The Consular Centre of the British High Commission can provide information about British nationality or a UK visa for an adopted child. Registration of a child as a British citizen is at the discretion of the Home Secretary.
The UK recognises an adoption order made in Singapore. However, the child will not automatically become a British citizen. Upon application, the Home Secretary will normally register as a British citizen a child under 18 who is adopted in Singapore provided that all relevant adoption laws have been adhered to. This includes the laws of the child’s country of origin and the country in which the adoptive parents are habitually resident.
For example, if you are adopting an Indonesian child you should provide evidence that you have met the Indonesian adoption requirements for period of residence, age, marital status and religion.
Can the High Commission provide MCYS with a letter guaranteeing that your adopted child will be given British nationality?
Registration is at the Home Secretary’s discretion, therefore the British High Commission can give no guarantee of success in advance of the outcome of any such application.
How do I register my adopted child as a British citizen?
An application should be made at the British High Commission’s Consular Centre using form MN1.
What evidence do I need to provide with the registration application?
For the Home Office to consider any application for the registration of an adopted child as a British citizen you will need to produce:
i) the child’s original birth certificate, or where the child has been abandoned, a certificate of abandonment from the authorities previously responsible for the child ; and
ii) evidence of your claim to British citizenship otherwise than by descent; and
iii) consent of your partner or spouse (if one of the adoptive parents) to the registration; and
iv) the Adoption Order; and
v) a contemporary report from the overseas equivalent of the Social Services Department which details:
the child’s parentage and history; and the degree of contact with the original parent(s); and the reasons for adoption; and the date, reasons and arrangements for the child’s entry into an institution or foster placement; and when, how and why the child came to be offered to the adoptive parent(s)
vi) evidence of the adoptive parents’ country of habitual residence and
a) where the parents are habitually resident in the UK, confirmation from the DfES (for those in England and Wales), from the Scottish Executive (for those parents in Scotland) or from the Department of Health Social Security and Public Safety - Northern Ireland (for those resident in Northern Ireland) that they have been assessed and approved as eligible to become an adoptive parent; or
b) where the parents are not habitually resident in the UK, confirmation from the equivalent of the Social Services Department in their country of residence that all relevant adoption laws have been complied with. including those of the child’s country of origin
How long will the Home Office take to reach a decision on registration?
Currently (August 2006) the Home Office is taking up to 18 months to process applications for the registration of minors.
Posted on January 3rd, 2009 by sam
Category : Expatriates, child adoption | No Comments »