Adoption in Belarus: General Framework
Adoption in Belarus is a court-based procedure — it takes place exclusively on the basis of a court decision, after which the same rights and obligations arise between the adoptive parent and the child as between a biological parent and child.
Persons permanently residing in Belarus — regardless of their citizenship — may adopt Belarusian children and foreign children permanently residing in Belarus. Foreign nationals residing outside Belarus may also adopt Belarusian children, subject to specific additional requirements and restrictions described below.
AMBY Legal advises prospective adoptive parents on eligibility, the applicable procedure, and required documentation, and represents clients in adoption proceedings before Belarusian courts.
A child under the age of 18 may be adopted where one or both parents: have been declared legally incapacitated, missing, or deceased by a court; have died; have been deprived of parental rights; or have given written consent to the adoption.
A child aged 10 or over may only be adopted with their own consent.
The adoptive parent must be at least 16 years older than the child and no more than 45 years older. The court may depart from the maximum age difference where a stepparent is adopting a stepchild.
The child’s biological relatives have a preferential right to adopt over unrelated persons.
Brothers and sisters should generally be adopted together — splitting siblings in the adoption process is avoided unless there are specific circumstances justifying separate placement.
The adoptive parent is provided with full information about the child’s health and all available information about the child’s close relatives and their health.
Special Rules: Foreign Nationals with a Belarusian Residence Permit
There are Peculiarities in the Adoption of Brothers and Sisters (второй блок цитаты) + Adoptive Parents are Foreign Citizens (первый блок)
Стало: A foreign national holding a permanent residence permit in Belarus must obtain written permission for adoption from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus before proceeding.
Foreign nationals who are not relatives of the child may only adopt a child whose data has been included in the national adoption data bank for at least one year prior to the adoption application. This waiting period does not apply where the adopter is a relative of the child.
Where a foreign national with a residence permit wishes to adopt a foreign child residing in Belarus, written permission must also be obtained from the competent authority of the state of which the child is a citizen.
Expert assistance with child travel abroad matters in Belarus in full compliance with legal requirements!
Foreign nationals permanently residing outside Belarus may adopt a Belarusian child only if: the child is included in the list of children for whom international adoption is permitted; and the international adoption procedure has been agreed between the competent authorities of Belarus and the adoptive parent’s country.
The agreement requirement does not apply where the adopter is a stepparent, stepmother, or other relative of the child.
Currently, the coordinated international adoption procedure exists only with the Italian Republic. Italian citizens may adopt only children included in the international adoption list — and only those children whom they have previously hosted in their family on a repeated basis, with a genuine parent-child relationship having developed.
International adoption cases are heard by the regional court of the region where the child resides. In Minsk, the competent court is the Minsk City Court.
To initiate proceedings, the prospective adoptive parents file a petition with the competent court. The following parties must be present at the hearing: the adoptive parents in person; the prosecutor; a representative of the guardianship authority; and a representative of the National Adoption Center.
The guardianship authority prepares and submits to the court a formal opinion on: whether the adoption is in the interests of the child; and the nature and quality of the personal relationship that has developed between the prospective adoptive parents and the child.
The adoption takes effect from the date the court decision enters into legal force.
The National Adoption Center is the central state body responsible for overseeing adoption processes in Belarus, operating under the Ministry of Education. Its functions include: supervising and controlling adoption-related activities; independently assessing the living conditions and upbringing of children placed with adoptive families; monitoring the work of local education departments; and maintaining the national adoption data bank. Each adopted child’s personal file is maintained by the National Adoption Center until the child reaches adulthood.
Adoption may be cancelled by a court decision where: the adoptive parent develops a condition preventing them from fulfilling parental duties; the adoptive parent is declared legally incapacitated or of limited capacity by the court; the adoptive parent has committed a serious criminal offence; or the adoptive parent has failed to properly care for and raise the child, mistreated the child, abused parental rights, or led the child toward an immoral lifestyle.
Upon cancellation of an adoption, the adoptive parent loses all rights and obligations toward the child — equivalent to the consequences of deprivation of parental rights. The adoptive parent loses the right to participate in the child’s upbringing, the right to receive a pension upon the child’s death, and the right to inherit from the child.
Following cancellation, the child does not retain the right to inherit from the former adoptive parent — except where inheritance is provided for in a will.
A child under the age of 18 may be adopted where the child’s parents are deceased, have been deprived of parental rights, have been declared legally incapacitated or missing by a court, or have given written consent to the adoption. A child aged 10 or over may only be adopted with their own consent.
Belarusian adoption law requires that brothers and sisters generally be adopted together in order to preserve family bonds. Separating siblings in the adoption process is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Prospective adoptive parents should be aware of this requirement when selecting a child.
Yes, subject to strict additional requirements. The child must be included in the list of children approved for international adoption, and an agreed international adoption procedure must be in place between Belarus and the adoptive parent’s country. Currently, this procedure is formalised only with Italy. Italian citizens may adopt only children from the approved list whom they have previously hosted on a repeated basis. Adoption by stepparents and close relatives is not subject to these restrictions.
Belarusian law does not expressly prohibit single persons from adopting. However, the age difference and income requirements must be met, and the court assesses the overall suitability of the prospective adoptive parent. In international adoption cases, the requirements and preferences of both Belarusian law and the law of the adoptive parent’s country of residence must be satisfied.
Prospective adoptive parents must demonstrate income sufficient to provide the child with the minimum living standard established in Belarus. They must also have permanent housing that meets the required sanitary and technical standards. Owning the housing is not mandatory — rental accommodation may be acceptable provided it meets the standards. Specific income and housing requirements are assessed in each case.
Yes. Prospective adoptive parents are required to complete psychological diagnostics and adoption preparation at an authorised social-pedagogical centre as part of the adoption process. A certificate of readiness is issued upon completion. This step is mandatory before a court petition may be filed.
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