How Much Does Adoption Cost In Canada?

by | Oct 17, 2025 | legal guidance | 0 comments

A cover about how much does adoption cost in Canada.

Adoption is a calling for couples facing infertility issues due to low sperm count, a septate uterus, and other causes. The solution comes with some expenses, which may make you wonder how much adoption costs in Canada.

As a legal expert who has helped many clients with adopting a child in Ontario, we can help you understand its expenses. In the guide below, we will answer queries such as “is adoption free in Canada” and more.

Is Adoption Free In Canada?

Adoption is not free in Canada because of some direct or indirect expenses related to it. This is regardless of the type of adoption you’re doing.

If adopting a child itself does not cost anything, there may be some expenses related to consulting an adoption lawyer to understand the public process.

The answer to is adoption free in Canada always depends on the type of adoption and whether it’s local or international.

Listing the four types of adoption in Canada.

How Much Does Adoption Cost In Canada?

Private and public adoptions are the two common types of adoption in the country. You may wonder how much adoption costs in Canada for these two processes. Let’s look at the charges of each type:

1.  Private Adoption Cost

Private adoption is the process of adopting a child from their birth parents through a licensed private agency in Canada. The agent will match you with parents who want to give up their child. They will also support you in completing mandatory programs such as PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information and Development and Education) for adopting a child.

The average private adoption cost in Canada in 2025 is $10,000 to $25,000. These are the charges when you’re adopting a child within the country. If you perform private adoption for a child outside Canada, the process would be called international adoption, and the cost will change.

2.  Public Adoption Cost

Public adoption is a common process that involves adopting a child through the government’s welfare system. This type of adoption is governed by provincial laws. If you’re adopting in Ontario, you’ll have to connect with the Children’s Aid Society for public adoption.

The highlighting feature of this type is that there is zero public adoption cost in Canada. You won’t have to pay to match with a child. No expenses are related to PRIDE tests and other mandatory education programs if they’re done through the Children’s Aid Society.

However, the process may still cost you some money if you decide to approach an adoption lawyer before the process. A consultation from an attorney is useful for people adopting for the first time.

An adoption lawyer can guide you about the provincial adoption laws of Ontario, develop adoption agreements for you, and more. Their fee may add to some public adoption costs, but it’s usually minimal and doesn’t affect the overall expenses much.

How Much Does International Adoption Cost?

One of the eligible types of adoption in Canada is called international adoption. The process involves adopting a child who is born outside of Canada. Parents in Ontario can only adopt from countries that participate in the Hague Convention.

The international adoption cost in 2025 ranges from $25,000 to $50,000 or above, depending on your province. This cost difference is mainly due to the complexity and legal challenges surrounding international adoption.

Consulting an adoption lawyer can help is one of the best moves you can make during the entire process. The attorney can let you know the countries you can adopt from, advise you about licensed private adoption agencies that help with international adoption, and develop various adoption agreements.

How Much Does Kinship Adoption Cost?

Kinship adoption is the process of adopting a relative in Canada or overseas. If you’re going with the latter approach, the process would cost you $1,000 to $5,000. There is no need to involve adoption agencies in the process.

All you have to do for kinship adoption in Canada is hire a reliable adoption lawyer Scarborough or Whitby. They will support you during court hearings and help you adopt your relatives, such as a niece or nephew.

However, you must remember that the earlier kinship adoption cost only applies to public adoption Canada. If you want to adopt a relative overseas, the international adoption cost will apply to your case.

Why Does Adoption Cost So Much?

Private and international adoptions in Canada cost much because of the complexity of these processes. The agencies help you adopt a child directly from a birth parent, provide counselling, and handle adoption paperwork.

Drafting documents for transferring parental rights costs a bit, adding to your adoption cost in Canada. Mandatory parental education programs, such as PRIDE and Home Study are also costly if done through a private agency.

All these factors contribute to the total cost of your adoption process. This is why, when wanting to learn how much does adoption cost in Canada, you must determine the type of adoption process you will be using.

For public adoption in Canada, there is little to no cost. Meanwhile, other adoption processes may require some investment due to the earlier factors.

Does Insurance Cover Adoption Cost In Canada?

Yes, adoption costs in Canada can be covered through insurance agencies such as Sun Life, Manulife, and other companies. These insurance providers may cover the following expenses:

  • Transportation or accommodation costs for the adopting parent or child, if required
  • Educational courses related to adoption, such as PRIDE
  • Criminal background checks
  • Adoption lawyer fees
  • Adoption agency fees

To be eligible for coverage of these expenses, you must ensure you’re adopting a child under 18. You must also claim these eligible adoption expenses within the tax year that includes the adoption period.

The good news is you can make a claim for the earlier adoption expenses to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or your insurance provider. Although, keep in mind you can only be reimbursed by one of the agencies.

If you’ve sought reimbursement for adoption expenses from your insurance provider, such as Sun Life, you cannot make a claim to the CRA for the same adoption expenses and vice versa.

Explaining the formula for claiming expenses under how much does adoption cost in Canada.

How Much Does It Cost To Reverse An Adoption?

An adoption can rarely be reversed in Canada, especially if the adoptive parents used an illegal process to adopt the child. There is no fixed cost associated with the process because of its rarity.

The birth parents must undergo a rigorous legal process to reverse the adoption. Most of the cost associated with reversal usually comprises the adoption lawyer Scarborough fees.

FAQs

How Much Does Adoption Cost In Ontario?

Public adoption in Ontario is not associated with any fees. You can expect to pay $15,000 to $30,000 for a private adoption in Ontario (the figure is mainly for local adoption). If you’re adopting internationally, the cost will be $20,000 to $50,000.

How Much Does Step Parent Adoption Cost?

The step parent adoption cost in Scarborough is not fixed because the process is mainly associated with adoption lawyer fees. Every attorney charges a different amount, depending on the case complexity. You may consult Barnett Law to get an estimate for step parent adoption in Canada.

Why Does Adoption Cost Money?

Private and international adoption costs money because of legal fees associated with paperwork drafting, counselling, and more. Agencies also charge a fee for doing the rigorous work of finding a child to match with your family.

How Much Does an Adoption Lawyer Cost?

The adoption lawyer cost varies in Canada, depending on the type of adoption and its complexity. Book an appointment with experienced adoption attorneys such as Barnett Law to receive a quote for adopting a child.

Contact Barnett Law To Build A Family With Our Adoption Lawyer Expertise

Adopting a child in Scarborough and Whitby may seem a complicated process, especially if you’re adopting for the first time. Navigating the procedure can be made easier by consulting a professional adoption lawyer.

The experienced attorney can make you aware of important provincial laws, mandatory requirements of adoption Canada, and licensed agencies that may assist you. If you’re interested in receiving comprehensive guidance for adoption in Canada, connect with Barnett Law today.

Author Profile

Barnett Law
Barnett Law
Barnett Law is a trusted and knowledgeable lawyer in Scarborough. Her expertise spans real estate law, family law, adoptions and fertility law. A lawyer by profession and a humanitarian by heart, Athena Narsingh Barnett wants to help people become more familiar with the legal system and be well-informed to make important legal decisions.