You must be habitually resident in the UK to adopt from overseas. Habitually resident means that you regularly live in the UK. If you have lived in the UK all your life or for many years, you are habitually resident, even if you occasionally leave the country to go on holiday. If you leave the country to take up residence elsewhere and with no intention to return, you will lose your habitual residence. You may also lose your UK habitual residence if you move to another country for a family member’s employment, even if you are planning to come back at some point.
If you do not know whether you are habitually resident in the UK, we can provide further advice.