Adoption
Article | Last updated: 14/01/2020 | Ministry of Children and Families
An adoption order may only be issued when it can be assumed that adoption is in the best interests of the child. The fundamental condition of the child's best interests applies to all forms of adoption.
Adoption applications are processed by the regional offices of the Children, Youth and Family Affairs Service (Bufetat).
This concerns applications to adopt a child in Norway (domestic adoptions) and applications for advance consent to the adoption of a foreign child (foreign adoptions).
Information regarding adoption can be found on the Bufetat website. Any adoption inquiries should also be sent to Bufetat.
We currently have three adoption organisations in Norway:
- Adopsjonsforum
- Children of the World (Verdens barn)
- InorAdopt
The Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs is the appeal body in adoption cases. The Directorate is also a central authority pursuant to the Hague Convention of 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
A new Adoption Act entered into force on 1 July 2018. Among other things, the new Adoption Act clarifies the right to information and access in connection with adoption cases and grants descendants the right to know who their original parents were.