“Intercountry adoption brings families together, but it also brings countries together as we work together to ensure that children in need of permanency can find loving homes. Supporting these children and their families is not just a job for those involved- it is a mission for all of us.” -Michelle Bernier-Toth (U.S. Dept. of State- Advisor for Children’s Issues)
If you are looking to adopt internationally, you may wonder, “What countries can I adopt a baby from?” Intercountry adoption, or adopting a child from another country, is a difficult process with an extremely rewarding result. One important thing you need to know about the intercountry adoption process is whether the country you are looking into is part of the Hague Adoption Convention, which was entered into by the U.S. on April 1, 2008. For more information about the Hague Convention countries and how the adoption process differs from non-convention countries, click here. For the list of Hague Convention countries, please visit here.
The following is a guide outlining five popular countries Americans adopt from as well as the eligibility requirements of each for any prospective parent considering intercountry adoption.
China (Asia)
Hague Adoption Country:
Yes
General Information:
If you want to adopt a baby, note that China is one of the most popular countries chosen by U.S. citizens every year for adopting children. In the late 1970s, to address China’s large population, China enacted the One Child Policy, limiting Chinese families to only one child. Because Chinese culture is patriarchal, many families would abandon baby girls in favor of boys, who would eventually carry on the family name and take care of the parents when they got old. In 2015, the One Child Policy was loosened to the Two-Child, One Son Policy, which allowed families to have two children in order to encourage families to have girls as well as boys. Because of this, until the last decade or so, most of the children available for adoption were baby girls. However, now, the children available consist mainly of older children and children with special needs of both sexes.
Residency Requirments:
There are no specific residency requirements but in order to finalize the adoption, at least one adopting parent must travel to China in order to execute the necessary documents in person before the proper Chinese officials.
Age Requirments:
The minimum age for all people wanting to adopt a baby must be 30 years old. The maximum age differs slightly. China will allow married couples over 50 years old to adopt but the age difference between the younger spouse and the child must not be more than 50 years. If you want to adopt a baby from this country, keep in mind that the maximum age for a prospective single parent is 45.
Marital Status:
Allows Intercountry Adoption By:
- Heterosexual married couples
- Married couples must adopt jointly.
- Couples must have been married for at least two years.
- If one spouse is previously divorced, couples must be married for at least five years.
- Single women
Does Not Allow Intercountry Adoptions (At This Time) By:
- Same-sex couples or LGBTQ+ individuals
- An individual who (or couples where one individual) has been divorced two or more times.
Income Requirements:
The adopting family’s income must equal at least $10,000 for each family member, including the child to be adopted. Married couples must have a net worth of at least $80,000. If the individual is single they must have a net worth of at least $100,000. Furthermore, all prospective parents must have graduated high school or have training equivalent to a high school education.
Physical and Mental Health Requirements:
China has very strict physical and mental requirements. There are obvious restrictions against people who are terminally ill as well as people with severe long-term physical or mental illnesses. However, China does not allow prospective parents who are blind or deaf, have severe facial deformation, or a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. For the full list of specifications, click here.
Other Requirements:
- A single adoptive parent may not have more than two children in her household under age 18 and the youngest child must be at least six years old.
- Prospective parents may not have a criminal record or evidence of a past with:
- Domestic violence, sexual abuse, abandonment, or abuse of children
- Recreational drug use
- Alcohol abuse (unless the individual can show they have been sober for at least ten years)
Uganda (Africa)
Hague Adoption Country:
No
General Information:
Uganda is a small, landlocked country in East-Central Africa. The country had a population of about 43 million people in 2018. Uganda is not a member of the Hague Adoption Convention but it does follow the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA). This requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every convention or non-convention intercountry adoption case (that adoption service providers, on behalf of the prospective adoptive parents, be accredited or approved).
An important thing to note if you want to adopt a baby from Uganda is that not all children in orphanages are eligible for adoption. Sometimes, birth parents place their child temporarily in an orphanage due to hardship, intending the child to return home when possible. The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development is in charge of overseeing intercountry adoptions. Adoption orders can only be granted by the High Court.
Residency Requirments:
Under Ugandan law, adoptive parents must reside in Uganda for at least one year and foster the child in Uganda for that year under the supervision of probation and social welfare officers. So, if you wanted an opportunity to move abroad short-term, this is a great one! Research the 2016 Children Amendment Act for more information.
Age Requirements:
The minimum age for a prospective parent is 25. The parent must be at least 21 years older than the child they plan to adopt. Unlike China, Uganda does not have an upper age limit. In the case of married couples, it is sufficient for one spouse to meet these requirements.
Marital Status Requirments:
Allows Intercountry Adoption By:
- Married couples, although they are not required to apply jointly
- However, both individuals must consent to the adoption
- Single parents may adopt but they may not adopt a child of the opposite sex
- Uganda does not specifically prohibit adoption by LGBT+ couples or individuals, but political and cultural views may mean same-sex couples may not be approved for adoption by Ugandan courts.
Income Requirements:
There are no specific income requirements although prospective parents must be able to prove financial stability,
Physical and Mental Health Requirments:
Like many other countries, there are no physical or mental health requirements to adopt a baby from this country.
Other Requirements
Prospective parents must prove they have no criminal record and they have been approved by their country of nationality to adopt.
