Adoption of Children Act 2022

• Act Code: ACA2022
• Version as at: 25 Jul 2026
• Enacted by: Parliament

Section 1 — Short title and commencement

This Act is the Adoption of Children Act 2022 and comes into operation on a date that the Minister appoints by notification in the Gazette.

Section 2 — General interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“adopted child” means an individual (whether below 21 years of age or otherwise) in respect of whom an adoption order has been made; “adoption application” means an application made un

Section 3 — Meaning of “adoption agency”

(1) For the purposes of this Act, an adoption agency is any person that carries on the business (whether for profit or not) of making arrangements for or on behalf of any other person for the adoption in Singapore by that other person of a

Section 4 — Eligibility to make adoption application

(1) Subject to section 5, an adoption application may only be made by —(a) 2 individuals married to each other —(i) in Singapore under the Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966 or the Women’s Charter 1961; or (ii) outside Singapore under th

Section 5 — Further provisions on eligibility to adopt a child

(1) Unless subsection (2) applies, the applicants or applicant are not or is not eligible to adopt a child in the following circumstances:(a) in the case of an adoption application by 2 applicants jointly —(i) either applicant is below 25 y

Section 6 — Child eligible for adoption

(1) An adoption order may only be made in respect of a child who is resident in Singapore.(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), a child is deemed not to be resident in Singapore —(a) if the child is authorised or permitted to remain in Sin

Section 7 — Meaning of “suitable to adopt”

In considering whether joint or sole applicants are suitable to adopt a child, an authorised adoption agency, the Guardian‑in‑Adoption and the court determining the adoption application must assess the applicants’ suitability to adopt by re

Section 8 — Guardian-in-Adoption

(1) The Minister may appoint a public officer to be the Guardian‑in‑Adoption.(2) The Guardian-in-Adoption has the general duty of safeguarding the welfare of any child for whom an adoptive parent is being sought, including a child before th

Section 9 — Authorised officers

(1) The Guardian-in-Adoption may appoint any public officer with suitable qualifications or experience, or any individual belonging to such class of individuals (with suitable qualifications or experience) as may be prescribed by the regula

Section 10 — Authorised adoption agencies

(1) The Minister may, with the agreement of an adoption agency or a fostering agency and subject to any terms that the Minister may specify, authorise the adoption agency or fostering agency as an authorised adoption agency for the purposes

Section 11 — Pre-adoption application requirements

An adoption application may be made by an individual (whether jointly with his or her spouse or solely) only if he or she —(a) has attended a pre-adoption briefing described in section 12 within the last 3 years; (b) has attended a disclosu

Section 12 — Pre-adoption briefing

A pre-adoption briefing is a briefing conducted by an authorised adoption agency which informs the attendees —(a) about the process of adoption in Singapore and the eligibility criteria for an adoption order; (b) that the rights, duties, ob

Section 13 — Briefing on disclosure of adoptive status

A disclosure of adoptive status briefing is a briefing conducted by an authorised adoption agency to —(a) convey to any individual who desires to adopt a child the benefits of disclosing to his or her adopted child the child’s adoptive stat

Section 14 — Requirement for favourable ASA

(1) A favourable ASA is —(a) in the case of a joint adoption application — an ASA issued by an authorised adoption agency to the applicants jointly and containing an assessment by the agency that the applicants are suitable to adopt a child

Section 15 — Variation or revocation of ASA

(1) An authorised adoption agency that issued an ASA may, upon an application by the applicants or applicant (as the case may be) issued with the ASA, or on its own motion, vary or revoke the ASA if —(a) no adoption application has been mad

Section 16 — Application under section 15 by surviving applicant

Where an ASA was issued to joint applicants of whom one subsequently dies —(a) an application for a variation or revocation of the ASA under section 15(1) may be made by the surviving applicant; and (b) the power to vary an ASA under sectio

Section 17 — Appeal to Guardian-in-Adoption

(1) Where the applicants or applicant to whom an ASA is issued are or is aggrieved by —(a) the assessment of an authorised adoption agency in the ASA; (b) the variation or revocation of the ASA under section 15(1); or (c) the refusal of the

