.:Foreigners Can Adopt Children
In Panama Legally
Panama allows and encourages adoption by foreigners, and adoption
procedures adhere to accepted international standards. There are many 
eligible children in Panama and our adoption specialists will help you
find the child you have been waiting for.
Yes, in Panama you can get that adoption you always wanted. We will help you with all your adoption procedures here in Panama. (If you want to donate to a children's fund, we can arrange that too.) The following is an overview of adoption as it pertains to Panama.
Disclaimer
The following is intended as a very general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child from a foreign country and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. Two sets of laws are particularly relevant: 1) the laws of the child's country of birth govern all activity in that country including the adoptability of individual children as well as the adoption of children in country in general; and 2) U.S. Federal immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States.
Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.- based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.
Please Note: In cases where the U.S. citizen is a resident of Panama and has an interest in filing a petition locally, the Department of Homeland Security in Panama is the first point of contact for an international adoption. The DHS officer will approve the I-600 petition prior to receipt of an approved I-600A or Visas Thirty-Seven cable. The petition approval by DHS includes a field investigation.
Adoption Authority in Panama
The government offices responsible for adoptions in Panama are the two major courts, the "Juzgado de la Niñez y Adolescencia" (Children and Minors' Court) and "Juzgados Seccionales de Familia" (Family Courts). There are 12 district courts throughout the provinces in Panama. In provinces that do not operate with either legal system, the "Juzgados de Circuitos, Ramo Civil" (Circuit Courts) will handle some adoption cases.
Juzgado de la Niñez y Adolescencia - The Juzgado de la Niñez y Adolescencia has jurisdiction over adoption cases of abandoned children, wards of the court, or orphans.* The Juzgado de la Niñez y Adolescencia is the legal system for orphan adoptions in Panama. The courts generally require proof from the U.S. government such as the I-600A approval notification that the parent(s) are eligible for adoption.
Note: Panama and the United States legally define "orphan" the same. For additional information please the flyer "How Can Adopted Children Come To The United States?"
Juzgados Seccionales de Familia - The Juzgados Seccionales de Familia have jurisdiction over adoption cases where the child has been placed under adoption by written consent of the child's birth parent(s).
Contact Information: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social, Telephone: 279-0667, 279-0101, Fax: 279-0713, Website: www.mides.gob.pa, Email: adopciones@mides.gob.pa
Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents
Panamanian law requires that prospective adoptive parent(s) adhere to the following guidelines:
The couple must have been married for at least two years.
No family-line adoptions, meaning grandparents may not adopt their grandchildren and siblings may not adopt their minor siblings.
The courts do not separate siblings. If a parent would like to adopt one child, they must adopt the child's siblings.
There must be an 18-year age difference between the prospective adoptive parent and the child.
Same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt children.
Residency Requirements: Panamanian courts allow U.S. citizens to adopt; however, Panamanian citizens are given preference. Under Panamanian adoption law, adopted children do not need to be orphans, though their natural parent(s) must have legally abandoned them. Most adoptions of Panamanian children by U.S. parents take place in Panama. Less frequently, Panamanian Courts may grant the U.S. citizens guardianship, allowing for adoption following the family's return to he United States. There are no legal impediments to granting guardianship, but the two court systems discourage this practice.
Timeframe: Adoptions in Panama typically take 18-24 months.
Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: Panama allows adoptions through private agencies and will work through any accredited United States adoption agency. We will provide you with all the adoption legal advice you could need in our country.
Adoption Fees in Panama: Attorney fees for an adoption in Panama vary from $1000 to $2500. Government processing fees vary on a case by case basis.
Adoption Procedures in Panama
All of the documents supporting the prospective adoptive parent(s)' authority to adopt must be translated into Spanish.
Both courts, the Juzgado de la Niñez y Adolescencia and the Juzgados Seccionales de Familia, have similar processes for international adoption:
An attorney must submit the necessary paperwork in the form of a "demanda" or petition, to the Panamanian courts. For the "Juzgados Seccionales de Familia", the prospective adoptive parent(s) must have the birth parent(s) sign a document that "irrevocably" grants custody to release the child for adoption and immigration to the adoptive parent(s) or adoption agency.
Usually, the prospective adoptive parent(s) and their attorney will communicate with the judge's staff until the demanda is ready for review. If the judge approves the demanda, the judge will forward the documents to the "Registro Civil de Panama" (Civil Register). The adoption is not official until it is published in the Civil Register and the judge has signed a final decree.
In adoption cases where prospective adoptive parent(s) are granted legal guardianship of a child in order to adopt the child in the United States, a Panamanian judge must interview the prospective adoptive parent(s) and determine that an adoption outside of Panama is in the best interests of the child. This often includes a psychological evaluation of the parent(s) by a social worker. This evaluation can be performed by a comparable agency in the United States. The "Juzgados Seccional de Familia" requires a special investigation by a court- appointed agency to certify that the child is an orphan.
A judge must approve the departure of a child from Panama if the child is leaving without the child's birth parent(s) or legal guardian. The judge will grant the prospective adoptive parents guardianship for a trial period. This trial period can take place in either the United States or Panama. If the judge determines that the child's adjustment has been successful, the adoption is finalized under Panamanian law. If the judge is concerned about the child's welfare, the judge may extend the trial period or cancel the process altogether.
Documents Required for Adoption in Country
For intercountry adoptions, the Government of Panama requires documents listed below. English translations of Spanish documents are required. It is advisable to obtain several authenticated copies of the same document in case extra copies are requested or required.
Birth certificate of each adoptive parent.
Marriage certificate of each adoptive parent, and death or divorce certificate if either parent was previously married.
Health certificate certifying good mental and physical health of each parent. The Panamanian authorities will accept a health certificate from the prospective adoptive parents' doctor in the U.S.
Certificate of good conduct from local police in adoptive parents' state of residence. The I-600A does not fulfill this requirement.
Letter from employer(s) stating position and current salary. There is no minimum income requirement.
Two passport-size photographs of each parent.
Two reference letters attesting to character, financial situation, and living conditions of adoptive parents.
Sociological home-study report conducted by U.S. social worker or U.S.-certified investigative agency approved by the Panamanian courts. Home studies conducted in the U.S. can be used if approved by the Panamanian courts.
Psychological evaluation conducted by authorized medical officer in Panama or a U.S.-certified medical official approved by the Panamanian courts.
Authenticating U.S. Documents to be Used Abroad
The language describing the process of authenticating U.S. documents to be used abroad is currently under review. See here for more information until the new language is finalized.
Country of Origin Embassy and Consulate in the U.S.
Embassy of the Republic of Panama, 2862 McGill Ter. NW, Washington DC, 20008, Phone: 202-483-1407, Fax: 202-483-8413.
Panama also has consulates in: Mobile, Alabama; Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California; Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Houston, Texas, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
U.S. Immigration Requirements
Prospective adopting parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adopting Children, as well as the Department of State publication, "International Adoptions." The USCIS publication is available at the USCIS website. The Department of State publication International Adoption can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, under "International Adoption."
Before completing an adoption abroad, prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to read the requirements for filing Form I-600 Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. Please see "How Can Adopted Children Come to the United States?"
To learn more about your Panama Adoption, contact us today.
