Adoption in Sweden
Adopted children and adults in Sweden
It is very common with adopted children and adults in Sweden. More than 40 000 children have been adopted from other countries over the past 30 years and every year about 800 children from all over the world come to Sweden.
The first children adopted to Swedish families are grown-up today and studies show that most of these persons are doing well, living just like every other person in our society.
Rights of adopted children and adoptive parents
Adopted children in Sweden enjoy the same rights as biological children, as well as adoptive parents have the same right as biological parents. Our social welfare system makes it possible for parents to be on paid parental leave for 480 days and get sickness- and unemployment benefits. All children in Sweden get free medical care including operations and dental care up to the age of 19.
Swedish Intercountry Adoptions Authority
According to Swedish Law, adoption must be carried out through an authorized adoption societies like Swedish Friends of Children. Authorization is issued by the Swedish Intercountry Adoptions Authority, Myndigheten för internationella adoptionsfrågor, MIA. They have authorized five societies and they closely supervises these organizations. The authority has the responsibility to establish and maintain a high quality inter-country adoption operation in Sweden.
The adoption process in Sweden
All adoptive parents must receive an approval in advance from the Social Welfare Board in the municipality they live. This means that a Social Secretary conducts a home study to make sure that the family is suitable to receive an adopted child. This home study is also translated and sent together with the application to the foreign country, so that the authorities there get a description of the parents. The parents also visit a compulsory parental education to get information about the specific needs adopted children might have.
Completion of adoptions in Sweden
Adoptions from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention are automatically valid in Sweden. The child automatically receives Swedish citizenship. The Swedish District Court completes adoptions from other countries and the child automatically becomes a Swedish citizen.