The Government of Ethiopia has suspended all intercountry adoption by foreigners. The U.S. is aware of a March 2020 Ethiopian Federal Supreme Court Cassation bench decision regarding the adoptions of Ethiopian children to foreign adoptive parents of Ethiopian origin. The Department of State is working closely with the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and Ethiopian officials regarding the effects of this decision and the ability for adoptees to receive the documents needed to emigrate. The Department will update their public messaging related to intercountry adoption from Ethiopia as soon as they have additional information to share. We continue to caution U.S. citizen parents against initiating intercountry adoptions in Ethiopia until we get complete clarity regarding the effects of this decision.

Updated March 23, 2023