Section 18 — Appeal under section 17 by surviving applicant

Where an ASA was issued to joint applicants of whom one subsequently dies —(a) an appeal under section 17 may be made by the surviving applicant; and (b) the power under section 17(6)(b) to vary an ASA includes the power to vary an ASA from

Section 19 — Powers to direct and request assessments, etc., for purposes of ASA

(1) The powers set out in subsection (2) may be exercised by the following persons for the corresponding purposes:(a) an authorised adoption agency — for the purpose of preparing an ASA or deciding whether to vary or revoke an ASA; (b) the

Section 20 — Validity period of ASA

(1) Subject to this section, an ASA is valid for a period of 2 years starting on the date that it is issued.(2) Where the validity of an ASA is extended under section 15(5) or 17(6)(c), the ASA is valid till the end of the period by which i

Section 21 — Regulations relating to ASA

Regulations made under section 75 may provide for all or any of the following matters relating to an ASA:(a) the form and manner of an application for an ASA; (b) the information and documents to accompany an application for an ASA; (c) the

Section 22 — Duty to notify material changes in circumstances

(1) During the relevant period, the joint applicants (or either of them) or sole applicant for an ASA must, as soon as practicable after becoming aware of a material change in circumstances that has taken place during the relevant period, n

Section 23 — Power to make adoption orders

(1) Upon an adoption application in respect of a child, the court may, subject to the provisions of this Act, make an order for the adoption of that child by the applicants jointly or the applicant solely, as the case may be.(2) An adoption

Section 24 — Form and contents of adoption application

An adoption application —(a) must be in the form prescribed by the Family Justice Rules; (b) must be supported by an affidavit which verifies such statements, and to which is exhibited such documents, as may be prescribed by the Family Just

Section 25 — Service of adoption application

(1) The court must not make an adoption order on any adoption application unless a copy each of the adoption application and the affidavit filed in support of the application are served on every relevant person of the child before the court

Section 26 — Consent of relevant persons

(1) The court must not make an adoption order in respect of any child unless the consent of every relevant person for the adoption of the child has either been validly obtained or dispensed with by the court.(2) For the purposes of subsecti

Section 27 — Duty of Guardian-in-Adoption to file affidavit

(1) Upon the making of an adoption application in respect of a child and before the further hearing of the adoption application, the Guardian‑in‑Adoption must make an affidavit setting out the result of any investigation made as to —(a) the

Section 28 — Significance of Guardian-in-Adoption’s affidavit

The court must give due consideration to the Guardian‑in‑Adoption’s affidavit in relation to an adoption application when deciding what order or orders is or are to be made on or in connection with the adoption application.

Section 29 — Powers of Guardian-in-Adoption, etc., to direct and request persons to undergo assessments, etc.

(1) The Guardian-in-Adoption may, for the purpose of discharging his or her duty under section 27(1) in relation to an adoption application, do any one or more of the following:(a) direct the joint applicants (or either of them) or sole app

Section 30 — Duty of applicants to notify Guardian-in-Adoption of material changes in circumstances

(1) Where —(a) joint applicants or a sole applicant have or has filed an adoption application supported by an HSR or intend or intends to file an adoption application supported by an HSR; and (b) before the date of commencement of this sect

Section 31 — Power to make interim orders

(1) Subject to subsection (3), in any adoption proceedings before a court, the court may make an interim order giving the custody and care and control of the child before the court to the joint applicants or sole applicant (as the case may

Section 32 — Power to require provision, and to empower making of decisions, for child

(1) The court may, for the purpose of ensuring the welfare of the child before the court during the adoption proceedings —(a) require the joint applicants or sole applicant (as the case may be) of the adoption application to make provision

Section 33 — Power to draw adverse inferences, etc., for failure to notify, etc.

(1) The court may, on the application of the Guardian‑in‑Adoption or on its own motion, draw any adverse inference against the joint applicants or sole applicant (as the case may be) of an adoption application or any relevant person of the

Section 34 — Power to order assessments and submission of further information and documents

(1) The court may, on the application of the Guardian‑in‑Adoption or on its own motion, for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2) —(a) order any person who, in the opinion of the court, is able to provide any information or docume

Section 35 — Power to order mediation, counselling, etc.

