Intercountry Adoption Services (IAS)

Program Description

Intercountry Adoption Services (IAS) represents Social Development Canada (SDC) in its capacity as the lead federal department for inter-country adoption.

IAS works with foreign governments, other federal departments, provinces and territories. Provinces and territories all have their own legislation governing adoptions, and under this legislation carry out case management of individual adoptions. IAS carries out three main functions:

• Issue resolution: IAS facilitates the development of a pan-Canadian response on issues between provincial/territorial jurisdictions and foreign countries, including matters such as child trafficking.
  
• Knowledge dissemination: IAS gathers and disseminates to the provinces and territories information about adoption legislation, policies and practices in foreign countries; current research; and data about intercountry adoptions.
  
• Facilitation of strong working relationships: IAS facilitates communications and strong working relationships among adoption officials in Canada at the federal, provincial and territorial levels.

IAS also acts as the Federal Central Authority for the Government of Canada in accordance with the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

For information on adoption processes, please contact the appropriate provincial/territorial adoption authority.

For other federal information on adoption, please click on the following links: