The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Prescribed requirements for the purposes of making a Convention adoption order

30.  For the purposes of Article 16A(1) of the 1987 Order (Convention adoption orders), the prescribed requirements are in the case where the United Kingdom is the State of origin–

(a)both spouses (in the case of an application by a married couple) or the applicant (in the case of an application by one person) are habitually resident in a Convention country outside the British Islands on the date of the application;

(b)the child to be adopted is free for adoption by virtue of an order made under Article 17(1) or 18(1) of the 1987 Order, section 18 of the Adoption Act 1976(2) or section 18 of the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1987(3);

(c)the child to be adopted is habitually resident in any part of the British Islands on the date of the application; and

(d)the child to be adopted has not attained the age of 18 years on the date of the application.