International Adoptions Guidelines

Each country has specific guidelines for adoptive parents to meet. Below you can find each country's requirements. Remember that rules are always changing, and may have since changed since this was written.

Remember to check The US Travel Warnings when considering international adoptions.

CHINA

• Ages 30-57 at time of match
• Children are 6 months to 6 years, healthy or with special needs
• No requirement as to length of marriage
• Single parents considered
• Two week average travel time, but varies by province
• Income minumum of $20,000 or $10,000 per family member
• Aproximate time after dossier is 7-9 months for referal, 2-3 months for travel

ECUADOR

• Ages for parents depend on number of members in the family, but generally under 40 for 0-2 children
• Children are 1-10 years old, healthy or special needs
• Minimum 3 years of marriage
• 1 divorce each accepted
• Single parents considered for older cihldren
• Both parents for 2 weeks, then 1 parent for 1 week. Other choice is one trip for 5 to 6 weeks
• For boys, up to 1 year until assignment; for girls 15-21 months until assignment; 5-8 months after child is accepted by couple for travel

GUATEMALA

• Minimum 25 years old for children 1 year or less. No more than 40 (mother) or 43 (father) years between child and parents. Changes to 43 and 50 for children 2 years and over.
• Children are 1-10 years old, healthy or with special needs
• Minimum 5 years of marriage. If couple is over 35 years in age, then 3+ years of marriage.
• 1 divorce each accepted
• Single parents considered for children 1 year and older
• Travel required for 1 parent for 1 week
• Takes 12-15 months until assignment; 5-7 months after child is accepted by family

HONG KONG

• Prefer no more than 45 years between parent and child
• Children with minor to moderate special needs, 1-5 years of age
• Minimum of 3 years of marriage with no previous divorce; 5 years if there is a divorce
• 1 divorce each accepted
• No single applicants
• Escort a possibility
• 7-12 months after dossier is sent to Hong Kong

INDIA

• Generally up to 40 years between youngest parent and child
• Mostly healthy 16 month to 8 year old children. Moderate special needs 12 months and up
• Minimum 5 years of marriage, with applications accepted at 4 years
• 1 divorce each, but will review special cases
• No single applicants if other than Indian
• Either 1 week travel, or escort
• 2-6 months to assignment; 4-9 months for tavel after child is accepted by family

KOREA

• Minimum 25 years, maximum 44.5 years old
• Primarily infants
• Minimum 3 years marriage, no more than 15 years age difference between husband and wife
• 1 divorce accpeted, but no divorce preferred
• No single applicants
• Optional 3 business days, or escort
• 5-7 months for assignment; 3-5 months for travel after child is accepted by family

PHILIPPINES

• Minimum 25 years,with up to 40 years between younger parent and child
• 10 months to 10 years old, healthy or with special needs or sibling groups
• Minimum 3 years of marriage, 5 years if previously divorced
• 1 divorce each accepted
• Single women considered for children 11 and older
• 3-5 days of travel needed
• 10-15 months until assignment, then 3-5 months more to travel

ROMANIA

• Minimum 25 years and possibility of no more than 50 years between younger parent and child
• Children 1-12 years, healthy to moderate special needs.
• No requirement on marriage time
• Single applicants accepted
• Travel for 1 parent for 1 week with escort possible in certain areas
• 2-4 months to assignment; 5-8 months after child is accepted by family and dossier is complete

THAILAND

• Minimum 25 years and up to 40 years between parent and child
• 1-10 years old, healthy or with special needs
• Minimum 3 years of marriage
• No single applicants
• Travel required for 1 parent for 8 days
• 2-6 months until child assignment, then 8-10 months to travel

VIETNAM

• Minimum 25 years; with age maximum age restrictions for younger children
• 6 months to 11 years healthy or wtih special needs
• Minimum 2 years of marriage
• Singles accepted on case by case basis
• Approximately 2-3 weeks travel required
• 6-12 months until assignment, then 4-6 months to travel

COLOMBIA

• Couples under 40 with older couples adopting school age children
• Infants, toddlers and school aged sibling groups
• Single women accepted for school age children
• 3-4 weeks travel with 1 person allowed to return after 1 week
• 3-6 months for assignment

PERU

• 25-35 years old for children 0-3 years old; 36-45 years for children 3-4 years old;46-55 for children over 4 years old
• Infants, toddlers and older children
• Singles accepted for children over 3 years old
• 8 weeks travel time; one member may return home after first week
• 6 months for referral

RUSSIA

• Couples up to late 40's for infants
• Must be willing to take medical risks on infants 6 months and up
• Singles accepted up to 42 years old
• Varies according to area but generally either 2 trips or 1 trip of 10-14 days
• 6 months for referral