Your principal place of residence must be in Belgium.
Single people, married people and cohabitants can all adopt a child. Same-sex couples can also adopt.
Each adoption must also meet a set of conditions and be in the child’s best interests.
Age
- you must be at least 25 years old;
- you must be at least 15 years older than the child you are adopting.
For adoptions by a step-parent:
- you must be at least 18 years old;
- you must be at least 10 years older than the child you are adopting.
Procedure
- you must apply to the competent central community authority;
- you must attend the preparatory course;
- the judge decides whether you are fit to adopt;
(see the domestic adoption or non-national adoption procedure).
You are authorised to adopt
- if the adopted child is over 12 years old, they must give their consent;
- the biological parents must consent to the adoption after their child’s birth;
- if you are married or cohabiting, your partner must register their agreement to the planned adoption.
Published on December 12th 2020