(1) At any time during any adoption proceedings, the court may, on the application of the Guardian‑in‑Adoption or on its own motion, make an order requiring the joint applicants (or either of them) or sole applicant (as the case may be), an

Section 36 — Interpretation of this Division

In this Division —“emotional harm”, in relation to a child, means any serious impairment to the growth, development, or behavioural, cognitive or affective functioning of the child, and includes —(a) delayed mental and physical development

Section 37 — Grounds for dispensation of consent of relevant persons

(1) The court may, on any of the following grounds, dispense with the consent required under section 26 of any relevant person of a child before the court:(a) the child is the subject of an order under section 56(2)(a) of the Children and Y

Section 38 — Meaning of “ill‑treatment”

For the purposes of this Division, ill‑treatment of a child occurs when a person (whether the relevant person of the child or otherwise) —(a) subjects the child to physical or sexual abuse; (b) wilfully or unreasonably does, or causes the c

Section 39 — When does relevant person knowingly permit another person to cause grievous hurt to or ill-treat child

For the purposes of section 37(1)(c) and (d) —(a) a relevant person knowingly permits another person (A) to cause grievous hurt to a child or to ill‑treat a child if the relevant person —(i) knows or has reason to believe that the child was

Section 40 — When is child in need of care or protection

For the purposes of section 37(1)(e), a child is in need of care or protection if —(a) the relevant person —(i) is unable or has neglected to provide adequate food, clothing, medical aid, lodging, care or other necessities of life for the c

Section 41 — Circumstances of emotional or psychological abuse

(1) Without limiting section 40(e), the circumstances in which a child may be regarded as being subject to emotional or psychological abuse by the relevant person under that provision include any of the following:(a) the relevant person sub

Section 42 — Matters with respect to which court to be satisfied before making adoption order

(1) The court must not make an adoption order unless the court is satisfied that —(a) every relevant person whose consent is required under section 26 and whose consent is not dispensed with has freely consented to and understands the natur

Section 43 — Power to order removal and placement of child upon unsuccessful adoption application

(1) This section applies where an adoption application is unsuccessful.(2) The court may, upon an application of the Guardian‑in‑Adoption or on its own motion, order the person having physical custody of the child who is the subject of an u

Section 44 — Matters relating to registration or re-registration of births of adopted children

(1) If an adoption order (including an adoption order under the repealed Act) is made, the registrar of the court that makes the adoption order must, as soon as practicable, provide to the Registrar‑General of Births and Deaths (called in t

Section 45 — Power to order persons to undergo mediation, counselling, etc., post adoption proceedings

(1) This section applies after adoption proceedings arising from an adoption application (including an adoption application under the repealed Act) are concluded.(2) The court may, upon the application of the Guardian‑in‑Adoption, make an o

Section 46 — Effect of adoption order on status of adopted child vis‑à‑vis adoptive parents and on citizenship

(1) Upon an adoption order being made —(a) all rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the parent or parents or guardian or guardians of the adopted child, in relation to the future custody, care and control, maintenance and educatio

Section 47 — Effect of adoption order on property of adoptive parents and adopted child

(1) Where, at any time after the making of an adoption order, an adoptive parent or the adopted child or any other person dies intestate in respect of any movable or immovable property, that property devolves in all respects as if the adopt

Section 48 — Restriction on publication or broadcast of information or pictures of children involved in adoption proceedings

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a person must not publish or broadcast any information or picture that identifies, or is likely to lead to the identification of, any protected person as a child who was or is the subject of an adopti

Section 49 — Order to remove publication or broadcast in contravention of section 48

(1) A court may, on the application of any of the persons mentioned in subsection (2), order a person to do any or more of the following:(a) remove the publication, or stop the broadcast, of any information or picture that is in contraventi

Section 50 — Extra-territorial application of this Part

(1) Unless otherwise provided, the provisions of this Part have effect, in relation to any person, whatever the person’s nationality or citizenship, outside as well as within Singapore.(2) Where an offence under this Part is committed by an

Section 51 — Restriction on publication or broadcast of information or pictures of children for adoption, etc.

