State of New Jersey
Department of Health
Governor Mikie Sherrill · Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell
Foreign Adoptions
Placing a Foreign Adoption on file in New Jersey
- For a child born and adopted in a foreign country and readopted in New Jersey or a child born in a foreign country and adopted in New Jersey
- For a child born and adopted in a foreign country
For a child born and adopted in a foreign country and readopted in New Jersey or a child born in a foreign country and adopted in New Jersey
All of the following must be provided:
- A completed Report of Adoption form (REG-44) **
- A certified copy of the final judgement of adoption from a New Jersey court. **
- A certified copy of the original foreign birth certificate and a certified English translation. ** (The certified copy of the birth certificate or birth register and translation can be certified by the court that processed your adoption or by an attorney at law certifying the record to be a true copy of the original.)
- A check or money order for $2 payable to: Treasurer, State of New Jersey to process the adoption. A certified copy of the certificate can be ordered for $25 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy of the same certificate.
- Proof of New Jersey residency.
Examples of proof of residency are:
A voter registration card
Driver license
U.S. Federal Census Report of the parents
Current utility bill - telephone, cable, gas, or electric - If the child has a Certificate of Citizenship from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services, please provide a copy of the certificate with your request. If the certificate of citizenship cannot be provided the record may be recorded but will have the notation “By Adoption” on the certificate.
** These documents will be retained by the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry to be placed under seal.
Mail the above information to:
New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
Attn: Foreign Adoption Processing
PO Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625
For a child born and adopted in a foreign country
All of the following must be provided:
- A completed Report of Adoption form (REG-44)
- A certified copy of the original foreign adoption decree and a certified English translation. ***
- A certified copy of the original foreign birth certificate and a certified English translation. ***
- A check or money order for $2 payable to: Treasurer, State of New Jersey to process the adoption. A certified copy of the certificate can be ordered for $25 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy of the same certificate.
- Proof of New Jersey residency by providing a copy of one of the following:
Examples of proof of residency are:
A voter registration card
Driver license
U.S. Federal Census Report of the parents
Current utility bill - telephone, cable, gas, or electric - Proof of the child’s immigration status by providing a copy of one of the following:
Child’s green card
Child’s foreign passport showing the I-551 stamp
Child’s U.S. citizenship document
***All documents will be returned via certified mail to the applicant once processed.
Mail the above information to:
New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
Attn: Foreign Adoption Processing
PO Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625
For FedEx and UPS
New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
Attn: Foreign Adoption Processing
369 South Warren Street, 5th Floor, Room 504
Trenton, NJ 08608