Report a change in circumstances during the validity of the adoption permit
You are obligated to notify the Adoption Board immediately if your circumstances change significantly during the validity of the adoption permit.
The adoption permit has been issued based on the known circumstances at the time of application. It is understandable that your circumstances may change during the validity of the adoption permit. If your circumstances change significantly during the period of validity of the permit, you are obligated to notify the Adoption Board of the changes immediately.
Material changes
A material change in the adoption applicant’s circumstances may include, for example:
- a death in the applicant’s family
- divorce
- pregnancy
- a serious illness
- a criminal conviction
- becoming unemployed
- relocating to another municipality
- a new family member moving into the same household as the applicant (e.g. the applicant’s partner or a child placed in foster care with the family).
It is not possible to define the material change exhaustively. Therefore, other kinds of changes in your circumstances may also trigger the notification obligation.
Reporting a material change
Notify the Adoption Board of a material change without delay and with a low threshold using the Notification of change in circumstances form. Subsequent clarification takes time, so providing up-to-date information streamlines the processing of your case by the Adoption Board.
Notwithstanding the confidentiality provisions, the adoption counsellor and adoption service provider also have a notification obligation. The adoption counsellor and service provider must immediately inform the Adoption Board without delay of any change in the applicant’s circumstances brought to their attention that may result in the cancellation of the permit for adoption or annulment of the Board’s decision on the basis of the Administrative Procedure Act. When a provider of adoption counselling or a service provider has submitted such a notification of change in circumstances or has been informed of such a notification submitted by another party, they must discontinue the provision of adoption counselling or intercountry adoption services. The counselling and service must be suspended until the Adoption Board has ruled on the matter on the basis of the notification. The decision on the discontinuation may not be appealed.
Processing of a notification of change in circumstances
The Section for Adoption Permit Matters of the Adoption Board processes notifications of changes in circumstances without delay. The Adoption Board is obligated to inform the adoption counsellor and service provider of the notification without delay and, if necessary, to ask them for further clarification of the changed circumstances.
On the basis of the notification of change in circumstances, the Adoption Board may amend the terms of the permit or cancel the permit if the circumstances of the prospective adopter have changed substantially since the permit was granted so that adoption in accordance with the permit would not be in the best interests of the child. However, the permit cannot be revoked after the adoption has been confirmed.
Contact information
By email: [email protected]
Submit the data for your adoption permit application to the Finnish Adoption Board using the secure forms. The use of the secure form is the fastest way to submit data related to adoption applications to the Finnish Adoption Board.
By mail:
Finnish Adoption Board
P.O. Box 40
13035 LVV
Please note that when using a post office box address, there will be a delay as the post office box is located in the registry of the Finnish Supervisory Agency in Hämeenlinna, from where the mail is delivered by post to the Finnish Adoption Board in Helsinki.
The Finnish Adoption Board’s visiting address (visits must be agreed on separately):
Ratapihantie 9
00520 Helsinki
Irene Pärssinen-Hentula
Manager, Chair of the Adoption Board
[email protected]
+358 295 255 136
Taija Jokimaa-Frusti
Senior Officer, Deputy Chair of the Adoption Board
[email protected]
+358 295 254 791
Päivi Pietarila
Senior Officer, Secretary of the Adoption Board
[email protected]
+358 295 255 503
Louna Dunkel
Senior Officer, Secretary of the Adoption Board
[email protected]
+358 295 254 035