You do not need to be a British national to adopt. You can adopt if you can evidence that you have been legally resident in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 12 months. If you are unsure, then do contact us to discuss this in more detail.

You will need some English language skills to be able to access services and advocate for an adopted child in your care. We would therefore strongly advise that you seek support to become reasonably fluent in English before applying to adopt. Adopt North East will support applicants who require help to understand some of the technical language involved in the adoption process with translation and interpretation.

LGBTQ+ people are welcome to adopt. Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters, irrespective of your sexuality or gender identity. For applicants who have transitioned or are transitioning, Adopt North East requires that applicants have an established gender identity so that a child would have the stability and consistency necessary to form attachments. We would be happy to discuss in confidence with you any issues of identity that may be relevant to adoption.

You can adopt if you are from a faith community. Children who need to be placed for adoption come from many different cultures, backgrounds and religions. Your adoption assessment will help you to explore whether you feel able to adopt a child who reflects a different faith, ethnicity or culture to your own.

There is no legal upper age limit to becoming an adopter. More mature applicants often bring the strength of life experiences to adoption. Adopt North East will require that you to have the health and vitality required to meet the needs of a child in your care through to adulthood.

Legally, those under 21 years of age cannot adopt.

There are a few very serious offences that if you have a criminal conviction or caution for, you are legally prevented from being able to adopt. However, most criminal offences do not automatically rule you out from being suitable to adopt. Adopt North East will check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and any recorded offence or relevant police investigation will need to be discussed with you. You will be expected to be open and honest.

Adopt North East partners with the Inter-Country Adoption Centre (IAC) and have experience and expertise to help and support this specialist adoption journey. There are a range of fees associated with this route to adoption.

You do not need to be able to drive in order to adopt. It may be that you have someone in your support network that could provide you with transport when needed. Adopt North East will assess your individual circumstances. However, you will be expected to be able to meet the travel needs of any child in your care.

You do not need any formal qualifications to become an adopter. Many successful adopters have no formal qualifications. Adopt North East are looking for people with skills and knowledge based on lived experiences rather than particular qualifications. Nevertheless, as part of the assessment process, your educational and vocational journey will be explored to understand how you will promote learning and engagement with the educational opportunities available to a child in your care.