Adoptive parents are currently required to be a resident of Sierra Leone for six months and to attend the court hearing for the adoption; however, this requirement can be waived at the discretion of the High Court of Sierra Leone.
For more up-to-date information on adoption from Sierra Leone, visit the Sierra Leone page of the U.S. State Department’s website. Get parent-to-parent advice and support in the International Adoptive Families group in our online community, Adoptive Families Circle.
Sierra Leone Adoption Fast Facts
- 2016 Adoptions: 22 children
- Hague Country: No
- Estimated Total Cost: Unknown
- Profile of Children: 39% of children are between 5 and 12 years old. 50% are girls (2015). The child must be under 17 years old. Children 16 and older must consent to the adoption.
- Parent Ages: Unless related to the child, one of the adoptive parents must be at least twenty-five years old and twenty-one years older than the child.
- Family Status: Married couples and single women may adopt.
- Travel: Parents are commonly required to be a resident of Sierra Leone for six months.
- Timeline: The process for adopting from Sierra Leone can take anywhere from six months to two years.
