Understanding UK adoption routes, from agency adoption to early permanence

Adoption in the UK can feel complicated when you first begin exploring it. You may already know that adoption creates a lifelong legal relationship between a child and their adoptive family, but the different routes into adoption are often less understood. Many people start their journey believing there is one standard pathway, only to discover several types of adoption that each work differently, serve different purposes, and exist to meet a child’s specific needs. If you are at the very beginning of your adoption journey, this blog will guide you through those routes in a clear, grounded, and reassuring way. By the end, you should feel more confident in understanding which pathway might suit your family and what each option involves.

This blog is written for anyone thinking about adoption in the UK who wants straightforward, fact-checked information without jargon. Whether you are an individual exploring adoption, a couple considering your long-term family plans, or someone who already cares for a child and is looking for the right legal route, this guide will help you understand your options. We explain what each type of adoption looks like, how long it generally takes, what criteria you need to meet, and who each pathway is typically best suited to. You will not find speculation or unclear claims here; everything included reflects current UK adoption practice and legal guidance. Adoption is a significant decision, and clarity is one of the most valuable tools you can have at the start.

Types of adoption routes in the UK explained

Before diving into the different types, it is helpful to remember one key point: in the UK, adoption always has the same legal outcome. Once an Adoption Order is granted by the court, the adoptive parent or parents permanently hold full parental responsibility. The child becomes a full legal member of the family, exactly as if they were born into it. What varies is how you reach that Adoption Order. The routes below offer different ways for a child to be placed with a family, different timelines, and different emotional landscapes depending on the child’s situation and the needs of everyone involved.

Agency adoption (the standard UK route)

Agency adoption is the route most people think of when they imagine adoption in the UK. This pathway involves adopting a child who is not already known to you and who is being cared for by a local authority. Children enter this system when the court decides they cannot safely remain with their birth family, usually due to concerns about neglect, trauma, or risk of harm. The adoption process is structured, thorough, and intentionally designed to prepare families for the reality of parenting a child who may have had difficult early experiences. It is the most common route and provides a clear framework from initial enquiry through to matching and moving a child into your home.

In terms of timing, agency adoption follows a nationally recognised two-stage model.

Stage One typically takes around two months and focuses on checks, training, and preliminary preparation.

Stage Two takes around four months and explores your readiness, resilience, and ability to meet a child’s needs in more depth.

While these timeframes are national guidelines, local authorities may vary slightly. Matching can take anything from a few months to over a year, depending on the needs of the children waiting and your openness around factors such as siblings, age range, ethnicity, or additional needs.

The criteria for agency adoption are straightforward and intentionally inclusive. You must be over eighteen. You can be single, married, living together, divorced, LGBTQ+, or in a civil partnership. You do not have to own your home, earn a specific salary, or already be a parent. What matters is stability, emotional readiness, and the capacity to meet the needs of a child who will require sensitivity, patience, and trauma-informed parenting. Thorough checks, health assessments, and references are part of the process to ensure the future placement is safe and appropriate.

Agency adoption is best suited to people who want the clarity of a step-by-step adoption pathway and who are willing to wait for the right match. It allows adopters to build skills gradually and ensures they are well prepared for the needs of their child. This route matters because it provides permanent families for children who cannot safely return home and because it offers a structured, supportive journey for adopters from the very beginning.

Learn more about the key stages in this journey

Fostering for Adoption (early permanence)

Fostering for Adoption, often called early permanence, is a route designed to give children more stability earlier in their lives. In this pathway, adopters are approved both as adoptive parents and temporary foster carers. They care for a child while the court is still deciding whether the child can return to their birth family or whether adoption will be the long-term plan. This means you may be caring for the child before the legal decision about their future has been made. For many children, especially very young ones, this reduces the number of moves they experience and supports healthy attachment from the start.

The timing of Fostering for Adoption mirrors the assessment stages of standard adoption.

You complete Stage One and Stage Two as usual, but once approved, placements through this route can begin quickly, sometimes within weeks, because children in need of early stability are prioritised.

The length of time before the court reaches its final decision varies. Early permanence carers often care for the child for several months before the judge decides whether reunification or adoption is the most appropriate plan. This legal process is determined by the courts, not the agency, so timelines differ from case to case.

The criteria for Fostering for Adoption include everything required for agency adoption, with additional expectations. You must be assessed and approved as a foster carer as well as an adopter, which involves specific training about fostering regulations and supporting supervised family time. You need to be emotionally prepared for uncertainty, as the child may return to members of their birth family. You must also be available to meet the child’s day-to-day needs immediately and work collaboratively with social workers during the court process.

Fostering for Adoption suits people who want to provide a child with early stability and who understand that this route has emotional risks. It matters because it reduces the number of transitions in a child’s early life, which we know supports long-term attachment and development. Families who choose this pathway often describe it as rewarding, meaningful, and challenging, all at once. It allows adopters to play a critical role at a crucial point in a child’s life.

Concurrent planning

Concurrent planning is another form of early permanence, but with a key difference: there is usually a greater likelihood that the child may return to their birth parents or extended family. Carers are again approved as both foster carers and adopters, and they care for the child full-time while professionals work closely with the birth family to assess whether safe reunification is possible. This route gives the child stability while the support offered to their birth parents is fully explored.

In terms of timing, concurrent planning follows the same assessment structure as all adoption routes. Once approved, placements can begin quickly, and carers typically look after the child for three to twelve months while the court process unfolds. This timeline depends on how well birth parents engage with the support offered and on the court’s decisions about the child’s long-term safety. Because the possibility of reunification is higher, carers need to be prepared for strong emotional ups and downs throughout this period.

