Irish citizens
Irish citizens adopting a child from outside Ireland
What you get
- A check of your Adoption Authority documents and timing
- Preparation of your application letter to ISD's Foreign Adoption Section
- Assembly and checking of every document
About this service
Foreign Adoption Immigration Clearance Letter
If you live in Ireland and are adopting a child from abroad, you'll need an immigration clearance letter from ISD so your adopted child can enter Ireland with you. You apply after the Adoption Authority of Ireland has declared you eligible and suitable to adopt. We prepare a complete application so the letter is ready when you need to travel home with your child. Intercountry adoption involves many steps, and immigration clearance is one you don't want holding you up at the end. Applying early, with complete documents, means the letter is ready when you need to travel home with your child.
€1229
Fixed fee
4
Areas we cover
5
Documents to prepare
5
Simple steps
Who it's for
Who this is for
Whether you're moving, hiring, staying or starting over, this is the place to begin.
Residents of Ireland
EEA and non-EEA residents of Ireland adopting from abroad
At a glance
Eligibility
01
Declaration
You've been declared eligible and suitable to adopt by the Adoption Authority of Ireland
02
Living in Ireland
You live in Ireland
03
Adoption Authority letter
You have a letter from the Adoption Authority confirming how many children you can adopt and the country you're adopting from
04
Parents' documents
You can provide passport copies and photos for each adoptive parent
Our promise
What's included
Foreign Adoption Immigration Clearance Letter
€1229
Before you start
Documents you'll need
Tick each item as you gather it. Bring whichever apply to you.
Your preparation checklist
0 of 5 ready
Tap items as you go
You're fully prepared. Let's get you booked in.
5-step journey
How it works
- 1Step 1
We review your Adoption Authority documents.
- 2Step 2
We prepare your application letter and document pack.
- 3Step 3
You send it by registered post to the Foreign Adoption Section, Unit C, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
- 4Step 4
We follow up through ISD's Customer Service Portal if needed.
- Step 5
ISD returns your original documents with the clearance letter.
Good to know
Our fee
€1,229 VAT included.
Government fee
ISD doesn't list a fee for this letter.
Processing time
ISD doesn't publish a processing time, so apply as soon as you have your Declaration.
On arrival
You must show the clearance letter to the immigration officer when you arrive in Ireland with your child.
Questions
Questions can be raised through the Customer Service area of the ISD portal.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
A foreign adoption immigration clearance letter is ISD's written permission for a child adopted abroad to enter Ireland with their adoptive parents. It's needed by Irish citizens, and by EEA and non-EEA residents of Ireland, who are adopting a child from another country through intercountry adoption. The application comes after the Adoption Authority of Ireland has assessed the adoptive parents and issued a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability. The parents then write to ISD's Foreign Adoption Section, part of the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division in Dublin, by registered post. They enclose a letter with a daytime phone number, the original Declaration, a letter from the Adoption Authority confirming the number of children and the country of adoption, copies of each parent's passport and two passport photos of each parent. ISD returns the original documents with the clearance letter. It doesn't publish a fee or processing time, so it's best to apply as soon as the Declaration is issued. On arrival in Ireland with the child, the parents show the clearance letter to the immigration officer. Depending on the child's nationality, a visa may also be needed, and the child's longer-term status depends on the family's nationality and the recognition of the adoption.
No. It's ISD's permission for the adopted child to enter Ireland. Depending on the child's nationality, a visa may also be needed, and we'll advise you.
As soon as you have the Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability and the Adoption Authority's letter.
Yes. ISD returns your originals with the clearance letter.
That depends on the child's and parents' nationality and the recognition of the adoption. We can advise on the next steps.
The application relies on your Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability and the Adoption Authority's letter about the country and number of children, so you can apply once you have those.
Yes. Include passport copies and two passport photos for each adoptive parent.
Ready when you are
Get started with Foreign Adoption Immigration Clearance Letter
€1229
€1229
Foreign Adoption Immigration Clearance Letter