Homestudy Reports
Adopting a foreign child in Singapore
From 1 February 2005, anyone who wishes to adopt a foreign child (i.e. a child who is not a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident) must complete a Home Study Report by the MCYS' accredited agencies. This is applicable for adoptions from all countries and must be done prior to starting the adoption process (i.e. before searching for a suitable child or initiating legal adoption proceedings).
A Home Study Report investigates the circumstances surrounding the adoption and the applicants' family situations. It also assesses the applicants' eligibility and suitability to adopt a child whose best interest must be safeguarded. The child has the right to be provided with the basic needs required for his/her physical and psychosocial developments.
Prospective adoptive parents should engage one of the accredited agencies to have a Home Study Report done. While undertaking the Home Study the adoptive child cannot be in your custody, care or control and they should only proceed to bring in a foreign child when the Home Study Report is complete and favourable. They will also need to obtain an in-principle approval for a Dependant's Pass from MCYS before bringing the child into Singapore. This is to safeguard the prospective adoptive parents' and the child's interests in the event that the Home Study Report is not favourable. In such a situation, the child will have to be repatriated at the prospective adoptive parents' expense.
With effect from 15 Aug 2006, all prospective adoptive parents are required to sign the 'Statement by Applicants of Home Study Reports' as required by MCYS. This is to ensure that prospective applicant(s) does not have a foreign child under their care during the period of Home Study. Prospective applicant(s) with a foreign child under their care will only be registered for Home Study Report after they had returned the foreign child.
Adopting a child in its country of birth
Prospective adoptive parents who wish to adopt children from some countries such as India, the People's Republic of China, Philippines and Thailand would also be requested by the adoption authorities in these countries to forward them a Home Study Report, furnished by an accredited agency in Singapore.
Some of the adoption authorities in these countries may also require supervision reports prepared after the Home Study Report has been completed and the child is in your custody to be prepared periodically after the child is brought into Singapore and until the child is legally adopted in Singapore.
Application for visa or citizenship in your home country
Many countries require a Home Study Report to be lodged with other relevant documents prior to granting a residency visa or citizenship.
Accredited Agencies
There are five accredited agencies conduct Home Study Reports and Supervision Reports at a fee:
Home Study Reports - $900
Supervision Reports - $300 for 1st Report, $200 for 2nd Report, and $150 for subsequent reports
*Fees are set by MCYS
NOTE: MCYS Advisory Note:
Although an (identified) child (for adoption) can enter Singapore on a SVP at any time, technically an interested adopter will have infringed immigration regulations by bringing that particular child on a SVP before an approval for a DP application is issued by us. Immigration regulations on DP applications allow them to bring in that child for adoption only AFTER the interested adopters have successfully obtained our approval for a DP. This advisory note is also to caution impatient adopters from taking over custody of foreign children who may already in Singapore under SVPs the moment their HSR is issued with a positive recommendation, facilitating them to bond with the child pending DP application approval.
