Registration of Adoption and its Relationship Cancellation by Overseas Chinese and Chinese Citizens Residing in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Special Administrative Regions

Department: Suzhou Civil Affairs Bureau.

Location: No. 158, Pinglong Lu, Suzhou.
Telephone: 0512-82280394.
Service time: 9:00-11:30, 13:00-17:00 from Monday to Friday.
(Except bank holidays)
Policy basis:
【Legislation】Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China
Article 1105 Adoption shall be registered at the department of Civil Affairs of the people’s government above county level. The adoptive relationship comes into force on the date of registration. The department of Civil Affairs in charge of registration shall, prior to the registration, make an announcement in the adoption of a minor whose biological parents cannot be ascertained or found.
Article 1116 When reaching an agreement on the termination of the adoptive relationship, the parties involved shall complete the procedure for registering the termination of the adoptive relationship at a department of civil affairs.
【Department Regulations】Measures for Registration of Adoption of Children by Chinese Citizens (Decree No.14 of the Ministry of Civil Affairs)
Article 14 If overseas Chinese and Chinese citizens residing in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan adopt children in the Mainland, their jurisdiction to apply for adoption registration, certificates and supporting documents required to be showed shall be handled in accordance with relevant regulations of the department of Civil Affairs of the State Council.
【Department Regulations】Regulations for Overseas Chinese and Chinese Citizens Residing in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Special Administrative Regions to Handle Adoption Registration and Supporting Documents Required to be Written Out (Decree No. 16 of the Ministry of Civil Affairs)
Article 2 If overseas Chinese and Chinese citizens residing in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Special Administrative Regions adopt children in the Mainland, they shall handle the application for adoption registration in the municipality, district-level city, the Department of Civil Affairs of the people’s government of the autonomous city, or the Department of Civil Affairs of district, where the adopter’s hukou belongs to.

Application requirements:
Adoption registration:
1. The adopter shall have passport, visa or ID card and Mainland Travel Permit or Home Return Permit within the validity period;
2. The adopter shall be aged at least 30, financially capable of raising the adoptee, and both physically and mentally fit to raise a child;
3. The application form for adoption is standard and valid.
Registration of cancellation of the adoptive relationship: adoption registration certificate; passport, visa or ID card, the original Mainland Travel Permit or Home Return Permit; application for the cancellation of adoption relationship.
Re-acceptance of registration certificate: passport and visa, or ID card; the original Mainland Travel Permit or Home Return Permit.

Application documents:
1. Overseas Chinese living in a country that has established diplomatic relations with China: passport and visa; supporting documents of the adopter’s age, marriage, children, occupation, property, health, and criminal background checks, which shall be certified by the diplomatic authority of the country of residence or the agency authorized by the diplomatic authority, and by the Chinese Embassy and Consulate in the adopter’s residing country; application for adoption.
2. Overseas Chinese living in a country that has not established diplomatic relations with China: passport and visa; supporting documents of the adopter’s age, marriage, children, occupation, property, health, or criminal background checks, which shall be certified by the institution in charge of the adopter’s residing country, by the diplomatic authority of the country of residence or the institution authorized by the diplomatic authority, and by the embassies and consulates of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China; application for adoption.
3. Chinese citizens among Hong Kong residents: ID card of Hong Kong resident , Hong Kong resident's Mainland Travel Permit or Home Return Permit; supporting documents of the adopter’s age, marriage, children, occupation, property, health, or criminal background checks, which shall be certified by a notary person commissioned by an authorized institution in Hong Kong; application for adoption.
4. Chinese citizens among Macao residents: ID card of Macao resident, Macao resident’s Mainland Travel Permit or Home Return Permit; supporting documents of the adopter's age, marriage, children, occupation, property, health, criminal background checks, which shall be issued by an authorized institution in Macao; application for adoption.
5.Taiwan residents: valid proof of residence in Taiwan Special Administrative Region; travel certificate issued or signed by the competent authorities of the People's Republic of China within the validity period; supporting documents of the adopter’s age, marriage, children, occupation, property, health, or criminal background checks, which shall be notarized by an authorized institution in Taiwan; application for adoption.

Flow Chart of the process of the Registration and the Cancellation of the Adoptive Relationship by Overseas Chinese and Chinese Citizens Residing in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Special Administrative Regions