Barcelona is a great place to settle down. The city is safe and friendly, the weather is great, and there is an abundance of cultural sites. Many people make the move here from different countries, making the city very diverse with its mixture of cultures. It is ideally located for business trips, with excellent connections to Europe and the rest of the world.
Many people come here to start a family, considering that the Catalan capital is a place where they can raise their children in a comfortable and happy environment.
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What you should know about adoption in Barcelona
Adopting in Barcelona
If you are looking to adopt a child, it can be a daunting and somewhat testing experience, with all the bureaucratic and emotional strains, not to mention the financial side of the equation.
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But there are many useful agencies available to help you in Barcelona, and there is a lot of information to be found online.
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Spanish law on adoption
To adopt a child in Spain, you must have full civil rights. At least one of the parents must be over 25 years old, and one of the parents must be at least 14 years older than the child.
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Spain is party to the Hague Adoption Convention so all adoptions must go through a specific process with an official adoption agency.
Related article: Babysitter or au pair: which is for you?
The adoption process
Raising a child is without a doubt the greatest responsibility a person can have, so it should come as no surprise that the process to adopt one is somewhat lengthy and complicated. But don’t let that put you off! With lots of well-informed planning and determination, you can make your dream a reality. And there is plenty of help available.
You’ll need a lawyer to assist you in all the bureaucratic requirements. There are many English-speaking professionals on hand to deal with your case. Once you’ve found someone who you feel comfortable with, then the process can begin.
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You must file a proposal for adoption so that the relevant authorities can assess your and your partner’s suitability as parents. With this, you will also need to submit a variety of paperwork, such as identity documents, criminal record checks, tax returns, etc.
Once you have all your information together you can file it at the Servicio de Protección de Menores, which is located at Avenida Paral·lel, 52.
Once your proposal has been accepted you will receive a certificate of eligibility from the government. Then you can find a suitable adoption agency who will assist you in the next steps. The Servicio de protección de menores and you lawyer can help you in your search.
There are also some great forums with information about this, and other people in the process who you can connect with.
Useful information on adoption
Another really useful guide is the one by Finding forever families, from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. It’s aimed at people adopting between the U.S and Spain, with really useful information on the process here too.
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There is also the International adoption website which provides a variety of material on the subject of adoption for expats in Spain. Further help can also be found at Barcelona’s official government website.
Have you gone through the adoption process in Spain?
Tell us about your experience with adoption agencies in Spain!
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