Latvia (Europe)
Hague Adoption Country:
Yes
General Information:
Latvia is a small country located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Latvia adoption is overseen by the Ministry of Welfare. For years, Latvia had a strenuous adoption process that required months of bonding before adoptions were finalized. However, recent laws have loosened the restrictions and shortened these bonding periods. Now, parents adopting in Latvia are required to spend only weeks, rather than months, in the country. Adoptive parents must finalize the adoption before the child’s 18th birthday. Compared to other countries, Latvia has very lax requirements in terms of prospective adoptive parents, so if you are asking yourself what countries can I adopt a baby from, try thinking of Latvia.
Residency Requirements:
Latvia does not have a minimum residency requirement to apply to adopt but to determine if the child is a right fit for the parents, Latvian orphan courts have the authority to require adoptive parents to take care of the children and share a household in Latvia for a set amount of time, not to exceed six months.
Once the orphan court rules in favor of an approved adoption, the subsequent trips for adoption approval by court and immigration visa processing range from two weeks to two months.
Age Requirments:
The minimum age for a prospective parent is 25 years old, but prospective parents must be at least 18 years older than the child they plan to adopt.
Marital Status Requirments:
There are no marital requirements for a Latvian adoption. All married couples and single individuals are eligible to adopt.
Income Requirments:
There are no specific income requirements.
Physical and Mental Health Requirments:
There are no physical or mental health requirements.
Mexico (North America)
Hague Adoption Country:
Yes
General Information:
If you want to adopt internationally yet still stay close to home, Mexico could be a good option for you! Mexico is a fairly large country directly south of the United States, known for its beautiful art and good food. Mexico only allows children five years and older to be available for intercountry adoption. They occasionally make exceptions for children younger than five if the child has a physical or mental disability, suffers from an illness that is costly to treat, or has siblings that are older than five also being adopted. Mexico strives to keep siblings together and encourages prospective parents to consider adopting a group of siblings in one adoption proceeding. Mexico’s adoption authorities are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Family Law Office, and the National System for Family Development. If you are asking yourself what countries you can adopt a baby from with less strict requirements, try Mexico.
Residency Requirments:
Mexico requires a one to three-week pre-adoption trial period, during which the child lives with the prospective parent in Mexico. Because of the large amount of paperwork, it is recommended prospective parents plan to spend at least three months in Mexico during the pre-adoption period.
Age Requirements:
The minimum age for a prospective parent is 25 years old and they must be at least 17 years older than the child they plan to adopt.
Marital Status Requirements:
There are no marital requirements to adopt a baby from this country. All married couples and single individuals are eligible to adopt. Same-sex couples are currently permitted to adopt in Mexico City. Unmarried heterosexual couples may adopt, but only one member of the couple will appear in the adoption decree.
Income Requirements:
Prospective parents must be able to provide evidence that they have the means to support the physical and educational needs of the child.
- This generally involves job letters, pay stubs, pictures from their home in the U.S., and bank statements which will be presented to the court
- Prospective parents should also be prepared to give contact information for two people who will be able to confirm their moral qualities and employment status.
Physical and Mental Health Requirments:
There are no physical or mental health requirements.
South Korea (Asia)
Hague Adoption Country:
No
General Information:
If you wonder what countries you can adopt a baby from, South Korea might be for you. South Korea is a small country in Eastern Asia. Unfortunately, South Korea is not a member of the Hague Adoption Convention but like Uganda, they do follow the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA). This requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case (that adoption service providers, on behalf of the prospective adoptive parents, be accredited or approved). Also like Uganda, it is important to note not all children in orphanages are eligible for adoption. Some birth parents place their children there temporarily due to financial or other hardship with the intention of the child returning home when possible. South Korea’s adoption authority is the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Residency Requirements:
There are no specific residency requirements but in order to finalize the adoption, at least one adopting parent must travel to South Korea and be physically present for the adoption.
Age Requirements:
Prospective parents must typically be between 25 to 44 years old, but the age requirement may be waived if at least one prospective parent was an adoptee themselves, is a Korean-American, or the prospective parents have previously adopted a Korean child.
Marital Status Requirements:
In order to adopt a baby from this country, know that married couples are typically preferred since it is often considered as part of the home study.
IncomeRequirements:
Prospective parents must have an income higher than the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines and be financially able to support the child.
Physical and Mental Health Requirements:
There are no physical or mental health requirements.
Other Requirements:
Prospective parents may not have any conviction records concerning:
- An offense against a minor, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault
- Narcotics or other related offenses
- Substance-related disorders or dependence.
Further Research
In conclusion, If you are wondering what countries you can adopt a baby from, remember that adoption requirements and processes vary greatly from country to country. I highly recommend researching any country you are considering adopting from using the U.S. Department of State’s website by clicking here. Hearing about other adoptive parent’s processes also helps. I recommend googling “Adopting From [the country]” and reading people’s stories as many bloggers post their experiences about adopting from that country as well as some tips that could better prepare you. The intercountry adoption process can be daunting, but it is extremely enriching in the end.
Katie Kaessinger is an international adoptee from China now residing in Southern California. After graduating from the University of California, Irvine in June 2020 with her BA in English, Katie started law school at the California Western School of Law. Katie hopes to be a family lawyer and specialize in child advocacy and dependency to work with children in the foster care system and adoptees as well as foster and adoptive parents. In her spare time, Katie enjoys listening to and writing music, singing, drawing, playing with her pets, and spending time with her friends (with a mask on and from six feet away!).