The legal framework
Adoption in Ireland is regulated by the Adoption Act 2010 as amended by the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, which extended eligibility to cohabiting couples and civil partners and strengthened the best-interests principle. The Adoption Authority of Ireland is both the regulator and the body that makes adoption orders. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, carries out assessments. Adoption is full and irrevocable; there is no simple adoption.
Irish adoption cannot be understood without the mother and baby homes. Tens of thousands of children were placed between the 1920s and the 1990s, often after coercive pressure on unmarried mothers, and many were sent abroad. The 2021 report of the Commission of Investigation and the 2022 tracing legislation are the state's response, and they explain why access to records is now framed as a right rather than a concession.
Today the numbers are small. Domestic adoption of an infant is rare; most orders are step-parent adoptions, and a smaller number concern children in long-term foster care where the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 made adoption possible without parental consent in defined circumstances.
The declaration of eligibility is the practical gatekeeper for intercountry adoption. It is valid for two years and renewable, but it only opens countries with which Ireland has an arrangement — in practice a handful, and the list changes when a country closes or the Authority suspends it.
Same-sex couples: joint adoption has been open since the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017.
Key points
| Statutes | Adoption Act 2010; Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017; Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 |
|---|---|
| Decision-maker | Adoption Authority of Ireland makes the adoption order |
| Assessment | Carried out by Tusla or an accredited body |
| Eligibility | Married couples, civil partners, cohabiting couples and single applicants aged 21 or over |
| Declaration of eligibility | Required before an intercountry adoption, valid for two years |
| Hague Convention | Party since 2010 |
In practice
- Apply to Tusla or an accredited body for an assessment of eligibility and suitability.
- Complete the preparation course and the home study, which covers health, finances, references and Garda vetting.
- Receive the declaration of eligibility and suitability from the Adoption Authority.
- For intercountry adoption, work with an accredited body in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral or Hague arrangement.
- After placement, apply for the adoption order or for registration of the foreign adoption in the Register of Intercountry Adoptions.
Cost and coverage
Domestic adoption is free. An intercountry adoption costs roughly €15,000 to €30,000 once agency fees, legal costs and travel are counted. Statutory adoptive leave is 24 weeks with adoptive benefit, plus 16 weeks unpaid, and parent's leave applies as for birth parents.
Recent changes
The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 gave adopted people an unqualified right to their birth certificate and early-life records, ending decades of restricted access and closing one of the most contested chapters of Irish social history.
Where to go
- Adoption Authority of Ireland
- Tusla, the Child and Family Agency
- Accredited bodies listed by the Authority
- Barnardos and the Adoption Rights Alliance for support and origins searching
- Contact Preference Register operated by Tusla
Worth knowing
Intercountry adoption is only possible with countries party to the Hague Convention or covered by a bilateral agreement, and the list is short.
Frequently asked questions
Who actually grants an adoption in Ireland?
The Adoption Authority of Ireland, not a court, except where a High Court order is needed to dispense with consent.
Can cohabiting couples adopt?
Yes, since the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, provided they have been living together for at least three years.
Can an adopted person get their birth certificate?
Yes. Since the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, any adopted person aged 16 or over is entitled to their birth certificate and early-life records.
Which countries can Irish applicants adopt from?
Only countries party to the Hague Convention or covered by a bilateral agreement with Ireland; the Adoption Authority publishes the current list, which is short and changes.
Official sources and links
- Citizens Information — official plain-language guide to rights and entitlements
- Irish Statute Book — legislation as enacted