Short answer
Yes. In the Hanafi school, as in the other three, you may appoint someone, such as a trusted charity, to slaughter the aqiqah for you in another country. It counts as your aqiqah once they slaughter it for your child with your permission. You can still shave the hair, give the silver and name the child at home.
Appointing an agent (wakil) for the aqiqah is valid, just as it is for qurbani. The agent must slaughter on your behalf, with a valid animal and in a valid way. It is better, though not required, to eat from it or share it with family, which a charity abroad cannot offer.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ slaughtered some of his sacrifices himself and appointed Ali to complete the rest, and he told Ali not to pay the butcher from the animal. The scholars of the four schools take from this that a sacrifice may be done by an agent. Aqiqah follows the same rules as qurbani here.
Checks before you pay:
- Name the child and the purpose: the charity should record that this animal is the aqiqah for your child, not general sadaqah meat.
- The animal: it must meet qurbani conditions of age and health, and the number should match: two goats or sheep for a boy is the sunnah, one is enough, and one for a girl. See how many goats.
- Halal slaughter: by a Muslim, with Allah's name.
- Trust: use an organisation that confirms the slaughter, ideally with a date.
Things the charity cannot do for you: shaving the baby's head, giving the hair's weight in silver, and naming. These are done at home. See shaving the head.
Is it as good as doing it at home? It is valid and rewarded, and the meat reaches people in real need. Doing it locally lets you eat from it and feed family, which is also sunnah. Many families do one locally and one abroad, or choose by cost. Either way, make sure an animal is actually slaughtered: giving its price as sadaqah is good, but it is not an aqiqah.
The evidence
Sahih Muslim 1317
Sahih... نحن نعطيه من عندنا ...
"We will pay him from our own money."
Ali carried out the Prophet's sacrifices on his behalf, showing that slaughter by an agent is valid, and the butcher is paid separately.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2842
Graded hasan... من ولد له ولد فأحب أن ينسك عنه فلينسك ...
"Whoever has a child born to him and wishes to offer a sacrifice for it, let him do so."
Aqiqah is a voluntary sacrifice the parent offers on the child's behalf; the agency itself rests on the qurbani rules.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Udhiyah. Validity of appointing another to slaughter the sacrifice, which aqiqah follows.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Udhiyah, closing discussion on aqiqah. Aqiqah follows the rules of udhiyah.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.