SPM30125 - Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) - Overview: Adoption from abroad

An employee who is adopting a child from abroad through official channels may also be entitled to SAP.

People who want to adopt a child from abroad must undergo a home study assessment in the UK (similar to UK adoption). If an adoption panel approves the prospective adopters, the relevant domestic authority will issue a certificate of eligibility to the overseas authority. The adopter will be given Official Notification that this certificate has been issued.

Unless the adoption is for a named child, the overseas adoption agency or Central Authority then matches a child with the prospective adopters. Once they have formally agreed to accept the child, they travel abroad to meet the child. In most cases the child is adopted overseas and then brought to the UK.

The child may live in a Convention, Designated or Non-Designated Country. There are differences in the adoption procedures and whether the child is granted UK citizenship. The rules on whether an employee is entitled to SAP and adoption leave, Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (ASPP) and additional paternity leave or Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay (OSPP) and paternity leave are the same, no matter which country the child comes from.

For conditions for entitlement, see SPM30215