International adoption suspension

International adoption suspension

The recognition of unsafe international adoptions under the Adoption Act 1955 (the Act) has been suspended to protect children and young people from harm.

On 16 September 2025, Parliament passed the Adoption Amendment Bill under urgency. The Bill immediately and temporarily suspends New Zealand's recognition of unsafe overseas adoptions for citizenship and immigration purposes.

The Government has made these changes to strengthen New Zealand's international adoption laws, which have not provided sufficient safeguards for children and young people. While most children adopted through international channels are adopted into loving families, some children and young people have been adopted into unsafe family environments and subjected to neglect, exploitation or abuse.

The law change temporarily suspends the recognition of unsafe overseas adoptions under section 17 of the Act by New Zealand citizens and residents for citizenship and immigration purposes. It also restricts the ability of the Family Court to grant adoptions where the adoptive parent or child are overseas under section 3 of the Act.

The temporary suspension will last until 1 July 2027. However, the Government has indicated it intends to introduce a bill that sets out a long-term solution in this Parliamentary term. The bill will be referred to a select committee for public submissions.

The Government has taken steps to preserve overseas adoption pathways where it is has been able to establish that they include adequate safeguards.

Anyone considering or in the process of adopting a child overseas should seek expert legal advice.

For more information, visit our international adoption webpage.

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