Each year thousands of U.S. citizens adopt children from abroad and many families in other countries adopt U.S. children. Inter-country adoption is governed by both the laws of the country in which the child lives and the country in which the adoptive parents live. Under U.S. law, there are two distinct inter-country adoption processes: the Hague Convention process of which Italy is a member, and the non-Hague Convention process. Which process you will follow will depend on whether or not the other country involved is also a party to the Hague Convention.

For more information, instructions and forms, please see Italy and Hague Adoptions.