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Step 2: Adoption Suitability Assessment (ASA)

How to Adopt a Child in Singapore

Adoption Suitability Assessment (ASA) is a comprehensive assessment that looks into the circumstances surrounding the adoption as well as your suitability to adopt. It assesses you and your family’s readiness to adopt a child.

The assessment is conducted by professional social service staff an Authorised Adoption Agency (AAA).

You must obtain a favourable ASA before you can identify a child to adopt.

ASA fees are as follows 
  • Adoption of biological and step-children: $1,100 + $315 (every additional child)
  • Adoption of unrelated and relative's children: $2,000

You may apply for the ASA via the myMSF Portal at go.gov.sg/mymsfportal.

*Please note that there is a technical issue with applicants applying for an ASA to adopt a child who is currently not residing in Singapore and is not a Singapore Citizen. You will not be able to complete the ASA application. The issue is targeted to be rectified in Mar 2025.

You must not have an unrelated child under your care before obtaining a favourable ASA. You may only have an unrelated child under your care after you have been issued with a favourable ASA (for Singaporean children) and an In-Principle Approval (IPA) for a Dependant’s Pass to adopt a foreign child.


Under the ACA 2022:

  • All applicants must undergo an Adoption Suitability Assessment (ASA) conducted by AAA that are authorised by MSF;

  • Applicants must have resided in Singapore for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding the application for an ASA, and be habitually resident in Singapore;

  • All applicants are required to undergo a Pre-Adoption Briefing and a disclosure briefing of adoptive status before making an application for an ASA;

  • Only Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, and foreigners adopting with Singaporean spouses can adopt in Singapore by default;

  • After you have attended PAB and DB, and obtain a valid and favorable ASA, you will receive a Letter of Eligibility (LOE) from the AAA;

  • All applications to the Court will require a valid ASA. For those who applied for Home Study Report (HSR) before 15 October 2024, you will not require a LOE;

  • You can seek an extension of your ASA or HSR, if the report has minimal validity period of 3 months before expiry. Please approach an AAA to apply for extension of your ASA or HSR.