Same-sex adoption in Europe

Adoption by LGBT people in Europe differs in legal recognition from country to country. Full joint adoption or step-child adoption or both is legal in 22 of the 56 European countries, and in all dependent territories.

Legal status of adoption by same-sex couples in Europe:
  Joint adoption legal
  Stepparent adoption legal
  No laws allowing adoption by same-sex couples

Full joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in nineteen European countries, namely Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia (eff. 2024), Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. San Marino permits step-child adoption in which the registered partner can adopt the biological and, in some cases, the adopted child of his or her partner. In Italy stepchild adoption has been recognized by courts since 2016 after the Supreme Court of Cassation stated that a couple in a civil union can adopt their partner’s child. In Greece, same-sex couples in a civil partnership may become foster – but not adoptive – parents.[1]

In dependent territories, joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Several countries are currently considering permitting full joint or step-child adoption by same-sex couples.

Current situation

Joint adoption
JurisdictionEntry into forceNotes
[2]Andorra Andorra25 December 2014
[3]Austria Austria1 January 2016
[4]Belgium Belgium30 June 2006
[5]Croatia Croatia26 May 2022
  • First instance decision 5 May 2021, 26 May 2022 High Administrative Court rejects Ministry appeal.
[6]Denmark Denmark1 July 2010
[9] Estonia Estonia 1 January 2016
  • Only parties to a cohabitation agreement or marriage (beginning 1 Jan 2024) may adopt
[10]Finland Finland1 March 2017
[11]France France18 May 2013
  • Also applies to all French overseas territories
[12]Germany Germany1 October 2017
[13]Iceland Iceland27 June 2006
[14]Republic of Ireland Ireland6 May 2016
[15]Liechtenstein Liechtenstein1 July 2022
[16]Luxembourg Luxembourg1 January 2015
[17]Malta Malta17 April 2014
[18][19]Netherlands Netherlands1 April 2001
  • The law initially applied to the European Netherlands only.
  • In 2012 its scope was expanded to include the Caribbean Netherlands.
[20]Norway Norway1 January 2009
[21]Portugal Portugal1 March 2016
[22][23] Slovenia Slovenia8 July 2022
  • The Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs stated that the existing law allowed for second-parent adoption beginning in July 2011.
  • In 2022, the Constitutional Court made separate rulings legalising same-sex marriage and joint couple adoption.
[24]Spain Spain3 July 2005
[25]Sweden Sweden1 February 2003
[26][27]Switzerland Switzerland1 July 2022
[28][29]United Kingdom United Kingdom7 November 2002
  • The law initially applied to England and Wales only.
  • In Scotland a separate law came into force on 28 September 2009.[30]
  • In Northern Ireland since 11 December 2013[31]
  • In Isle of Man since 2 April 2011[32]
  • In Jersey since 2 April 2012[33]
  • In Gibraltar since 28 March 2014[34]
  • In Guernsey since 3 April 2017[35]

Non-European Territories:

  • In both Bermuda and the Pitcairn Islands since 2015.[36][37][38]
  • In the Falkland Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and Tristan da Cunha since 2017.[39]
  • The Cayman Islands since 2020.
  • Not available in other overseas territories

Step-child adoption
JurisdictionEntry into forceNotes
San Marino San Marino 11 February 2019
  • Parties in a civil union may adopt stepchildren only

In Italy step-child adoption is not legal and can only be recognized by court order under very limited circumstances.[40]

Other
JurisdictionEntry into forceNotes
[41]Greece Greece10 May 2018
  • "Foster carer/parent". Only couples in a civil partnership are allowed to foster.

Public opinion

According to pollster Gallup Europe, women, younger generations, and the highly educated are more likely to support same-sex marriage and adoption rights for gay people than other demographics.[42]

  Indicates the country/territory has legalized same-sex adoption nationwide
  Indicates that same-sex adoption is legal in certain parts of the country
  Indicates that the country has step-child adoption or partner-guardianship
Opinion polls for same-sex adoption in Europe
Country Pollster Year For Against Don't Know/Neutral/No answer/Other
 Austria IMAS 2015 46%[43] 48%[43] 6%
 Belgium Ipsos 2021 72%[44] 21% 7%
 Bulgaria Eurobarometer 2006 12%[45] 68%[45] 20%[45]
 Cyprus Eurobarometer 2006 10%[45] 86%[45] 4%[45]
Czech Republic Czech Republic CVVM 2019 47%[46] 47% 6%
 Denmark Pew Research Center 2017 75%[47] - -
 Estonia HumanrightsEE 2023 47%[48] 44%[48] 9%[48]
 Finland Taloustutkimus 2013 51%[49] 42%[49] 7%[49]
 France Ipsos 2021 62%[44] 29% 10%
 Germany Ipsos 2021 69%[44] 24% 6%
 Greece KAPA Research 2020 40%[50] 57%[50] 3%[50]
 Hungary Ipsos 2021 59% [44] 36% 5%
 Ireland Red C Poll 2011 60%[51] - -
 Italy Eurispes 2023 50.4% [52] 49.6% 0%
 Latvia SKDS 2023 27%[53] 23%[53] 46%[53]
 Lithuania Eurobarometer 2006 12%[45] 82%[45] 6%[45]
 Luxembourg Politmonitor 2013 55%[54] 44%[54] 1%[54]
 Malta Misco 2014 20%[55] 80%[55] -
 Netherlands Ipsos 2021 83%[44] 12% 5%
 Norway YouGov 2012 54%[56] 34%[56] 12%[56]
 Poland Ipsos 2021 33%[44] 58% 10%
 Portugal Pew Research Center 2017 59%[57] 28%[57] 13%[57]
 Romania Eurobarometer 2006 8%[45] 82%[45] 10%[45]
 Russia Ipsos 2021 23%[44] 67% 10%
 Serbia Civil Rights Defenders 2020 22.5%[58] - -
 Slovakia Eurobarometer 2006 12%[45] 84%[45] 4%[45]
 Slovenia Delo Stik 2015 38%[59] 55%[59] 7%[59]
 Spain Ipsos 2021 77%[44] 17% 6%
 Sweden Ipsos 2021 79%[44] 17% 4%
  Switzerland Pink Cross 2020 67%[60] 30%[60] 3%[60]
 Ukraine Gay Alliance of Ukraine 2013 7%[61] 68%[61] 12%
13% would allow some exceptions[61]
 United Kingdom Ipsos 2021 72%[44] 19% 9%

See also

References
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