Supervision of intercountry adoptions

The Section for International Matters of the Adoption Board is the national Central Authority referred to in international adoption agreements. As the Central Authority, the Adoption Board grants licences for intercountry adoption, monitors compliance with international adoption agreements in Finland and cooperates with the central authorities of other states and other authorities.  

International cooperation between authorities aims to safeguard the best interests of the child. Finland is committed to international adoption agreements which aim to safeguard the best interests of children in adoptions and harmonising the adoption legislation between different states.  

The tasks of the Section for International Matters are related to ensuring the best interests of the child in cross-border adoptions. The Section for International Matters of the Adoption Board ensures that international adoptions take place ethically, legally and in the best interests of the child.

Tasks of the Section for International Matters

The tasks of the Section for International Matters include: 

• supervise the operations of service providers and their cooperation with foreign service providers 
• grant or revoke an authorisation to provide an intercountry adoption service 
• grant or withdraw a Finnish service provider’s permit for cooperation with a foreign service provider 
• compile and maintain information on the adoption legislation and practices of foreign countries and intercountry adoption services 
• disclose the information collected to authorities and service providers upon request 
• monitor compliance with the Hague Convention in Finland and, if necessary, take action to ensure compliance 
• cooperate with the central authorities of the Hague Contracting States or with the institutions carrying out the tasks of the central authorities in order to achieve the objectives of the Convention and to exchange the information referred to in the Convention 
• cooperate with the national authorities designated by the Contracting States to the 2008 European Convention on the Adoption of Children for the exchange of information referred to in the Convention 
• issue the reports referred to in section 78 of the Adoption Act on the laws of a foreign state and the statements referred to in section 79 on the issues which are of relevance to the resolution of the matter 
• issue the approval of the central authority referred to in Article 17(c) of the Hague Convention and the certificate on the approval of the central authorities referred to in section 8 of the Government Decree on Adoption in cases where there is no service provider 
• perform those tasks belonging to the central authority under the Hague Convention that have not been entrusted to another body by law or government decree.