New Zealand revises immigration pathway for internationally adopted children

The New Zealand Government has announced interim changes to adoption rules that will affect visa and citizenship applications for children adopted overseas. Under the new measures, most international adoptions by New Zealand citizens and residents will no longer be recognised for immigration and citizenship purposes.

The changes will take effect once the Adoption Amendment Bill receives Royal Assent. At that point, section 17 of the Adoption Act 1955 will be suspended for immigration and citizenship matters.

This means overseas adoptions carried out under the laws of another country will not be recognised unless the adoption occurred in an exempt country. Children adopted from non-exempt countries will not qualify for residence or visitor visas on the basis of their parent-child relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident.


Officials said the measures are intended to reduce the immediate risk of harm to children and young people who may be adopted through international pathways. The suspension will remain in place while the Government conducts a targeted review of legislation and policy.

Who is affected and what changes
The changes apply only to New Zealand citizens and residents who have adopted children internationally and are applying for a visa or citizenship for those children.

• New visa applications for adopted children are expected to be declined if the adoption took place in a non-exempt country outside the Hague Convention list.
• Applications already lodged will continue to be processed, even if the adoption is from a non-exempt country.

Non-New Zealand citizens or residents can still include adopted children in visa applications based on the parent-child relationship. For example, a migrant family applying for residence or a family applying for a visitor visa can include an adopted child, even if the adoption took place in a non-exempt country.

Authorities advised affected families to check the list of exempt countries and explore alternative visa pathways. More details are available through the Ministry of Justice’s Adoption Law Reform page.

List of exempt countries

S.No	Exempt country
1	Albania
2	Andorra
3	Armenia
4	Australia
5	Austria
6	Azerbaijan
7	Belgium
8	Belize
9	Botswana
10	Brazil
11	Bulgaria
12	Cabo Verde
13	Canada
14	Chile
15	China
16	Colombia
17	Costa Rica
18	Côte d’Ivoire
19	Croatia
20	Cuba
21	Cyprus
22	Czechia
23	Denmark
24	Dominican Republic
25	Ecuador
26	El Salvador
27	Estonia
28	Fiji
29	Finland
30	France
31	Germany
32	Greece
33	Guyana
34	Honduras
35	Hungary
36	Iceland
37	India (if the adoption is not made under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act 1956)
38	Ireland
39	Israel
40	Italy
41	Kazakhstan
42	Kingdom of the Netherlands
43	Kyrgyzstan
44	Latvia
45	Liechtenstein
46	Lithuania
47	Luxembourg
48	Madagascar
49	Malta
50	Mauritius
51	Mexico
52	Monaco
53	Mongolia
54	Montenegro
55	Namibia
56	North Macedonia
57	Norway
58	Panama
59	Peru
60	Philippines
61	Plurinational State of Bolivia
62	Poland
63	Portugal
64	Republic of Korea
65	Republic of Moldova
66	Romania
67	Saint Kitts and Nevis
68	San Marino
69	Senegal
70	Serbia
71	Seychelles
72	Slovakia
73	Slovenia
74	South Africa
75	Spain
76	Sri Lanka
77	Sweden
78	Switzerland
79	Thailand
80	Togo
81	Tonga
82	Türkiye
83	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
84	United States of America
85	Uruguay
86	Zambia