connection to the country" are allowed to adopt children in Iceland.

GENERAL:  The following is a guideline for U.S. citizens who are interested in adopting a child in Iceland and applying for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States.  This process involves complex foreign and U.S. legal requirements.  U.S. consular officers give each petition careful consideration on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the legal requirements of both countries have been met, for the protection of the prospective adoptive parent(s), the biological parents(s) and the child.  Interested U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to contact U.S. consular officials in Iceland before formalizing an adoption agreement to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed which will make it possible for the Embassy to issue a U.S. immigrant visa for the child.

ICELANDIC ADOPTION AUTHORITY: The government office responsible for adoptions in Iceland is the Ministry of Judicial and Ecclesiastical Affairs.  Address and contact information:

Arnarhvall on Lindargata
150 Reykjavik, Iceland
Tel: 011-354-560-9010
Fax: 011-354-552-7340
E-mail: postur@dkm.stjr.is
Homepage: www.stjr.is.

ICELANDIC ADOPTION PROCEDURES:  Application forms for permission to adopt can be obtained from the Ministry of Judicial and Ecclesiastical Affairs.  The prospective adoptive parent(s) must submit a completed application to the ministry, along with a signed "Declaration of Consent to Adoption" from the child's biological parent(s) or legal guardian(s).  When the child is 12 years of age or older, a declaration of consent must also come from him or her.  The consent to adoption must be made before a staff member of the Ministry of Judicial and Ecclesiastical Affairs or a District Court judge.  The consent is not valid unless it is done at least 3 months after the birth of the child and is not more than a year old at the time of application.  

Once the ministry has received the application and the declaration of consent, it will seek the opinion of the child welfare committee of the district where the child resides, as well as the child welfare committee of the district where the applicants reside.  An opinion may also be sought from the three-member Adoption Board under the Minister of Judicial and Ecclesiastical Affairs, which consists of a lawyer, a physician and a psychologist/social worker appointed for four-year terms.

The Minister of Judicial and Ecclesiastical Affairs makes a decision on the proposed adoption "as soon as possible" after receiving the application and relevant opinions, assuming all other legal requirements have been met.  According to the 1999 Adoption Act, permission will only be granted if it is evident that the adoption will be in the best interests of the child.  

AGE AND CIVIL STATUS REQUIREMENTS:  A married couple, or a man and a woman who have been cohabiting for a period of five years or more, may engage in adoption.  A single person may be granted permission to adopt if special circumstances apply, and if the adoption is clearly beneficial for the child.  Permission for adoption will only be granted to persons who have reached the age of 25.  If special circumstances apply, however, persons who have reached the age of 20 may be granted permission to adopt.  

ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS:  Contact the Ministry of Judicial and Ecclesiastical Affairs for a list of accredited adoption agencies.  The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of attorneys.  

ICELANDIC DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS:  Prospective adoptive parents must provide the following: birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record, certificate of health, and tax returns from the previous two years.

DOCTORS:  The U.S. Embassy maintains current lists of doctors and sources for medicines, should either you or your child experience health problems while in Iceland.

ICELANDIC EMBASSY (and Consulates) IN THE UNITED STATES:

Icelandic Embassy
1156 15th St. N.W. Suite 120
Washington, D.C. 20005-1704
Tel:  (202) 265-6653
Fax: (202) 265-6656
E-mail: iceemb.wash@utn.stjr.is
Homepage: www.iceland.org

In addition, Iceland has a consulate general in New York City:

Iceland also has honorary consuls in the following cities: Anchorage, AL; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; Harrisburg, PA; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Louisville, KY; Hollywood (Miami), FL; Minneapolis, MN; New Orleans, LA; Norfolk, VA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; San Francisco, CA; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Seattle, WA; and Tallahassee, FL.  

U.S. EMBASSY IN ICELAND:

American Embassy
Laufasvegur 21
101 Reykjavik, Iceland
Tel: 011-354-562-9100
Fax: 011-354-562-9110
Homepage: http://iceland.usembassy.gov/
E-mail: reykjavikconsular@state.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult DHS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions.

QUESTIONS:  Specific questions regarding adoption in Iceland may be addressed to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Iceland.  You may also contact the Office of Children’s Issues, SA-29, 2201 C Street NW, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.  20520-2818, telephone (202) 736-7000 with specific questions.

Information is also available 24 hours a day from several sources:

 

 

 

  • Telephone - Office of Children’s Issues - Recorded information regarding changes in adoption procedures and general information, (202) 736-7000.
  • Internet - The Consular Affairs web site, at: http://travel.state.gov contains international adoption information flyers and the International Adoptions brochure.

Other information:

  • Consular Information Sheets - published by the State Department and available for every country in the world, providing information such as the location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports.  Call Center - toll free: Overseas Citizens Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA/OCS) has established a toll free hotline for the general public at 1-888-407-4747.  This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calls from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-317-472-2328.  Persons seeking information or assistance outside of these hours, including weekends or holidays should call 1-202-647-5225.  The recordings are updated as new information becomes available, and are also accessible through the automated fax machine and the internet web site, as above.

Our mailing address is American Embassy, Consular Section, Laufasvegi 21, 101 Reykjavik.  Click here for electronic inquiries.