State Department Notice: China Ends Foreign Adoption

We have received word from the State Department that China has decided to officially end their international adoption program — and will not complete adoptions already in process from the country.

We are heartbroken for the many matched children and families who have been waiting to unite since the Chinese government suspended all adoption processing at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic — and for all the children who will be left to grow up in orphanages because of this decision. Please read the letter from the Bureau of Consular Affairs below and contact us at 1-888-355-HOLT (4658) or [email protected] with questions.

China – Announcement from the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Civil Affairs Regarding Intercountry Adoptions

September 04, 2024 Dear Adoption Service Providers, Please share the following information with families in the process of adopting from the People’s Republic of China (PRC): Dear families,   The Department of State received a notification from the People’s Republic of China(PRC) Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) stating the following: …beginning August 28, 2024, except for foreigners adopting stepchildren and children of collateral relatives within three generations in China, civil affairs departments across China will no longer carry out foreign adoption work.   Upon receiving this information via a formal note, we spoke with the MCA on September 2. The MCA verbally stated to U.S. consulate staff in Guangzhou that this announcement applies to all pending adoptions as well as those being considered in the future. The MCA told us they completed processing of all cases with previously issued travel authorizations and will not continue to process cases at any stage, other than the collateral relative exceptions noted above. Our embassy in the PRC will request the information we received verbally in writing so we can be certain we understand PRC policies going forward and share them with you. We know this is a devastating notice to many of you who have been waiting for years to complete an adoption in the PRC. We never wish to be the bearer of bad news, but we are committed to transparency and wanted to share this information with you as we received it. We understand the distress this announcement will cause you and our hearts are with you.   After we were notified, we immediately began strategizing internally about our response so we can raise our deep concerns with the Chinese government at senior levels. We will keep you updated on our efforts. If families have specific questions, please address them to your ASP. ASPs, please group questions in emails to the ASP adoption inbox. We will do our best to obtain answers, knowing that working with the PRC MCA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs is challenging.  Sincerely,  The Office of Children’s Issues Bureau of Consular Affairs  Department of State

Over the past 32 years, Holt has helped more than 7,700 children from China join loving, permanent families in the U.S. In more recent years, Holt’s China team helped find loving families for many children with medical, developmental, cognitive or emotional disabilities or special needs. 

Moving forward, we will continue to provide in-country programs and services for orphaned and vulnerable children — improving the quality of care children receive in orphanages and group homes, and providing support and resources to strengthen families that might otherwise separate under the strains of poverty. 

Our two other adoption programs in the region — Hong Kong and Taiwan — continue to move forward with uniting children and families through international adoption.

We are here to support and counsel all families and adoptees impacted by this news. Please contact us at 1-888-355-HOLT (4658) or [email protected]. Please send media inquiries to [email protected].