(1) This section applies to the publication or broadcast of any information or picture that identifies a child, or is likely to lead to the identification of a child, where —(a) the child is in Singapore; (b) the intended audience or recipi

Section 52 — Order to remove publication or broadcast in contravention of section 51

(1) A court may, on the application of any person, order a person to do any or more of the following:(a) remove the publication, or stop the broadcast, of any information or picture that is in contravention of section 51(2) or (4); (b) remo

Section 53 — Restricted payments to be sanctioned by court

(1) This section applies to any payment or other reward in consideration of the adoption of a child or for any adoption‑related service, that before, on or after the date of commencement of this section was or is —(a) made or given directly

Section 54 — Publication of amounts to be paid to or through adoption agencies, etc.

(1) Every adoption agency must make publicly available a list of the following information on payments or other rewards to be made or given by any person to or through the adoption agency:(a) the amount of every payment in consideration of

Section 55 — Prohibition against payments and rewards for non-permitted purposes

(1) A person must not (directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries) make, give, receive or agree to make, give or receive any payment or other reward in consideration of an adoption in Singapore of a child or for any adoption‑

Section 56 — Use of fraud, duress, undue influence or other improper means to obtain consent to adoption, etc.

(1) A person must not, whether or not an adoption application in respect of a child has been made, do any thing fraudulently to induce, or use any duress, undue influence or other improper means with the knowledge that it will induce or is

Section 57 — Restriction on placement of child, etc.

(1) Unless the requirements in subsection (3) are met, a potential adopter must not —(a) reside with a child for whom an adoptive parent is being sought; or (b) spend any amount of time with a child for whom an adoptive parent is being soug

Section 58 — Non-application of section 57 to transitional cases

Without affecting section 57(4), nothing in section 57 applies where —(a) the potential adopter is residing with the child in question before the date of commencement of this section; (b) the potential adopter starts spending any amount of

Section 59 — Offence of providing false information, etc., in connection with ASA or Guardian-in-Adoption’s affidavit

(1) If —(a) a person provides a document or makes a statement (whether orally, in writing or any other way) or gives information to —(i) the Guardian-in-Adoption —(A) in connection with the discharge of the functions or duties, or the exerc

Section 60 — Duty to report offences to Guardian-in-Adoption

(1) Any of the following persons who knows or has reason to suspect that an offence under this Part (except this section) or section 43, 48 or 65 has been committed in connection with the adoption or proposed adoption of a child, must repor

Section 61 — Powers of entry, etc., for enforcement purpose

(1) The Guardian-in-Adoption or an authorised officer may exercise all or any of the powers in this section for the purpose of investigating any offence under this Act.(2) The Guardian-in-Adoption or an authorised officer may —(a) at any ti

Section 62 — Equipment

The Guardian-in-Adoption or an authorised officer may carry or have in his or her possession or under his or her control any truncheon, handcuffs or other similar means of restraint for the purposes of executing his or her duties, or exerci

Section 63 — Disposal of documents or thing

(1) Any document or thing taken into possession or seized under this Part must —(a) where the document or thing is produced in any criminal trial, be dealt with in accordance with section 364 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010; or (b) in a

Section 64 — Offence of obstruction

A person who refuses to give access to, or obstructs, hinders or delays the Guardian-in-Adoption or an authorised officer in the discharge of his or her duties, or the exercise of his or her powers, under this Part shall be guilty of an off

Section 65 — Offence of providing false information, etc., in connection with this Part

(1) If —(a) a person provides a document or makes a statement (whether orally, in writing or any other way) or gives information to the Guardian-in-Adoption or an authorised officer in connection with the discharge of the duties, or the exe

Section 66 — Notice to attend court

(1) Where it appears to the Guardian‑in‑Adoption or any authorised officer that any person has committed an offence under this Act, the Guardian‑in‑Adoption or authorised officer may serve on the person a written notice, in such form as may

Section 67 — Offences by corporations, unincorporated associations or partnerships

(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation, an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, the following is evidence that the co

Section 68 — Composition of offences

(1) The Guardian-in-Adoption or an authorised officer may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding

Section 69 — Contempt of court orders under this Act

(1) Subject to subsection (2), sections 43(5) and 57(10) do not affect the powers of the court in relation to the punishment for a contempt of court.(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 43(5) or 57(10) in respect of a

Section 70 — Service of documents

(1) A document that is permitted or required by or under this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.(2) A document may be served on an individual —(a) by giving it to the individual personally; (b) by sendi

Section 71 — Disclosure of information to and by Guardian-in-Adoption or authorised adoption agency, etc.

