Relates to foreign adoptions

New York birth certificates for foreign adoptees

New York now files birth certificates for eligible foreign-born adoptees of any age, removing the former over-18 age limit. The adoption’s finalization or legal recognition must be reported to the state Health Commissioner. No other birth certificate or birth record can be on file outside the birth country. No certificate of birth data can exist for the adoptee. An adoptive parent must have lived in New York when the adoption happened, or the adoptee must have been lawfully adopted in New York. The adopter must provide foreign adoption papers and a certified translation for an adoption abroad. They must also provide evidence of the birth date and place, plus IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, or successor immigrant visa status. The certificate includes the adoptee’s name, sex, birth date, birth time, birthplace, mother’s maiden name, and father’s name. Local registrars must send any birth certificate they file, with supporting documents, to the Commissioner for a new certificate. The law takes effect with the related 2025 foreign-adoption law identified as S. 3765 and A. 1944.