Portugal is known for its rich culture, beautiful coastlines, and warm communities. But beyond being a beloved travel destination, Portugal has also become a country where international adoption is possible for families who feel called to grow through adoption. Portugal is a Hague Convention country, which means its adoption process follows international standards of transparency, ethical practice, and safeguards for children. Children eligible for international adoption in Portugal are often part of sibling groups, older children, or children with special needs. The program provides an opportunity for families who are open to these characteristics to give a child a permanent, loving home.
Nightlight launched our Portugal Adoption Program in January 2023, so it is still relatively new. However, we already have fourteen families participating, and two children have arrived home from Portugal so far. Families are pursuing their adoption in two different ways. Through the traditional route where you would compile your dossier and then wait to be matched by the Central Adoption Authority, Autoridade Central para a Adocão Internacional, Instituto da Segurança Social, I.P. Pursuing the traditional route can vary in time based on how open a family is to age, gender, number of children and any medical or special needs characteristics. The other route is through our waiting child program. In this process a family identifies a waiting child from Portugal in need of a home and then completes the dossier to be matched with the child. The waiting child program is significantly faster than the traditional route cutting out any waiting time a family would have to be matched with a child. Almost each month Nightlight is receiving new/updated waiting children profiles from the Central Adoption Authority in Portugal, which are posted on Adoption Bridge.
This program can also be a great fit for the family, where at least one of the parents is the Portuguese citizen and the family wants to adopt a younger child. It will be also a good fit for the family who is open up to age 7 and/or to a variety of special needs which will include ADHD, developmental delays, prenatal exposure, metabolic disorders, and a family history of mental health issues.
Here are a few reasons to consider adopting from Portugal:
Hague-Accredited Program. Portugal follows the Hague Convention, ensuring adoptions are safe, ethical, and child-centered.
Comprehensive Child Information provided by Central Adoption Authority. Detailed documentation helps families understand their child’s background and prepare for their needs.
Singles can adopt from Portugal. Not so many countries allow singles to adopt, yet adopting from Portugal is a great option for single parent families.
Low risk travel. Portugal consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world. It welcomes millions of visitors each year and has built a strong reputation for hospitality. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, making communication easier for international travelers.
Adoption from Portugal is a structured, Hague-accredited process that ensures children in need are matched with prepared and loving families. While the journey requires patience and commitment, it provides an extraordinary opportunity for families to grow while offering a child the stability and belonging of a permanent home.
If you are interested in learning more about Nightlight Portugal program or the waiting child program, please contact our Portugal program coordinator, Viktoriia Serediuk-Buz, by emailing viktoriia@nightlight.org.
