Each year thousands of U.S. citizens adopt children from abroad and many families in other countries adopt U.S. children. Intercountry adoption is governed by both the laws of the country in which the child lives and the country in which the adoptive parents live.
Israel
Israel is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention ). Therefore, all adoptions between Israel and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.
Please Note: Adoption in Israel by non-Israeli citizens is rare and is possible only through the Israeli Central Agency for International Adoption.
West Bank and Gaza
The Palestinian Authority is not a signatory to the Hague Adoption Convention. The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) is the only official entity authorized to grant Palestinian adoptions, regardless of the religion of the child.
The Department of State maintains a comprehensive explanation of the intercountry adoption process in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza which includes thorough information on these topics:
- Hague Convention Information
- Who Can Adopt
- Who Can Be Adopted
- How to Adopt
- Traveling Abroad
- After Adoption
- Contact Information
Other resources:
- Country Information: Israel, Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs
- Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs
- Immigrant Visa Process for children adopted from abroad
- Intercountry Adoptions from A-Z (PDF 611kb)
Contact information for Intercountry Adoption Questions:
- Adoption@state.gov
- Telephone: 1-888-407-4747
- Outside the U.S.: +1 202-501-4444
- Fax: +1 202-736-9080
