Discussion begins today in the House Legal Affairs Committee on a long-awaited bill that seeks to overhaul Cyprus’s adoption system, still governed by legislation dating back to 1995. The proposed Adoption Law of 2025 is intended to replace the existing framework, which authorities acknowledge no longer reflects current social realities or best practices.
The bill reopens a debate with a strong social dimension, as it introduces for the first time a single, unified legal framework covering both domestic and intercountry adoptions, alongside new safeguards, clearer procedures and stricter eligibility criteria.
A system based on a 30-year-old law
Adoptions in Cyprus are currently carried out under legislation enacted three decades ago. The Social Welfare Services (SWS) act as the competent authority throughout the process, from the submission of an application to its completion, with social workers preparing reports focused on the best interests of the child.
Prospective adoptive parents apply through district welfare officers and, if deemed suitable, receive a two-year certificate of eligibility and are entered into the register of approved applicants. The process unfolds in four stages: assessment of suitability, matching with a child, placement and issuance of a court adoption order, followed by post-adoption support.
Approved by the Council of Ministers in February 2025 and now before parliament, the bill introduces substantial changes aimed at modernising and streamlining adoption procedures.
For the first time, domestic and intercountry adoptions are regulated within a single, coherent legislative text. According to competent authorities, this consolidation is designed to clarify responsibilities, reduce overlaps and address gaps that have previously complicated implementation by the SWS and the courts.
Mandatory post-adoption support
A key feature of the bill is the formalisation of post-adoption support. Adoptive parents and children will be required to cooperate with the SWS for a period of five years, or until the child reaches adulthood.
Psychological support also becomes mandatory, with at least three counselling sessions per year for five years following the adoption order. In addition, applicants, guardians and adoptive parents will be required to participate in structured training programmes aimed at improving understanding of adoptees’ needs and supporting family adjustment.
Stricter suitability criteria
The bill places increased emphasis on the suitability of prospective adoptive parents from the outset. Minimum requirements include a minimum age of 21, permanent and lawful residence in Cyprus, a clean criminal record and certification confirming the absence of abuse or sexual offence histories.
Applicants will also undergo assessments of physical, mental and social capacity and must notify the SWS of any changes in family status or residence during the evaluation process. The clearer articulation of criteria is intended to reduce delays and reversals at later stages.
Introduction of a “simple adoption order”
Among the bill’s most notable innovations is the introduction of a “simple adoption order”. Under specific conditions and where it is deemed to be in the child’s best interests, this would allow for continued contact with the biological family.
The measure does not undermine the legal bond between the child and the adoptive parents but introduces a more flexible approach to managing biological ties.
The bill establishes formal registries for prospective adoptive parents and children eligible for adoption, improving case management and oversight. It also sets out detailed rules on the disclosure of information, whether requested by adoptees or biological parents, clearly defining the SWS’s role in handling such requests.
At the same time, it explicitly bans any form of direct placement of children for adoption and prohibits financial transactions linked to the process, reinforcing the exclusive role of the SWS and limiting informal or unofficial arrangements.
Adoption figures over the past decade
Over the past ten years, a total of 615 adoptions, domestic and intercountry, have been completed in Cyprus. The annual figures peaked between 2015 and 2018, before declining steadily from 2019 onwards.
In 2024, 60 adoptions were recorded, all domestic. During the first ten months of 2025, 20 adoptions were completed, again exclusively domestic. Intercountry adoptions have declined sharply, with none recorded in the past two years.