(1) Subsections (2) to (5) are subject to any express restriction imposed by or under any other written law.(2) The Guardian-in-Adoption may disclose to an authorised adoption agency any information received by the Guardian‑in‑Adoption unde

Section 72 — Protection of persons giving information to authorities

(1) Any person who knows or has reason to suspect that an offence under this Act has been committed may make a notification to the Guardian‑in‑Adoption or an authorised officer of the facts and circumstances on which the person’s knowledge

Section 73 — Protection from personal liability

(1) Subsection (2) applies where an act is done or an omission is made —(a) by the Guardian-in-Adoption, any authorised adoption agency, any authorised officer, or any person acting under the direction of the Guardian-in-Adoption or an auth

Section 74 — Family Justice Rules

(1) The Family Justice Rules Committee constituted under section 46(1) of the Family Justice Act 2014 may make Family Justice Rules —(a) to regulate and prescribe the procedure and practice to be followed in respect of any application to a

Section 75 — Power to make regulations

(1) The Minister may make regulations —(a) to prescribe anything that is required or permitted to be prescribed by this Act; or (b) generally for the purposes of this Act. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), regulations may —(a) prescribe

Section 76 — Repeal of Adoption of Children Act 1939

(1) The Adoption of Children Act 1939 is repealed.(2) To avoid doubt, the repeal of the Adoption of Children Act 1939 does not affect any order made or anything done under that Act. —(1) The Adoption of Children Act 1939 is repealed. (2) To

Section 77 — Consequential amendment to Child Development Co‑Savings Act 2001

Section 2(1) of the Child Development Co‑Savings Act 2001 is amended by deleting the words “Adoption of Children Act 1939” in the definition of “dependant’s pass” and substituting the words “Adoption of Children Act 2022 or any correspondin

Section 78 — Related amendment to Children and Young Persons Act 1993

Section 112 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (1), the following subsection:“(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to any proceedings in court arising from an adoption

Section 79 — Consequential amendment to Civil Law Act 1909

Section 20(10) of the Civil Law Act 1909 is amended by deleting the words “Adoption of Children Act 1939” and substituting the words “Adoption of Children Act 2022 or any corresponding previous written law”.

Section 80 — Consequential amendment to Family Justice Act 2014

Section 2(1) of the Family Justice Act 2014 is amended by deleting the words “Adoption of Children Act 1939” in paragraph (b) of the definition of “family proceedings” and substituting the words “Adoption of Children Act 2022”.

Section 81 — Related and consequential amendment to Mental Capacity Act 2008

Section 26 of the Mental Capacity Act 2008 is amended by deleting paragraph (d) and substituting the following paragraph:“(d) consenting or revoking consent to the making of an adoption order under the Adoption of Children Act 2022 or any c

Section 82 — Consequential amendments to Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2021

Section 14(1) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2021 is amended —(a) by deleting the words “Adoption of Children Act 1939” and substituting the words “Adoption of Children Act 2022 or any corresponding previous written law”; and

Section 83 — Related and consequential amendments to Women’s Charter 1961

The Women’s Charter 1961 is amended —(a) by deleting the words “and has been or will be solemnised or made” in section 141(2) and substituting the words “, or has been or will be solemnised or made,”; and (b) by deleting the words “Adoption

Section 84 — Consequential amendment to Work Injury Compensation Act 2019

Section 2 of the Work Injury Compensation Act 2019 is amended by deleting the definition of “adopted child” and substituting the following definition:“ “adopted child”, in relation to a claimant, means any child —(a) who is adopted by the c

Section 85 — Saving and transitional provisions

(1) Despite section 76 —(a) the repealed Act (except section 12) continues to apply in relation to an adoption application, interim order or adoption order, made under the repealed Act before the date of commencement of section 76; and (b)