Section 56A: Restriction on bringing children into the United Kingdom, Adoption Act 1976

This section applies where a person who is habitually resident in the British Islands (the “ British resident ”)—

brings, or causes another to bring, a child who is habitually resident outside the British Islands into the United Kingdom for the purpose of adoption by the British resident, or

at any time brings, or causes another to bring, into the United Kingdom a child adopted by the British resident under an external adoption effected within the period of six months ending with that time.The references to adoption, or to a child adopted, by the British resident include a reference to adoption, or to a child adopted, by the British resident and another person.

But this section does not apply if the child is intended to be adopted under a Convention adoption order.

An external adoption means an adoption, other than a Convention adoption, of a child effected under the law of any country or territory outside the British Islands, whether or not the adoption is—

an adoption within the meaning of Part IV of this Act, or

a full adoption (within the meaning of section 39(3A)).

Regulations may require a person intending to bring, or to cause another to bring, a child into the United Kingdom in circumstances where this section applies—

to apply to an adoption agency (including an adoption agency within the meaning of section 1 of the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 or Article 3 of the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987) in the prescribed manner for an assessment of his suitability to adopt the child, and

to give the agency any information it may require for the purpose of the assessment.

Regulations may require prescribed conditions to be met in respect of a child brought into the United Kingdom in circumstances where this section applies.

In relation to a child brought into the United Kingdom for adoption in circumstances where this section applies, regulations may provide for any provision of Part II to apply with modifications or not to apply.

If a person brings, or causes another to bring, a child into the United Kingdom at any time in circumstances where this section applies, he is guilty of an offence if—

he has not complied with any requirement imposed by virtue of subsection (4), or

any condition required to be met by virtue of subsection (5) is not met,

before that time, or before any later time which may be prescribed.

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both,

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or a fine, or both.

Regulations may provide for the preceding provisions of this section not to apply if—

the adopters or (as the case may be) prospective adopters are natural parents, natural relatives or guardians of the child in question (or one of them is), or

the British resident in question is a step-parent of the child,

and any prescribed conditions are met.

On the occasion of the first exercise of the power to make regulations under subsection (9)—

the regulations shall not be made unless a draft of the regulations has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament, and

accordingly section 67(2) does not apply to the statutory instrument containing the regulations.

In this section, “ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations and “ regulations ” means regulations made by the Secretary of State, after consultation with the National Assembly for Wales.

Section 56A: Restriction on bringing children into the United Kingdom

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