Adoption

You will usually have to have been resident in Malaysia for at least two years before adopting and as the process can take many months to complete, you should expect to be staying for a significant period of time. Most adoptions are through a doctor, orphanage or other facilitator and contact is made through an informal network – other families who have adopted can help. The facilitator will require some personal information which they will keep on file. They will contact you when a baby is available.

Following placement, you will need to instruct a lawyer to deal with the paperwork. The first court date is around three months after the child arrives at your home, followed by a social services visit and a second hearing after six months. At this point, the child is legally part of your family, but it may be another few months before you receive the final adoption paperwork which allows you to register the child and apply for a passport from your home country.

Most adoptions in Malaysia are closed, but it may be possible for you to meet the birth mother, sometimes before the baby is born, or you may be able to get photos or other details from your facilitator to share with your child later.