Adoption can feel confusing, but with the right help, it doesn't need to be. In this guide, we'll explain the main adoption paths in Canada, the basic steps you need to take, and what costs to expect. We are here to give you clear, practical next steps to ensure your adoption process goes as smoothly as possible.
Figures represented in this content are illustrative; we’ll quote against your file’s scope at the consult.
How Do You Adopt a Child in Canada?
- Adopting a child starts by choosing the right path—public, private, intercountry, or step-parent
- Then, parents complete PRIDE training, a home study (SAFE/MFA), background checks, and a basic medical
- Afterwards, we move into matching, placement, and finalizing with a court-issued adoption order (with immigration steps for intercountry cases).
Our team at Bhardwaj+Co turns that maze into a clear plan: we map your best route, coordinate with agencies, prepare airtight filings, and guide you from first orientation to a smooth adoption order. Whether you’re starting from scratch or untangling a stalled file, we meet you where you are and move you forward with confidence.
What Do You Need to Adopt a Child in Canada?
Here’s the core toolkit most families will need:
Required for Most Adoption Routes
- PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education) training: Provincial pre-service training that prepares adoptive parents for attachment, trauma, openness, and cultural identity.
- Homestudy assessment (SAFE/MFA): A structured home study—often SAFE homestudy (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) or Mutual Family Assessment—completed by an adoption practitioner. It covers family history, parenting capacity, safety, and readiness.
- Background checks: A criminal record and child welfare background check for all adult household members. If you have a past offence, we’ll discuss whether a record suspension affects eligibility.
- Medical exam: A basic health letter/exam confirming you can safely parent.
- References & stability: Personal references, proof of housing, and practical financial stability. There’s no fixed income number—agencies look for realistic budgeting and support.
- Openness education: Understanding how contact/info-sharing with birth parents or extended family can work in the best interests of the child.
Documents You’ll Typically Gather
- Adoption application + orientation/PRIDE certificates
- SAFE/MFA home study report
- Criminal record and child welfare checks
- Medical exam letter
- Consents from biological parents (if applicable)
- Placement & post-placement reports (before finalization)
- Court forms for the adoption order (the court order that finalizes the adoption)
- Intercountry only: foreign court/guardianship order, immigration approvals, visas
Get Legal Guidance on Adoption
The Four Main Adoption Paths in Canada
1. Public Adoption Through the Child Welfare System
This path goes through a child welfare agency, such as a children's aid society or a provincial adoption division. Children placed from government care or foster care may be older, part of sibling groups, or have special needs.
2. Private Domestic Adoption
Here, adoption agencies and an adoption practitioner help match adoptive parents with birth parents. You still complete PRIDE, home study, medical checks, and background checks.
This route can move faster for newborn placements but involves adoption fees for professional services. A licensed private adoption agency guides the application process and openness planning.
3. International Adoption
International adoption follows the rules of the child’s country and, where applicable, the Hague Convention. You’ll coordinate with a foreign child welfare authority and Canadian immigration (e.g., permanent resident visa, sponsorship agreement). Intercountry cases add steps—but they are manageable with planning and legal guidance.
4. Step-Parent, Relative (Kinship), and Adult Adoption
- Step-parent Adoption (for a stepchild): usually requires consent from biological parents (or a court decision on consent) and may intersect with court-ordered support/child support issues.
- Relative/Kinship adoption (within extended family): used when reunification with birth parents isn’t possible.
- Adult Adoption: formalizes an existing parent-child bond in adulthood (rules vary by province).
The Adoption Process in Canada | A Step-by-Step Explanation
1. Orientation & Application
We help you pick the right path (public, private, international adoption, or step-parent/relative) and complete the adoption application.
2. Training (PRIDE)
PRIDE prepares families for attachment, trauma, cultural identity, and openness. It’s required for foster parent and adoptive parent applicants across most programs.
3. Home Study & Checks
A qualified adoption practitioner completes your home study. Expect a criminal record and child welfare background check, references, and a medical exam. If you have a past offence, we will discuss whether a record suspension affects eligibility.
4. Matching & Placement
- Public adoption: matching is coordinated by the child welfare system and may prioritize siblings, cultural connections, and special needs benefits.
- Private adoption: matching is facilitated by agencies/practitioners and birth parents.
- Intercountry: matching follows the sending country’s process and any Hague Convention safeguards.
5. Finalization in Court
We prepare and file the documents to obtain your adoption order (a court order under Family Law). After finalization, you can update vital records and, where applicable, proceed with Canadian immigration steps for the adopted child (e.g., permanent resident visa).
How Much Does it Cost to Adopt a Child in Canada?
Costs depend on the route:
- Public adoption through a child welfare agency is typically no cost to applicants (fees are normally covered by the province).
- Private domestic adoption usually involves agency/practitioner fees of roughly C$15,000–C$30,000 (plus homestudy and related expenses).
- International adoption often ranges C$20,000–C$50,000+ due to foreign program, travel, and immigration costs (some programs run higher).
- Step-parent/relative adoptions are generally far lower, primarily court filing and modest legal fees when uncontested.
At Bhardwaj+Co, we give you a clear cost roadmap up front, flagging required fees, where subsidies may apply, and how to avoid avoidable expenses, then handle filings so your adoption order is smooth and predictable. Together, we turn uncertainty into a plan and move your adoption to the finish line with confidence.
Public and Private Adoption in Canada: Frequently Asked Questions
Who can adopt in Canada?
Most adults can apply if they can safely parent. You’ll complete PRIDE, a home study, background checks, and meet provincial adoption requirements. Singles and couples can adopt. Some routes have specific rules.
How do openness and birth-family contact work?
Openness ranges from sharing updates to planned contact with birth parents or extended family, guided by the child’s best interests. Terms are documented during matching/placement and respected after the adoption order.
How is intercountry adoption different?
You comply with the sending country, Hague Convention (if applicable), and Canadian processes (sponsorship agreement, permanent resident visa). Québec files go through MIFI. We coordinate immigration alongside court steps.
Do I need a lawyer?
While agencies and practitioners may be able to guide the social-work side, a specialized adoption lawyer can manage the legal roadmap (consents, documents, and court filings) to secure a clean adoption order in a shorter timeframe. For step-parent and intercountry cases, legal support is especially helpful.
About Bhardwaj+Co: Expert Family Lawyers in Edmonton, Alberta
At Bhardwaj+Co, we bring legal clarity to life’s complicated moments. We’re a boutique Alberta firm focused on practical, client-first solutions in family law—including adoption, divorce, child support, and mediation—backed by strategic advice, meticulous filings, and steady advocacy in or out of court.
We translate law into plain language, map the smartest path forward, and keep you informed at every step. When you need a trustworthy team that treats your case like it matters—because it does—we’re here to help.