Documentation requirements for children adopted overseas
Original documents must be provided.
Certified copies of the documents must also be provided with the application. The people who can certify documents are the same as those that can endorse photographs - see below. The person that certifies the documents does not have to be the same person who endorses the photograph and completes the proof of identity declaration on the application form. The original documents will be returned.
Note: If you are applying overseas and you provide copies of identity documents certified by an Australian consular officer or Australian Diplomatic officer you do not need to provide original documents with your application.
If documents are not in English, an official translation also must be provided. In Australia translations should be done by translators accredited by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
See: NAATI
The following documents will be required to support an application for Australian citizenship by adoption in accordance with the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption:
an endorsed passport size photograph – for full details on photograph requirements
See: Endorsed photographsa full birth certificate of the applicant or its equivalent
an adoption compliance certificate relating to the adoption of the applicant
evidence of the adoptive parent’s Australian citizenship at the time of the adoption (such as a full birth certificate or certificate of Australian citizenship and Australian passport)
passport held, if any
for applicants aged 16 or over, a penal certificate from all countries they have lived in (except Australia) since the age of 16 if the absences totalled 12 months or more. Information on how to obtain penal certificates is available.
See: Character and Penal Clearance RequirementsYou can also call the Citizenship Information Line.
Telephone: 131 880 (Australia only)
Note: The adoption compliance certificate is one issued in accordance with Article 23 of the Hague Convention. It must indicate when and by whom the adoption was agreed to and include the name of the Central Authorities of both Convention countries.
If applicable, official evidence of any name change (such as an official change of name certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths or Marriages (RBDM) or a marriage certificate issued by an Australian RBDM. Overseas marriage certificates are not acceptable evidence of a change of name).
See: Births, Deaths & Marriages Registries