New Zealand: Most Overseas Adoptions No Longer Recognized

The New Zealand government has introduced temporary measures suspending the recognition of most international adoptions for immigration and citizenship purposes, which took effect September 18, 2025. Under the new rules, overseas adoptions completed in many countries by New Zealand citizens and residents are no longer recognized for the purpose of securing visas or citizenship for adopted children. Only adoptions from exempt jurisdictions continue to be recognized. As a result, children adopted from non-exempt countries are not eligible for New Zealand resident or visitor visas based on a parent-child relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident.      

Applications already lodged will continue to be processed, even if the adoption was from a non-exempt or non-Hague Convention country. However, new applications for adopted children are likely to be denied where the adoption took place in a non-exempt country and the sponsoring parent is a New Zealand citizen or resident. Families in which the adopting parents are not New Zealand citizens or residents may still include adopted children in residence or visitor visa applications, even from non-exempt countries.        

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].