Adoption

Adoption, decreed by judicial decision, secures the permanent integration of a child into a family through the establishment of a parent-child legal bond, regardless of blood ties, but always considering the best interests of the child.

Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa is the Social Security body responsible for intervention in adoption proceedings within its legally defined and contracted territorial remit.

Following the Protocol signed between ISS, IP. and SCML in 2019, SCML took on an expanded territorial responsibility for its existing competences in adoption and civil guardianship — initially in the 9 municipalities of the NUTS III area of the northern Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Amadora, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Mafra, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra, Vila Franca de Xira) — and, from January 2024, across the whole of the Lisbon district (additionally Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Cadaval, Lourinhã, Sobral de Monte Agraço and Torres Vedras).

• Be over 25 years of age — whether married, in a civil union, or single;
• At the time of the application, be married or living in a civil union for more than four years and not legally separated from their spouse or partner;
• Adoption is only available to those who are not over 60 years of age at the date the child is placed with them; from age 50 onwards, the age difference between adopter and adoptee may not exceed 50 years. Only exceptionally may the age difference exceed 50 years (for serious reasons and in the best interests of the child);
• Applicants may only adopt if they are under 60 years of age at the time the child is placed in their care. For applicants aged 50 or over, the age difference between the adopter and the adopted child may not exceed 50 years. Only in exceptional circumstances may this age difference exceed 50 years, where there are compelling reasons and where this is considered to be in the child's best interests;
• The assessment and evaluation of the application will focus, among other aspects, on the applicant's personality, health conditions, suitability, family and economic circumstances, and the reasons motivating the adoption request.

The following applicants may also apply through the SCML team:

• Applicants seeking to adopt their spouse's or partner's child (a form of adoption where the intention is to adopt a specific child with whom the applicant already has a relationship, as the child of their spouse or de facto partner);
• Applicants seeking to adopt a child already in their care (a form of adoption where the intention is to adopt a specific child who is already under the applicant's care through a civil protection measure, such as parental responsibility arrangements, guardianship, or civil sponsorship).

For spouse's-child adoptions and adoptions of a child already in the applicant's care, attendance at the information session is not mandatory. Applicants should therefore contact the team via the email address provided to obtain further information and the relevant documentation.

To begin an international adoption application (an adoption process involving the transfer of a child from their country of habitual residence to the country of habitual residence of the prospective adoptive parents, either for the purpose of adoption or following adoption), applicants must carefully consider the requirements established by the child's country of origin. For this purpose, please consult the Segurança Social website.

• Be resident in the municipalities of Amadora, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Mafra, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra, Vila Franca de Xira, Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Cadaval, Lourinhã, Sobral de Monte Agraço and Torres Vedras;
• Complete the Adoption Training Registration Form, which enables registration for the next available Adoption Information Session (Session A) taking place after the date of submission. Registrations for the following month become available after each session has been held.

During this session, which takes place every month (except in August), participants receive comprehensive information about children whose life plan is adoption, as well as the legal and procedural requirements involved in the adoption application process.

The information session is mandatory, held in person, conducted in Portuguese, and must be attended individually; applicants cannot be represented by another person. In the case of a joint application by a couple, both applicants must attend, even if they participate at different times.

Applications must be submitted by email to: servico.adopcao@scml.pt.