The criteria for concurrent planning require adopters to meet all the expectations of early permanence carers. You must be comfortable supporting regular contact between the child and their birth parents, sometimes more frequently than in Fostering for Adoption. You need strong emotional resilience, the ability to prioritise the child’s needs regardless of outcome, and openness to working as part of a larger multi-agency team. You also need to be ready for the possibility that the child will not remain with you permanently.

Concurrent planning is ideal for adopters who value early stability for children but understand and accept the uncertainty of the process. It matters because it gives children the least amount of disruption at a time when their long-term plan is still being determined. Although it can be emotionally challenging for carers, it remains one of the most child-centred approaches in the UK.

Step-parent adoption

Step-parent adoption is a route for families where a step-parent is already fulfilling a long-term parenting role and wishes to formalise their responsibilities legally. This route applies when a child lives with one birth parent and their partner, and everyone involved wants to explore adoption as an option. Step-parent adoption creates a permanent legal relationship between the step-parent and the child and removes parental responsibility from the non-resident birth parent. Because of the long-term legal implications, the court handles these cases with particular care.

The timing for step-parent adoption varies but generally includes a three-month notice period to the local authority, followed by an assessment of around three to six months. The court process can take several more months after that, meaning the entire journey often lasts between six and twelve months. The purpose of the assessment is to explore the family’s dynamics, the child’s wishes, and whether adoption is necessary - rather than relying on another legal order such as a Child Arrangements Order or Special Guardianship Order.

Criteria for step-parent adoption include living with the child for at least six months before applying (in England and Wales). You must notify your local authority in writing at least three months before the court application. The assessment explores the emotional relationships in the family, how adoption would affect the child’s links to their non-resident birth parent, and whether adoption is the right legal route. The child’s voice is extremely important, and their views are considered based on age and understanding.

This route is best suited to families where the step-parent has long been a central figure in the child’s life and where there is a shared wish for legal clarity. It matters because it offers a stable, permanent legal identity for the child within their current family structure. Step-parent adoption must always be approached thoughtfully, as it brings lifelong consequences for everyone involved.

Family adoption (adoption by a relative)

Family adoption, sometimes called kinship adoption, occurs when a child is adopted by a relative such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling. This pathway is far less common than other legal options like Special Guardianship Orders, which preserve the legal link between a child and their birth parents. Adoption by a relative is only used when it is clear that a child needs full permanence and legal security that cannot be achieved through less severe legal orders. For some families, it is the most appropriate option, especially when the relative has already been caring for the child and everyone agrees that a permanent future together is best.

The timing for family adoption varies widely because it depends on the child’s situation, existing care arrangements, and court requirements. Assessments typically take three to six months, and the court process can extend this by several more months. The local authority must consider whether adoption is necessary or whether other orders meet the child’s needs. Courts place strong emphasis on the child’s welfare, their relationships with extended family, and the stability the proposed adopters can offer.

Criteria for family adoption are similar to those for other routes. The relative must be assessed as able to meet the child’s long-term emotional, physical, and developmental needs. Adoption must be shown to be in the child’s best interests. Professionals also explore the history of family relationships, any previous safeguarding concerns, and the impact that full legal adoption would have on the child’s sense of identity. Because adoption permanently removes parental responsibility from birth parents, family adoption is considered only when it clearly protects and enhances the child’s long-term welfare.

Family adoption is best suited to relatives who are already significantly involved in a child’s life and who can offer long-term stability. This route matters because it allows children to remain within their extended family while receiving the permanence they need. It also helps preserve cultural, familial, and personal identity when staying with relatives is a safe and meaningful option.

Intercountry adoption

Intercountry adoption refers to adopting a child from another country while living in the UK. This route must follow UK legislation as well as the laws of the child’s country of origin. It is managed through UK-approved agencies with expertise in overseas adoption and involves careful assessment, strict safeguarding checks, and close coordination with international authorities. This pathway is often chosen by families with a personal connection to another country or a desire to adopt internationally.

The timeline for intercountry adoption is typically longer than domestic routes. The UK assessment process can take six to twelve months, followed by an overseas process that varies widely depending on the country. Many intercountry adoptions take one to three years in total. Additional steps include immigration checks, preparation to support the child’s cultural identity, legal permissions to bring the child into the UK, and post-adoption reporting depending on the child’s country of origin.

Criteria for intercountry adoption include meeting the standard requirements for adoption in the UK, as well as the criteria of the child’s country. This may involve age limits, relationship status requirements, medical checks, and financial stability assessments. Families must work with a UK agency authorised to handle intercountry adoption and must be prepared for significant administrative and financial commitments, including travel, translation, and legal fees.

Intercountry adoption suits families who have fully considered the responsibilities associated with cross-border adoption and who understand the cultural, emotional, and practical needs of a child coming from abroad. It matters because it provides a route for children overseas who are in need of permanent families, while maintaining high safeguarding standards. Adopters have the opportunity to honour the child’s heritage, culture, and early experiences as they build a life together.

Final thoughts from us

Understanding the different types of adoption in the UK is an important first step in deciding what feels right for you. Each route exists to meet the specific needs of children whose early lives may have involved instability, loss, or uncertainty. What matters most is finding the pathway that aligns with your circumstances, your emotional capacity, and the child’s long-term wellbeing. Whether you are considering standard agency adoption, exploring early permanence, or looking for legal clarity within your existing family, each route offers its own strengths and challenges. Taking the time to understand these options helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.

If you would like support at any point during your adoption journey, we are here to help. Walk Together provides information, insight, and a community space where adopters and prospective adopters can feel understood, supported, and encouraged.

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Speak soon,

The Walk Together Team.