Adoption Information: Botswana

On March 1, 2023, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption went into effect in Botswana. Botswana is now a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. However, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has determined that it is not able to process Hague Adoption Convention cases from Botswana, because Botswana does not yet have the necessary infrastructure to carry out its responsibilities under the Hague Adoption Convention.

We process Hague Convention adoptions using Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, and Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. Due to the DOS determination, U.S. consular officers cannot issue Hague Adoption Certificates or Hague Custody Certificates at this time. We cannot approve a Form I-800 without these certificates, so U.S. prospective adoptive parents cannot complete the Hague Adoption Convention process for an intercountry adoption from Botswana. As a result, if you file Form I-800 for a child from Botswana, we will automatically reject it.

If DOS determines that intercountry adoptions from Botswana under the Hague Adoption Convention may proceed, we will begin processing Form I-800 for children from Botswana and promptly inform the public.

Note: Before the Hague Adoption Convention went into effect in Botswana, we processed intercountry adoption cases from Botswana using Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, and Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. Unless you qualify as a “transition case,” as of March 1, 2023, you should not file a Form I-600A that lists Botswana as your intended country of adoption, or a Form I-600 for a child from Botswana.

For the latest information on adoption from Botswana, see the Country Information page on the DOS website and the latest DOS adoption notices for Botswana.