Central Adoption Agency / Central Authority for Foreign Adoptions

It is responsible for the mediation of intercountry adoptions from HAC contracting states. The Central Adoption Agency is also allowed to mediate adoptions from non-contracting states. However, it is only possible if the administrative structures allowing cooperation in accordance with the necessary regulations are present in the country of origin.

In the preamble of the Hague Adoption Convention, the top priority of an intercountry adoption is described as:

During the fulfilment of its tasks, the Central Adoption Agency of the Rhineland State Youth Welfare Office works closely together with the Central Adoption Agencies of the other state youth welfare offices in Germany and with the Central Federal Office for Intercountry Adoptions of the Federal Office of Justice (poss. include link).

The work of the central Adoption Office Rhineland covers:

• Adoption mediation of children living in a foreign country;
• Consultation for youth welfare offices, voluntary organisations, family courts, notaries, registry offices and immigration authorities regarding legal questions about intercountry adoptions;
• Expert assessment duties during family court adoption proceedings with an international element.

The mediation of foreign adoptions is exclusively allowed to:

• Central Adoption Agencies of state youth welfare offices,
• Accredited bodies

Adoption applicants can contact the Central Adoption Agency responsible for their place of residence or any accredited body troughout Germany.

It is prohibited in Germany to adopt a child from abroad without the involvement of a licensed German international adoption agency. In principle, a foreign adoption decision is not eligible for recognition if the adoption was carried out without an international adoption agency or one of the accredited bodies.

Rhineland Regional Council
State Youth Welfare Office
Central Adoption Office
D-50663 Cologne